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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited February 2016

    Paxton: (((((hugs))))) It is one of the hardest parts of the whole process, even if softened by compliments on your new wig. I certainly got those, and especially when they came from people who had no idea about the BC, it was a strange feeling. Tell your husband not to shave but to buzz your hair, though. Since chemo comes with greater susceptibility to infection, you want to avoid tiny nicks in the skin. But how great that he's doing it for you: an act of love, I'd say. Do you have a little cap to sleep in, by the way? I did, and for whatever reason, it felt very comforting.

    Rebecca and KCinMN: Your hair looks great! I had a fair amount of sewer-rat hair in the beginning, and some of it went away. (Whew.)

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2016

    Paxton: We all know how you feel. You will get through it. It IS hard. Are you in a chemo group? It was so helpful to me to have people who were searching for hair at the same time as me.

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited February 2016

    Paxton mine started coming out about 13 days after first chemo...it came out in handfuls. I had it shaved 5 days into the shed...I found the shedding very depressing. Now I have a short almost Jaime Lee Curtis look. People think it is a super short haircut. I did have the odd t7fts and strays trimned and shaped about 4 weeks ago. Chemo sucks but it is killing the cancer.

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  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited February 2016

    hey Paxton -- I had felt that way too...:( One of my toughest moments. PS I had been told don't shave, just buzz it close, as you don't want to risk a nick. Interesting comment Rebecca, re chemo hair not dyeing well -- my initial growth of silver tabby cat fur didn't respond well at all to getting it coloured at about 5 months, and instead of streaky blonde/light brown as before, it went dirty carpet beige....... But it is taking colour well now, and the curly poodle look one year later is now gentle waves.... I even wonder if it will go straight again -- I kinda like some curl! Strangely, I have much less grey underneath now too. I get tons of compliments, and won't go long again. I might go blonder still KCinmn, seeing your great colour!!

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  • Peachy2
    Peachy2 Member Posts: 350
    edited February 2016

    Paxton, I think that wig day #1 was the low point of this whole journey for me. And you've made it through that, so you are now on the way up! It does take a while, but it does begin to seem like your own hair after a while.

    Do you have a wig cap? They help a lot with comfort.


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  • Paxton29
    Paxton29 Member Posts: 221
    edited February 2016

    Thanks for the encouragement--it helps so much knowing y'all have been there before me and have so much good advice! Good point about just buzzing, especially since my WBC counts have been low (luckily, no illness). I do have a wig cap but I didn't really like the feel of it. Maybe when I have no hair. I don't have a chemo group, which is another reason I'm so grateful for this board.

    And so true, tjh, killing the cancer is the bottom line. My husband insists on my keeping that goal in mind even when I have those "why does cancer have to take so much?" moments.

    Dirty carpet beige and sewer rat--very expressive! I can't wait to see what color I eventually get ...

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited February 2016

    There should be a January or February 2016 chemo group on the list of Active Discussion topics here. Join it!

    I used double-sided wig tape when I had no hair. Once the hair started growing back, I switched to a cap, and my wig guy sewed little clips inside the wig. The tape was by far easier to deal with, from a logistical standpoint.

    Sounds as if you've got a very supportive husband--good news!

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    I'm getting more sewer rat by the day. Does that beat the white fuzz? You bet it does!

    After spring break, which is the first full week of March, I'm going to work hatless. You heard it here.

    Paxton, we understand. Totally. It sounds like you have a supportive partner, and that means the world; I don't know what I would have done without mine. I second the "don't shave it all the way" sentiment. I did, and then I got folliculitis, which resulted in yet another prescription--for ointment to rub on my head three times a day.

    I tell you what. If this crap wasn't so terrible, it'd be downright hilarious. I'm seriously considering writing a comedy about the whole ordeal. Because, especially given the last couple of days I've had (long, long story), it's better to laugh than cry!

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  • KCinMN
    KCinMN Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2016

    Yes, Paxton, we totally understand! Hang in there! You'll get to that sewer rat or dirty carpet stage eventually! I promise! :

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited February 2016

    My husband is fantastic. He has held me and cried with me along this journal. I broke down and sobbed when I found out and he cried too. Then we got down to business. When my hair started shedding we cried...so did my hairdresser when she buzzed it. But he is my rock...he often points out that super short pixies are in style. We WILL survive and live and be happy!

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2016

    I colored my hair about 4 months PFC and it did fine.

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    KateB: I am joining you...my spring break is end of March and I just don't want to wait that long. Or maybe even for my birthday the end of February. I am taking a few days off work to celebrate my birthday, so I like the idea of coming back March 1 hatless and scarf-less. I've already taken the step of going hatless in the car, something I wouldn't have dreamed of doing a month ago. You heard it here too.

    Paxton. ((((hugs)))). I agree, join one of the online chemo groups. You will get through this. I never cut my hair at all, for what it is worth, just let it fall out. But, while my husband is very supportive, I am not sure I trust him with scissors or a razor :-) And I know that just letting it come out on its own is hard for most women. Hell, it was hard for me.

    Yesterday, walking across campus I saw a young man with hair at almost exactly the same length as mine....made me feel a bit as though I am a slave to gender norms...

    Hugs to all

    Octogirl

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited February 2016

    Nice to see everyone's hair and wigs! Anyone have plans to natural dye it bright colors? I'm thinking bright pink :) It looks liek i may have salt & pepper growing in at age 36 HA!

    I'm 5 1/2 wks PFC and the last little bit of my eyebrows are just now falling out and my lashes have joined them, BUT i see new growth in both areas!

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    Octogirl, interesting observation about gender norms. I've been having similar realizations, and I never, ever thought of myself as especially gender-conforming (I've always been sort of a tomboy). . . .

    I'm to the point where I can wear my hat further back on my head than before, because I have a hairline now. Come on, sewer rat! Grow!

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  • DeeRatz
    DeeRatz Member Posts: 350
    edited February 2016

    Paxton-sending hugs, the day I had to shave my head HAS BEEN THE HARDEST DAY FOR ME YET! We know how you feel and it does get better. I actually got more compliments on my wig from complete strangers than I did with my real hair. I don't know if anyone has mentioned the sticky lint roller tip to you. Once you buzz your hair off, all those little hairs will fall out as well. They are sharp and stick in your clothes. If you use a sticky lint roller on your head it picks those little hairs up.

    I never totally lost my eyebrows, but my eyelashes didn't fall out until 12 weeks PFC. When my new lashes started growing in, it pushed the old lashes out. They came in quite quickly.

    I love the sewer rat comment. Not only do you look like a sewer rat, but pretty much feel that way too.

    Kate and Octogirl, I'm sure by March your hair will have filled in and you won't feel so bad going hatless. A few weeks makes a huge difference.

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  • SoCalGrl
    SoCalGrl Member Posts: 105
    edited February 2016

    Sewer rat, lol. You ladies are hilarious.

    Paxton - you got this! Having a good wig makes the word of a difference too. I never wore a wig cap or used any tape and my wig held on just fine.

    Dee - Cheers to the new boobs and hair party!

    El_Tigre - Bright pink would be awesome. As far as eyelashes and eyebrows, mine grew back pretty quickly so I hope yours does the same!

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  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2016

    Hang in there, Paxton29! I doubt that wearing the wig hastened your hair loss. Mine started shedding 12 days after 1st chemo session, and it was fast! It was so uncomfortable that I was glad to have it shaved off. I put Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil on my head frequently and it felt really nice.

    Today was the first day I went to work without wearing a wig or scarf. 5 months PFC. It feels a little weird!

    Rebecca54, my hair took the dye very very badly! I used Clairol temporary dye. The first color was a Warm Medium Brown and it came out a horrible orange. I scrubbed it twice a day for 2 weeks until it faded. Last weekend I used Dark Brown which came out medium brown with some red. Not too bad.

    Will post a photo tonight.

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  • Duzy
    Duzy Member Posts: 134
    edited February 2016

    Love the thought of sewer rat or dirty carpet stage I can totally relate to that.

    KateB and Octogirl - Good for you on setting a time to go hatless/scarf less. I am hoping I can by the end of March but I need some hair to grow in around my hairline in the front. I am 12 weeks PFC this week.

    Queen_Celeste - Although weird it must of felt great. Can't wait to see pictures. I started out black but lately am starting to see more gray coming in so I will want to be dying my hair.

    Paxton20 - You can get through this. Once you start wearing your wig on a regular basis it does get easier.

    Keep the pictures posting it is great to see everyone's progress

    Happy Hair Days

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2016

    I have been self dying my hair as soon as I had a quarter of an inch with chocolate brown, now using dark auburn, no issues, and my hair is super full and soft. And totally out of control at the moment. Letting it get long as I can before first real haircut. Everything I read said initially avoid red and orange undertones at first.

    March will be first month back at salon so they can clean stuff up and start dying it professionally! I'm eight months from last chemo, but still doing Herceptin which I guess slows hair growth. This picture is just a wash and air dry pic, so no gels, drying, etc


    image

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited February 2016

    Theresa, it looks fabulous! I'm 2 1/2 months behind you, also on Herceptin, which seems to be slowing things down a bit. Thinking about trimming the mullet in back, maybe in a month or so.

    Thanks for posting--it's tremendously encouraging!

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  • loriekg
    loriekg Member Posts: 263
    edited February 2016

    Italychick--I actually had a dream last night that my hair looked like YOURS! So bummed to wake up and realize it was not reality! LOL I cannot believe how thick your hair is!!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2016

    Aw thanks ladies! I'm just letting this shaggy stuff grow as long as I can before getting a haircut. Now that is going to be traumatic seeing that hair I've agonized over for so long lying on the floor.

    If I remember to do a picture of the back, you will see how hilarious it looks! Guess I've gone back to the late 70s in the backwith the front looking like a hairdo from the forties!

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited February 2016

    Italychick - wow, it looks terrific! It looks so thick and healthy!

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  • KCinMN
    KCinMN Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2016

    italychick - all that beautiful hair is so encouraging! Thanks for sharing

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  • justmaximom15
    justmaximom15 Member Posts: 264
    edited February 2016

    Updated picture, this stuff is really growing!!

    image

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  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2016

    justmaximom15, looks good!

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  • Peachy2
    Peachy2 Member Posts: 350
    edited February 2016

    Justmaximom, it is really filling in!

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited February 2016

    Justmaximom, looks great! Were you dark-haired before? It looks like it's filling in nicely!

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited February 2016

    Thanks SoCalGrl! I went ahead and whipped my remaining lashes away I feel like that woman off of the movie minority report

    image

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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    oh, how I love the humor here!

    Looking great, justmaximom!

    Here's today's shot. This is looking more and more like my regular hair color.

    image

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