Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Chelev --you truly look fantastic --I love your hair--( you have a great smile too) I am now 13 weeks and getting discouraged so you give us all hope!! I used to have very thick wavy hair --it isnt nearly long or thick--maybe I will try the biotin--just hate taking any more pills!!
Arnie2two--I cant believe you finished in Sept and you have an inch ant thick hair--I finished July 27 and altough it is filling in the length and texture just isnt there--I am trying to be patient!!!
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Chelev, you are adorable. I love when sistas share pictures! And yours is not too big. I think its just right. If you make them too small, we can't see how gorgeous you are and that twinkle in your eyes!
Enjoylife, if you are referring to my avatar......that is, or should I say WAS....my hair right before starting chemo. There is a link on my profile with all of my hair pictures. I wish I had my hair back like that. Maybe in a couple more years. But if I can't get rid of these curls, I won't be able to wear it like that and may just have to keep it short. But I am going to give it a try and hope that with each cut, I get less and less curl.
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Thanks, Goldie! You are my inspiration - you have such thick, full hair!
Revricki - folliculitis is an infection on your scalp caused by the hair follicles getting inflamed - mine started out as red bumps on my scalp that were itchy and painful. It was an allergic reaction to the taxotere (the first time I had an infection, it was "down below" and I thought it was diaper rash - called the onc's office and they told me the wrong thing to use, and it wasn't until I saw the onc himself that he gave me a prescription - should have been red flag #1) - and the onc's office had me using the wrong cream (red flag #2 - I fired the onc shortly after this), so for 2 weeks, I was struggling, and it was spreading and no hair was growing (this was about 1-2 weeks PFC). Then I finally went to the dermatologist after I had ***SQEAMISH ALERT - DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE SQEAMISH!!!***** practically a full head of pustules and red inflamed follicles. I was terrified that the infection would permanently kill my hair follicles - it can do that if left untreated - and the derm gave me a foam and prescription pills and it slowly went away. But it was weeks before the red spots went completely away - I had to put the foam on twice a day and it was painful. So, my hair growth was held back by at least three weeks and I was very nervous all summer as it seemed to really take it's time coming back - but I am happy to report it all has. So, if you start getting red bumps - tell your onc about it immediately and keep the head clean with hydrogen peroxide - it will help dry them up - my onc's office never told me this either - and DO NOT use a cortisone or other steroid cream - it will make it spread!! If it still persists, see your dermatologist to get it treated!
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Oh, by the way, attached is the last article, I believe, from all of the LGFB interviews I did - this appeared in the Palm Beach Post, a local Florida paper today: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/accent/epaper/2009/11/03/a4d_survivor_jump_1103.html
Have a hairy, growing day - and yay to Helen for getting arm hairs!!
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Chelev - Nothing to say except - beautiful!
I did have my hair grow on Taxol, and now that I am 10 weeks PFC, I have a pretty thick head of 1 inch "platinum" colored hair (used to be dark brown, but it had also been colored for many years.) I use "Rough Paste" by Redkin to style,and have gotten many compliments on my "edgy" hairstyle for those that don't know that my oncologist is my hairdresser!
As far as hair not growing back after Taxotere, each of us is different - just look at the stories on this thread - hair that grows fast, slow, nails that are fine, those that have turned colors - so PLEASE, do not anticipate that you will be one who does not get hair back. We deal with enough as it happens, not to fear in advance. It is good to know that there are those that can offer support, but most will not need it - keep the faith!
Good sprouting to all!
Geri
I
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BOLD- LOOKING VERY CHIC! Mine is about the same length and I like it on you a lot! IS that you natural color or did you color it? I am liking it so much! Very Sharon Stone! Thanks for sharing!
How are all of you doing with your lashes? This may sound strange but I seem to have a double set of lashes growing back! It looks kind of strange, one row above the other, is this normal or am i just noticing it because they are not full grown yet??? Does anyone know? I cant wait for them to be long enough to curl properly as well, they stick straigh out and down!!!
Everyone is looking great and Keep up that BIOTIN i know it is working on me!, I am now 1/3 of an inch and counting!
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Thank you for your kind comments. I bleached it to max blond. My eyebrows and eyelashes are sparse. GRRRR. But I can fill them in with makeup. I use to enjoy not wearing makeup on occasion but now it is uber necessary! I have aged, my skin is very dry and wrinkly. Maybe that will abate when I am off herceptin. Who knows. You know that song when I grow up I want to be an old lady? Well I woke up and I am one. I am 55 years old. That still young!! Goldie Hawn is older than me. lol
Again I say GROW IN PEACE!
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trishk- rofl "my oncologist is my hairdresser" thats great!
Bold- your pic looks like you could be one Annie Lennox! Or Brigitte Neilson. Or that chick from Police Academy
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Chelev - I promise some pics very soon. My hair is not as long as yours. I just finished herceptin 2 weeks ago and that slows hair growth. Mine should start taking off in about 2 weeks when the herceptin gets out of my system.
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Geri, thanks so much!! And, I am going to get that Redken paste - sounds like exactly what I need.
I thought about going with a really "bold" color, such as Bold did, but was nervous about it. I did go with a darker brown than I had been wearing, it is closer to my natural color, but in the last few years I've been a more chocolately brown with highlights. This new, super short hair seems to need something strong and powerful - so I will rock the super dark brown until it's a length that might want highlights. I'm thinking of keeping it shoulder length, but with lots of flippy layers. Ahhh, to worry about styling choices again!
Lisa, glad you are almost done with the Hereceptin - yes, yours should really start growing like a weed soon!
I have noticed my nails are now growing at a normal rate again, even with the Biotin, which is good, because in the beginning, I was getting fills at 1 1/2 weeks. Now I can extend to almost 3 weeks between. I stopped wearing pink & whites, thought, and am rocking short nails (still with acrylics because I am very rough on my hands with my job and I get tons of chips and hangnails if I don't) with all these cool dark colors. Love it!
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Hi All,
Did anyone experience a slower rate of hair growth in the beginning and it growing faster as time passed? I am two month since my last chemo and my fuzz is only about 1/4 of an inch. I was told hair grows at a rate of 1/2 inch per month so I was under the delusion that I'd have about an inch by now! (Wishful thinking) I just started something called Shen Min I picked up at a health food store that a hair stylist friend suggested. Perhaps that will help.
Janet
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Mine started slower as well...it is picking up now, but not as fast as I'd like! I don't think it is growing 1/2" a month. Maybe Arimidex is slowing it down!
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ChrisC433: so glad you mentioned the Arimidex! My hair was growing like mad, then I started Arimidex 2 weeks ago and indeed, the growth seems to have slowed down some.
Anyone else experienced this? I sthis all in my head (so to speak,lol)?
Thx!
Nadine
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Hello Hair thread, this is for the taxotere person. My hair grew bakc while I was on taxotere. I am 1 week pfc and it seems to finally start growing faster. I know of 2 people in my area whose hair came back during taxotere. So do not get scared. i think this side effect is very rare and it does happen as I have read. So don't give up yet. My hair looks like a mess of white with some dark hair. but it is growing. I am afraid the white hair is really gray and this is what my hair will like. i do not know what my true color was because a dyed it for 10 years. Have a great hair day and let it keep growing Dianne
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hrf, I was just going through some post-chemo photos and noted that at 18 wks, I had VERY little hair growth. I started Femara a month following chemo. At 24 wks I still looked like a cancer patient, but at about 30 wks, my "hairdo" began to look deliberate, rather than accidental, if you know what I mean
!Anyhow, all this is to say that I do believe the AI's can slow down hair growth, as well as cause thinning. I always had very thick, healthy hair. Now it's so thin on the crown that I'm on my way gradually to becoming all blonde to reduce the contrast between hair and scalp!!
Linda
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Hi all, I have not taken anything to speed up my hair growth and it is slow but steady.
But I can def say that 1/2 an inch per month would be great - but it is nowhere near that unfortunately.
Hugs for a good evening, Judy xxx
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Even my onc said that Arimidex can slow down hair growth. Linda, I also used to have the thickest, most gorgeous (but curly) hair. After my first chemo, the hair grew back at a quick pace but was not as thick - I had had my ovaries out. This second experience is completely different and it looks like the crown is going to be much much thinner as well. I would just like enough hair to cover my scalp so that I don't have to wear the wig any more. Has anyone put in a weave or extensions just to create more thickness on top? Although I have to admit I hate the thought of doing that. Anyway, I'm 19 weeks PFC so maybe like Linda, by 30 weeks the growth will get better. My eyebrows have not yet filled in either - I just have a little bit. I'm trying to be patient.
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Helen, you are doing a fantastic job of being patient - I know it seems excrutiatingly slow for you - hang in there! I had thoughts of doing extensions or something on top when mine was really sparse - I think a stylist only needs about 1/4" for it to hold on to- but some of our stylist sisters can probably answer that better than I can.
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Helen - your patience is inspiring! Please send some my way
Hugs, Judy x
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Today I had two different medical appointments. The first was with the hematologist who was checking my blood to ensure that I could do a DIEP without worrying about clotting. So everything came back fine. The first time I've had good news from a doctor in a long time. I'll be seeing the PS again next month.
The second appointment was with the dermatologist. He agreed that almost 5 months is a long time for hair not to grow back but he said that it's not time to give up ... there is still a strong possibility that it will come back. I also asked him about Latisse and it is not yet available here in Canada but he thinks it will be soon and he'll prescribe it for me.
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Here's a measure for growing back, thanks to Karin Stack. Each photo represents a week passing:
I do not know herceptin or arimidex status
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Dear hrf:
Great news from your Dr! That's got to be a good feeling, and you get to talk with the PS soon - that's got to feel good, too.
Hang in there. You are being so patient and I know you are taking all the right things and eating the right foods, etc. I'm pulling for ya!
Be good to you -
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Helen - good news from the doctor! I am hanging in there with you on the hair!
Hugs, Judy x
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Thanks, everyone. Rachel, thanks for posting the pictures.
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5timewinner-- I am 13 weeks pfc--although my hair covers my head it is still very very short (maybe 1/4 -1/2 in)--I started Arimidex 5 days ago and am afraid of the slowing down too--it seems soslow already but i did hear Arimidex does slow the growth --i had thick wavey hair--just dont see that at this point--patience I guess--
I am going to try this macsara called Fiberwig got it as sephora heard it makes eyelashes look great--we will see and i will let eveyone know--Laura
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Thanks Laura - let us know how it goes!
Hugs to all for a good weekend.
Judy xxx
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Hi Ladies,
Found this forum by accident this morning. When I lost my hair I thought the world would end. I became used to being bald and loved the freedom. Then the hair started growing back and was just peach fuzz but I was overjoyed. Now 4 months since my last chemo my hair is filling in more and more every day. The back of my head looks the best...told DH that all I have to do is only show that and I would be good to go. The top of my head is still filling in and I seem to have a permanent Mohawk going on...looks pretty funny. My hair is still short but I have tried to do the spiking bit but its not working yet. Hair color is the same and hair is so soft. I call this my virgin hair. Eye brows are are sparse...thank goodness for brow pencils. Eyelashes are growing on one eye some and the other eye, not much. Found trying to use mascara is something I don't want to tackle yet. I found some fake lashes that look natural and use those from time to time. With the hair growth I do however wish the leg hairs hadn't started growing, seems I am have to shave more than before. Had to edit I forgot...I use a baby brush on my hair, feels good and is soft on the scalp and allows me to at least style the back of the head.
Hugs to everyone,
Nadine
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My chemo ended in mid-February and I started Arimidex in mid-March, so my hair growth has been slowed by the Arimidex. Now, 9 months post-chemo, I have something approaching a short hair style, but there are still a couple of thin spots on the top and sides. I will post pics if I can figure out how to get them from my computer to this site -- will look around the site for directions.
Bonnie
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Hi Nadine - good to meet you!
Have a good weekend, Judy x
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I'm 42 weeks PFC (on Femara) and my hair looks like Karen Stack's 30 week picture. I'm getting my first "cut" on Wednesday. I don't really want to cut it, but I do need to find some sort of shape for this mop to go. My lashes are doing something, again. This will be time #3. They aren't falling out, but a good portion of them have just broken off into stubs. I don't know what's up with that?
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