Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Edyem - my hair started to grow after AC when on Taxol.  Unfortunately for me it kept growing on the sides but not much on top. I look like I have male baldness.  My last Taxol was scheduled for Tuesday last week and got postponed due to me developing shingles.  I was very disappointed.

I am on track to finish this Tuesday now and can't wait for my hair to grow (especially on top).  I am trying to decide whether to shave the sides off so it can try and grow back evenly.

There was a lady who I saw every week who was also doing weekly Taxol. She finished a few weeks ago and her hair had grown the whole time, and all over. She had about an inch all over.

Congrats for finishing AC.  I didn't find weekly Taxol hard after AC.

KiwiMum - Your last sentence is EXACTLY what I want to hear.  I've heard that the Taxol will be easier than the AC, but there are lots of women on the July chemo board that mention multiple side effects.  I don't believe that any of them have had AC though, so they don't have that to compare it to.  But, people are different and have different experiences with the same tx.  I hate that your hair isn't growing back evenly.  Mine fell out that way. I mostly lost the lower portion but kept the top.  I did shave it close because I was losing so much, but I'd say I still have about 1/5 of my hair, all on the top.  I'm glad to hear about the woman that was getting tx with you whose hair grew back. That gives me hope.  Now what about brows and lashes?  I still have some, but they are thin.  Thanks for your info!

3jaysmom, sorry about your hair loss. Yes, in your situation I would definitely look into a custom made hairpiece (toupé) and extensions. Would have to be cooler than a wig. I am planning on getting extensions till my hair grows to a medium length. They can be used to thicken the appearance of hair. Good luck to you.

Charlottesmama - I agree with everyone, your hair looks so natural, perfect really!  When I got mine cut right before the chemo fallout, my natural color was just about like yours.  I had never seen it before as I colored my hair for decades!  I am anticipating very curly salt and pepper hair growth. Anythiing else will be a complete and utter surprise!

YaYa5 - my grandkids and the neighbor kids have seen me bald and seem to be ok with it.  It's my DH who has the biggest problem.  He says I "look better" with hair.  Well, I told him he "looks better" when he wears a collared shirt and pants that don't look like he slept in them...LOL!  He ha nice stuff but doesn't really get in to his appearance.  So now, if I want him to change, I rip off the wig and threaten him with my bald head.  It works...lol.  I suspect my baldness is too much of a constant reminder for him.   

Michelle

LuvRVing, that is funny.  I like your sense of humor!

My grown son was here visiting a couple of weeks ago and he did the funniest thing. I must preface this by saying that he wears his hair very short and is very particular about it and has been for years.  One evening he was playing around and he took my wig off of me (it is a little longer than shoulder length with great highlights) He put it on and paraded around my living room...it was hysterical!  I grabbed my camera and got a couple of FUNNY pictures...and yes I am going to frame one because every time I look at it I just crack up laughing!  He had a 5 o'clock shadow going and no shirt on...looked like one of those guys on the cover of a steamy romance novel...LOL 

I'm not expecting surgery to affect my hair growth.  Now, rads could kill my thyroid and that could certainly make a difference.  My RO said I have a 1 in 3 chance of having a thyroid problem after rads.  Yuck!

I just ordered a wig and a few head covers frm TLC and headcovers dot com....this is all surreal to me.

Does any one recommend any other sites (that are not to $$$$$)

charlotte-OMG your hair looks great and man how it's growing. How far out are you from tx?

Elizabeth18-yeah for going topless, almost there myself and I can't wait.

jackifp-what a great thing you did with your students. High school girls are so involved with looks and you showed them that there is more to a person than just their looks and that you can laugh at lifes hardships. Bet they will be thinking of that lesson years from now.

LuvRVing-great comeback to husband. God knows we should get some benefit from being the cancer girl.

Kathylyon-God I hope surgery doesn't slow down or fall out-I would seriously cry. Having surgery Mon and would hate losing any peachfuzz-I'm kinda attached to it now.

Hey just for my own info, how long does hair have to be for extensions, do they feel natural and do they damage your fragile hair alot? Anyone had them done?

Survivor11, for the extensions I am planning to have, I was told my hair would have to be a few inches long. I only have an inch at the moment but am going back to the salon in a month for a review.



I am now rubbing a rosemary and jojoba oil blend into my scalp each night as I read that could hasten growth. I am also going to try another growth product that the salon recommended which is similar to Nioxin but more natural.



From what I understand, there are various methods for extensions but the method I am looking at does not use glues or such and is quicker than other methods. It's a new method, not widely available.



Human hair is typically used for extensions so they should look and behave naturally.



I will post more when I have more info.

My friend helped me dye my hair, or what there is of it. I used henna cream. You were right, it looks fuller!

Charlotte, I love it!!!!!

Racy - Are you planning on using Great Lengths hair extensions? That technique sounds like it. 

Edyem . . . Yes there is hope for regrowth while on taxol! Mine started growing about half way through treatment . . . I had 12 taxols in total!

Now about brows and lashes . . . After losingvyour hair, brows and lashes didn't mean as much to me . . . Don't get me wrong I hated losing them also but after your hair nothing compares. Both fell out very quickly, but I can also tell you that they grew back sooo quickly for me!

Hi all, there is a thread somewhere that I think is head covering options for hair loss. There are a couple of sites that have really neat head scarf things and will send you one for free.

Also, if you have the Look Good Feel Better program in your area, do it for sure. It's abiout two hours, with make up tips when you are going through chemo, etc.  You get a bag full of makeup. At mine, they passed around some hats that people had made that are great for just wearing around the house. Cotton and so soft.

Then at the end, she gave a wig to everyone and had an assortment so she came pretty close with everyone's hair color. There were just three of us in the class I took and it was a lot of fun. I still had hair then so didn't try on the wig. It was shorter than my style so I didn't think I would ever wear it and just put it away. Got it out the other day and decided it was pretty cute. Went to a wig styling place where they trimmed the bangs, spiked it up and little and now it is really fun.

The program is completely free.

Hi ladies. I forgot to mention that my last treatment (taxol) was July 15. I had the pink scalp with just thin white hair for a while. I thought it would be like that forever. Then the dark hair started growing in like gangbusters! Eyebrows and lashes fell out too, but they grew back fast.

I lost my hair twice... Once from the a/c and again from the taxol. My chemos were separated by a few months and mastectomy/recon surgery.

I'm getting antsy for hair growth and I keep checking.  I'm only just shy of 3 weeks PFC, so I know I've got a ways to go.  I haven't worn a wig;  I didn't even buy a wig.  I've been using chemobeanies.com head coverings.  And some Buffs.  At home I don't wear anything.  I get too warm to wear anything for long.  I'm like a little furnace!  My hair used to grow very fast, so I'm hoping it will grow fast again.  I've got very wispy short white hairs.  

I read a few pages back, so I've got an idea about what I'm in for.  It's nice to read about everyone's progress. I can't wait to get my eyebrows back!  I've had to shave my legs periodically throughout chemo.