Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Ah yes - I remember the chia pet days!

Cath - did they say what levels? I don't recall having to have bloodwork before MRI but if your kidneys are off or you are dehydrated I could see them not wanting to give you the contrast injection....I recall being told to drink a lot of fluids to flush it out of my system after the test...

Cath - go for it! I know how you feel, it's so easy to get sucked down to dark places.  Just drink lots and lots of water - I had the same dry eyes and constipation issues and for whatever reason, the chemo changed the taste of water to me...it was so bitter, so I would use those little Crystal Lite packets (1/2 at a time) just to help me swallow it down.

IMO I think if there was really something to be worried about, they would tell you.  They should just tell you anyway and save you the worry - especially if it's unnecessary!

Thanks Marje.

Charles, your comment about the hair loss being easier for men than for women brought back a memory.  It was my first day of chemo, and in the chair next to me was an older (70-ish) man having treatment.  His wife was with him, and when they heard that it was my first time, we started chatting, hair loss was one of the topics.  The woman said "I think that it would be easier on women to lose their hair than for men, after all, there are so many cute scarves and hats out there".  I was a bit dumfounded by this, and couldn't think of a response at the time.  Needless to say, I thought of lots of them afterwards.

Way to go, Ossa.  It's very liberating!

Just reading, not much to report. 3 inches of hair is not enough!

I am so excited! After Taxol #8 I am starting to have fuzz on my head- woo hoo! The process has reversed and things are looking up. 4 more Taxol and it will be even better! I plan to keep my head covered until I get a good amount that can have a style. Can anyone tell me what happens after the white fuzz...when does color come in?

Its a real test of patience. Im 6 weeks pfc tomorrow and still have whitish fuzz with black mixed in. Nowhere near my pre chemo color and texture.

Stjude10, I never lost all brows & lashes, and they are starting to thicken up. I had been using the brian joseph gel, but I think what is helping them grow now is the olive oil i rub on them every night.

i'm 15 weeks and my hair is white with a little darker showing up.  it sticks straight up on top and is about 1/2 inch.  i can't comb it down or do anything with it.  i never cover it anymore and i've had soooooo many people tell me that i should keep it short just like it does now.  really?? and people love the white.  anyone else getting comments like that?  i'm not sure what i think.

Nine months PFC and I finally have the beginnings of bangs.  Also, for the first time since I lost my hair, I look like I have a hairdo someone would have planned to have.  It is not the hairdo I personally would have planned to have, but at least it is approaching some semblance of normalcy.  To me, waiting for my hair to grow back was much harder than actually losing it.  Hang in there.  It does return eventually.

MamaV, I agree!3 inches is not enough!

 I am in this weird stage....do I go back to get a haircut or just let it grow.  I have one more herceptin left. And my eyelashes have finally grown back and now they are all falling out again.

And for those with fuzz....take pictures! You wont believe the difference from week to week. And it helps to look back when you feel impatient about it!

Eileen, I'm glad you're feeling better and hope it continues.



Elizabeth, I agree: waiting for hair to grow back has been much harder for me than losing it. I am, I think, 46 weeks pfc and my hair is 3 inches long at most. I have not cut it at all. It's a slow process.



I enjoy reading everyone's posts and hope your hair grows fast!

Was talking to my hairdresser just yesterday.  She told me a funny story: when she was in "hairdressing school", one of her teachers told the class, that Johnston's baby shampoo had enough chemicals in it to perm hair.  She didn't believe him... and because she's an "action" kinda woman, she put it to the test.  She got a volunteer and "permed" her hair with Johnston's baby shampoo.  And... it WORKED.  There are enough chemicals in the shampoo we are using on babies to PERMANENTLY CURL HAIR.

So... I say "... damn the torpedoes..." I'm gonna colour my hair as soon as it's long enough.