Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2012

    The weight will come off. You wouldn't believe how much of that weight is just bloat. The hamster hair eventually goes away too. I used to just call it fur.

  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited June 2012

    lago...me too! It is still so soft...couldn't even begin to make it stylish...it's just there, covering my head but million times better than a hair hat!

  • Yvette10052011
    Yvette10052011 Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2012

    hi ladies!! i was just catching up on the last several pages here because i was out of commission. i had my second mastectomy on May 15 & just finished my first week back at work. long story but i went into cardiac arrest during surgery in Nov '11 so they could only take my nodes, one breast & insert the expander. had to wait until after chemo to finish what they started.

    so excited to see Divine's hair time line!! gorgeous :) & very encouraging for all of us!!

    for all who are asking about losing eyebrows & lashes -> get Latisse - it's like steroids for eyebrows & eyelashes!! if i had known it's preventative loss factor, i would have started using it during chemo!! don't worry about it changing your eye color - that can only happen IF you apply large amounts directly into your eyes over a long period of time. i lost all my lashes & most of my brows by the second week of completing chemo (i had 4 DD of AC & 4 DD of Taxol). i started using it in april & within 4 weeks had ALL my lashes & brows back!! i only use Latisse one a week on the brows (they were growing TOO MUCH, yes TOO MUCH) BUT continue to use nightly on my lases. a girl can never have too many lashes. i know lashes and brows can fall out as many as 3 more times so i'm going to keep up this regimen.

    went back to work *topless* for the first time on Monday & was SUPER nervous!! i really felt like i still had the chemo head/look but my friends told me it was time & that i look like i have a short pixie cut. for me, i look a bit boyish & miss my thick shoulder length hair. i definitely have hair envy - even of kids :)

    my office can be a tough crowd & i was convinced i'd get many stares...  to my GREAT surprise i received tons of happy faces, compliments & the best of all --> i love your new haircut!!  i laugh at that because this is not a choice nor a cut - it's all the hair i have so i guess it must look OK :) my growth started VERY slow during Taxol but it's going fast now. i'm 11 weeks PFC but it looks ~15 to ~18 weeks PFC from the pics i've compared mine to on this forum.hoping this rate of growth continues!!

    i'll try to take a pic & post tomorrow!! happy weekend to all :)

  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited June 2012

    Today, I am exactly one year PFC. What a year! In many ways, the hard work begins when chemo is finished. Anyway, I have a lot more hair today than I did one year ago. The first two pictures were taken today and the third was taken on June 11, 2011. I never thought I would ever have this much hair again. Thank you to everyone for your support.

      

  • stjude10
    stjude10 Member Posts: 390
    edited June 2012

    I'm with you gals. I've got some extra weight around the middle too. For all I know, maybe it's been there the whole time but I couldn't see it when I looked down 'cause my boobs were in the way...out of sight, out of mind!Wink

    Congrats on topless Yvette! Get that monkey off your back!!

    Elizabeth, you look great! I just can't imagine having that much hair again.

  • carolinames
    carolinames Member Posts: 43
    edited June 2012

    You look great Elizabeth!  You give me hope to have my hair back...one day!  Thanks.  

  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited June 2012

    great head of hair Elizabeth!

  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited June 2012

    Elizabeth...looks great and I love the colour!

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2012

    Looking good Elizabeth!

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited June 2012

    You look great, Elizabeth.

  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited June 2012

    Elizabeth, congrats on the 1 year PFC and wow, you got lots of hair!  Looks lovely!

  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 898
    edited June 2012

    Elizabeth, you, too, give us hope that we will one day have "real" hair. You look great!

  • borntosurvive
    borntosurvive Member Posts: 213
    edited June 2012

    I have been away for a bit with a 5 day girls trip to Florida last week.  Just getting caught up. 

    While I was in Florida my eyebrows became CRAZY so I went and had them waxed.  I actually have full eyebrows now.  I am also enough eyebrows to wear mascara now.  My hair is coming in SO thick and soft.  I have about a centimetre of hair all over my head.  I'm 2 mons PFC.  It's all coming back quickly.  I think the heat, sunshine and wind does help.  It seems that hair grows faster in the summer months - maybe that's because I am more aware of how often I have to shave my legs!!

    My DH told me yesterday that I should get back to the gym.  Why don't you just say that I've gained a little weight?! I don't think he has any filter.  He has been trying to dig out of that hole since he said it.  

  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited June 2012

    Hey Hair Gals,

    I am really fascinated by the incidence of chemo curl. I wonder if any of you would help me do a little informal study? I will run some simple statistics and let you know the results.

    If you would like to participate, please PM me the following info:

    1) what type of chemo you had and how many treatments

    Example: FEC/3 + Taxotere/3 (that's what I had)

    2) Did you lose you hair - YES/NO

    3) If YES, % lost (approximate)

    Example: YES/90%?

    4) Did your hair come back curly? YES/NO with curly defined as wavy or curly NOT typical of your previous hair 

    5) Months PFC (post final chemo) and are currently curly YES/NO

    Example: 16 mos/ still curly       if NO, then about when it returned to your normal hair texture

    I think this will be fun. Thanks!

  • Seagrover
    Seagrover Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Someone was talking the other day about the Nioxin being used. I am using the number 1 set for thinning hair. Someone the other day was using 3. Anyone know the differences?

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2012
    seagrover I used the nioxin 1 immeidatly after my last chemo. The I switched to 3 i think for color treated hair cause i got a semi perm color but just kept using it until it ran out even though i sopped with the color. now i use my regular stuff per BC (18 month PFC)
  • Seagrover
    Seagrover Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Carrol2, ok. Good to know. I'm using 3 products in the number 1. I'm 8 weeks PFC. The hair seems to be coming in pretty good. And I am happy about that!

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited June 2012

    Shells, I had 4XFEC and 4Xtaxotere. I lost my hair twice (it had grown back slightly between the two chemo regimens, when I had my surgery), the second time 100%, brows and lashes too.

    My hair has come back the same as it was before, to my pleasant surprise. It is mostly straight, with a slight wave (had that before too) and the same murky dishwater color. My brows are mostly back, but still a bit ratty.

    I am 6 months past chemo, so I am hoping this is the way it will continue. 

    I am 48, soon to be 49. This is the most recent pic, from about a month ago. I look bleary-eyed, because dh snapped over breakfast:

    5 months 

  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited June 2012

    When does hair become like "real" hair and less like fur? I am over 4 months PFC!

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited June 2012

    Schatzi, I think it is just because it is still very short that it feels like fur. I am 6 months out, and it is finally feeling like just hair.

  • slak
    slak Member Posts: 179
    edited June 2012

    Shells43 - what a great idea to do a survey!  Can everyone add their age if they don't mind...I have a theory that the younger you are the more likely your hair is to return to its previous state.  I unfortunately can't add to the survey yet, I'm just 14 days PFC so nothing really happening here!

  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited June 2012

    I love the idea of a survey.  Can I ask that we add if Herceptin and hormonals are also factored in?

    Slak

    I don't know about the age thing though.  My DH's Aunt was 66 when she completed 6 cycles of AC and her hair came back in more beautiful than before DX.  Thicker, a bit of a wave. 

  • schatzi14
    schatzi14 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited June 2012

    age:68

    1) 3 DD/AC....12 weekly Taxols.....16 rads...arimidix

    2 YES...after 2nd AC

    3) 100%

    4) NO..straight as a pin

    5) 4.5 months PFC...not curly 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2012

    Shells I think your hair will get chemo curls if you had wavy or curly hair before. My theory is your hair will get a bit more curl or wave depending on the type of hair you had. I had rather straight hair so it got some wave and the few cowlicks are always had were more unmanageable. Seems many of the Asian gals don't get curly hair. Just an observation, no science behind this. Let us know when you start the survey thread.

    schatzi my hair went back to normal about 1 year PFC but I keep my hair really short. I have read some women say 18 months but that might be because they keep their hair longer.

  • Kelloggs
    Kelloggs Member Posts: 965
    edited June 2012

    age:  45

    1.)  6 TCH, currently Herceptin every 3 weeks, Tamoxifen

    2.)  Yes - gone by 2nd tx

    3.)  100% - I shaved it

    4.)  No - not long enough to tell yet.  I was crazy curly before so we'll see!

    5.)  almost 12 wks PFC

    I spent the weekend with my head in the incredible sunshine....let's hope it helped!

  • Laural136669
    Laural136669 Member Posts: 287
    edited June 2012

    Age: 48

    1. TC X 4; also have had a variety of treatments for ALL and MDS over past 25 years (6th time of loosing hair)

    2. Yes

    3. Lost 100%-lashes, brows, head, even nose hairs gone

    4. Hair is coming back thick and gray (same as before) and curly (had been straight before)

    5. Finished chemo 1/12/12...chemo curls well established; lashes back but only a few eyebrows have returned at this time. 

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2012

    My hair came in pretty much the same as it was. I'll pm you the survey response.

  • mags20487
    mags20487 Member Posts: 1,591
    edited June 2012

    I was 43 when DX

    1.  DD Taxol/4 followed by DD A/C /4

    2.  Hair gone on day 19 after first TX

    3.  100% gone along with brows, lashes, legs and body

    4.  have about 2 inches of hair and it seems to be coming in wavy--not much body before quite straight

    5.  Chemo done on 12/29/11-- brows and lashes back now and not thinning at all

    maggie

  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited June 2012

    Momine

    Nice head of hair!!  Looks quite thick.

  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 919
    edited June 2012

    Momine looks great.. your hair is so thick...

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