Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Hikergal - I tried the not shampooing everyday hoping for it to hold on longer, but it didn't work, just looked bad!  I lost mine 2 weeks after first treatment - well it was coming out in clumps so I shaved it on day 15.  It did feel so much better after getting rid of it, though it wasn't easy for sure!  I had my wigs and hats already, so I was ready as one can be!  Hang in there!

I didn't try to hold on to my hair. I mean if it was gonna go it was going to go. So one day a friend wanted to join me on one of my power walks through the park. For some reason the wind was like 40mph, which for October is pretty brisk. (Can happen in the winter). My friend even asked if I really wanted to do that because of my hair. So off we go for a 50 minute power walk.

My poor doorman didn't know what was going on at that point. He had complimented me  just the week before on my short cut. (Cutis short the day it started to fall out). Anyway when I came back from my walk my part was about a good 1/2 wide"! He looked mortified when I came in. Too funny. Wish I had taken pictures of that.

Ditto here on the chin and fluffy face hair.   I noticed today that the blond hair is returning to my arms.  I'm fair but hairy.  I had to start shaving my legs and pits last week too.  While I still don't have full coverage on my head it coming, lots of gray too LOL! I knew it was there but like alot here have been colouring it for many years.  At first I colored for fun, then to hide the gray about 8 years ago.  Mind you the top is being rather stubborn in comparison.  I see a mullet in my future.

MLB and Schatzi:  I see shades of Mullet gray as well!  (or clear or white--who knows--I just know it's standing tall about an inch on top and nothing on the sides!

Does anyone have curl/wave on one side andd straigt on the other?  Feel like I can join a "feak show" sort of like the man on one side woman on the other.. Yikes sure hope my hair decides to co operate soon.... 8 months PFC 

Gemmie

Don't buy too too much.  I found I never used half of what I bought. My fav's were the buff for sleeping to keep warm and a couple of regular knit hats that looked OK when prior to shaving my head.  Oh and a coupleo of baseball hats I keep handy for yardwork or if someone comes to the door. I donated it all to the chemo centre where people can take them for free.

Lago

LOL on the doorman story!

Hi everybody,

 I've complained about my lack of hair here before, but I just need some reassurance again. Going to rads every day, I meet quite a few people who finished chemo weeks after me, but whose hair is already growing out nicely. It makes me panic! I have stubble all over which has been there all the time since I shaved my head during cycle 2, but it just stays the same, no growth, no peach fuzz, nothing. I am seven weeks past my last chemo (4 x TC), and this is just killing me. Strangely enough I did not lose my eyebrows or my lashes. It thinned considerably, but it's still there. As for the rest of my body, it's all gone. I'm normally not a whiner at all, but this is really so hard and I am so scared.

JoanQuilts, how are you doing with the hair growth?

Hi Liefie,

I was like you - just stubble up until about 8 weeks pfc (4 rounds of TC).  I'm now 4 1/2 months PFC and I've got a full head of hair that is about 1" long all around.  It feels super slow to me, but it's finally coming in.  Yours will, too.

I have been wearing the Chemobeanies.com  ruffled scarves every day. I now have 5 of them. I did notice that after a while, the first 2 I ordered, the ruffle wasn't laying quite right and I was paranoid that you could see through it and my scalp was showing. The 3 new ones lay beautifully, however. I contacted the company today and she explained to me that they are now using a longer ruffle to camoflouge the scalp and she was mailing out 2 new ones to replace the original, free of charge, today. She also is sending me a differant non-ruffled style to try. That is $75 worth of merchandise for free! I get many compliments on the Chemobeanies and 3 women at the treatment center asked me for the web address yesterday. The customer service is awesome! Normally when I place an order, they are in my mailbox within 3 days. From CA to PA!

Jpmomof3 and Jen78, thank you so much for encouraging me. I should really just stop beating myself up over this, because it will just take its own time no matter what I do. Stressing and worrying about it is not going to accelerate it. So I must just get myself together, and stop being so anxious. It's not good for me. I will try to relax, and just let it take its course.

Normally I am pretty laid back and casual about most things. Part of my angst stems from the fact that I never told my mom about my cancer. She lives far away in another country which makes it easy for me to hide it from her. She is fighting her own battle with a slow growing brain tumour that has already taken her independence and mobility from her. I do not want to deliver another cruel blow to her. She's old, and has been through enough. However, I'm going to visit in December, and it will be hard to hide it from her if I have no hair. She may notice if I wear a wig - she quickly picks up on things like that. I am her child after all. 

JoanQuilts, I'm so glad that you are seeing some progress. I sincerely wish you lots of hair soon!

Jpmomof3, is the Revita a growth stimulator?

According to the bottle it says it is for regrowth but it doesnt actually have a medication in it like minoxidil.  It says it has some type of cellular ingredient to promote growth.  it is fairly expensive though nothing like Ovation or Thymuskin.  I am rather skeptical of any of these products that cost hundreds of dollars for 200mls.  Some of these companies make big claims but I fear they are taking advantage of people in desperate situations.  I think having a high quality gentle shampoo and conditioner is all we really need, plus vitamins cant hurt when taken in the recommended dosages.  It will grow back.  Minoxidil is the only treatment over the counter that is a real medication to grow hair but I would ask your dermatologist or MO before using that stuff.

Thanks, JoanQuilts! I am going to believe you 100%, and hang onto that.

Schatzi, My MO told me to use baby shampoo and then condition my scalp with regular conditioner,she said there is nothing that will help hair grow faster..  I am four weeks PFC and do not see any growth,however I do feel some some stuble when I shampoo.. I think you are right about nature...I am so impatient, just wish that I would begin to see some growth..

Eileen...I am super impatient too but once I saw some growth, I didn't freak as much. I still pet my head like it is a kitten cause I looooove the feel and having hair.

The first time I went "topless" was one of the happiest days of my life....jeez how I hated that wig!