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  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 50
    edited November 2009

    stef58:  BRAVA!

    I'm not there yet, but I am looking forward to the day.

    hrf:  Thinking of you -

    Be good to you -

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Just checking in - hope everyone is doing ok!

    Hugs, Judy xxx

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 495
    edited November 2009

    I have decided I need to join this thread. I finished chemo 5 weeks ago (DD AC/T) and started rads a couple of weeks ago (9/33).  My hair has shown no signs of coming back - but as I told the onc last week, I really want my nose hairs to grow - I'm tired of a runny nose! I only have a few eye lashes too.

    My question is - when will my hair start to grow after taxol? I know the answer is here somewhere, but 130 pages is a lot to read through! I also know some people's hair starts to grow during taxol, but I think they may be the weekly txs?

    Thanks for any input.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited November 2009

    Gillyone - I learned to truly appreciate my nose hairs during this journey.  Like the brows and lashes, they will be back before you know it.  I felt like a crack head or something, always walking around and sniffling!!!

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Gillyone hi! I finished Taxol at the end of July 2009. I think I had a fuzz by the end of August? I am now 4 months pfc and I took my headscarf off last Monday.

    Yes, ladies - I will post a photo soon : )

    Hang in there, all the hairs will hopefully come in, but everyone is different. I did not have rads. The nose hairs came back and the lashes and brows fell out, but grew back quite quickly. I am actually waiting for the second round of that now.

    Take care, hugs to all, Judy xxx

  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2009

    gillyone - I am 8-1/2 weeks PFC. I did not see much in the first 4 or 5 weeks either. It started filling in down around the bottom of my head even with my ears and then worked its way up. It really started filling in a few weeks ago, so hopefully soon it will start filling in for you. Not sure what color your hair was but if it was light it may not look like you are getting any which is my case.

    JudyNaomi - I am 2 months behind you and am hoping to go wigless in about 2 or 3 months. I would possibly be brave sooner if it was not winter here, too cold to go wigless right now, for me anyhow even with the hot flashes.

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    blondie45 hi!

    I was quite nervous, but I had it coloured and then took off the scarf and it was very liberating! It was good to be able to go out of the house without having to cover my hair! Another step forward!

    Hugs, Judy x

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 495
    edited November 2009

    Hi Nodapearl, Judy and Blondie

    My hair was light. I am very fair skinned, freckles and had(?) red hair (though most US people call it strawberry blond). Growing up in England I was a red head. So the stubble left on my head looks like it has no color!! I hardly ever wear my wig and usually wear scarves. In the summer I went around the house topless, but would not go out like that, plus it's way too cold now.

    Judy - are there guidelines for when to color new hair? (Where are you from using colour spelling?)

  • aris
    aris Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2009

    Hi everyone, can I ask about eyebrows? My eyebrows started coming back in about 2-3 weeks ago (I'm about 3 months PFC) and they are uneven. They are much thinner on one side and thicker on the other side. Will this change or is this my new normal?

     My hair continues to come in. I had it shaped about 4 weeks ago and it did make a huge difference. I now look like I have incredibly short hair (think of Matt Lauer) rather than not having hair at all. I really am enjoying the ease of the short hair without having to fuss about my hair and also am really enjoying not being bald any more!

     I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Despite this being an incredibly difficult year, I am so so thankful for wonderful friends, a great support system and for being here!

    Pam

  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 70
    edited November 2009

    Gillyone:  I had dose dense Taxol (every 2 weeks) X4.  Mine started as a fuzz between TX #3-4.  It doesn't change much for about 6 weeks.  Once it starts, it does take off...give it time and you will be quiet surprised!

  • stef58
    stef58 Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2009
    Gilly. nice to see you here from the July group. I have been haunting and posting on this thread since i started chemo. My hair came back during treatment. Start taking some really good vitamians and get some biotin. It has really helped my hair grow. I have been going topless since
    Wednesday inside anywhere. Went to a casino and took the hat off felt good. Did get some stares but who cares. it is how we feel that makes a difference. Also get some nioxin with the follicle boasters as some have said. I use head and shoulders because of the zinc in it and a good conditioner. then I use a scalp conditioner. My hair is growing like weeds now. also I think that week 4 it does start to grow faster. Hugs dianne
  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Gillyone - Hi! How funny that you noticed the spelling of colour! I am originally from London.

    I picked up info on these threads and bought a natural colour for my hair without amonia. I was a bit worried, but it doesn't seem to have done any harm. I coloured it brown. The stylist said it would last for about 28 days or so. I am enjoying being topless actually, more than I thought I would.

    aris- hi! I think you need to give the brows some time to sort themselves out. It's that patience thing again : )

    Hugs to all, Judy x

  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2009

    JudyNaomi - I know that is a big step forward going without the scarf, good for you. I am not sure at this point if I will need to color mine. Although I used to be blonde, so far it is coming in much darker.

    gillyone - Yep me to, topless around the house but not out in public yet, like you it is getting COLD here.

    aris - Sorry that your eyebrows are taking so long. I am 2 months PFC and my eyebrows are almost all back, along with a lot of my eyelashes. They are both growing so far much faster than my hair. I don't have much at all under my arms either. I have read that some people got their eyelashes back and then lost them again like 4 to 5 months PFC. Hoping that doesn't happen but glad I know that it might so I don't freak out if it does.

    stef58 - Good for you going topless inside places, maybe I need to change my shampoo. Before chemo, my hair grew super fast.

  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2009

    Hi everyone I finished TAC 2 1/2 weeks ago and I have white fuzz, mostly on the sides and back not much on top. When I get out of the shower it all stands straight up. I never went totally skin only bald but pretty close. Now I am losing all my eyebrows, after chemo??? , Donna

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Hey Donna! Yep, eyebrows will do that but should come back quite fast.

    Good luck and well done on finishing! Yay!!!

    Hugs, Judy x

  • Jane_M
    Jane_M Member Posts: 932
    edited December 2009

    My hair was brown (with a few greys) before chemo, but it is coming back a darker brown now.  It could be that this was actually my real hair color, but it looked lighter because of sun damage, chlorine, etc.  I don't know what it is with the Femara....I could shave my legs and arms 2X a week and still have stubble...not on my head.  10.5 months PFC, I should have a whole head of hair...I have a couple of inches.  It is long enough now, though, that I can get a very tiny curling iron around it and give it some shape.  Of course, the shape doesn't last, but it looks good for a couple hours.

  • trishK_
    trishK_ Member Posts: 68
    edited December 2009

    GILLY- Don't fret just yet! you are at that crucial part where it is darkest before the dawn of hair! For me it was week 6 that i finally was seeing real stubble. Before that it was jsut the clear colorless fuzz. I was about to freak out (well actually did freak out) and then it came. I have heard some people even say it takes a little longer, everyone is different. I am 15 weeks PFC and i have over 1/2 inch of hair and no longer need my scarf or hat. But i still wear hats becasue my head is COLD! brrrrrrrrrrr!!!

    Good luck and hang in there!

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 495
    edited December 2009

    Thanks for the input ladies. I guess I'll have to be patient and my hair will grow some time!!

    Donna - my eyelashes didn't come out until after I'd finished chemo. Seems like this is pretty normal. So I'm playing the waiting game for these too.

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited December 2009

    gillyone - hang in there xxx

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631
    edited December 2009

    OK maybe a dumb question... does PFC stand for Post Final Chemo?  I get the gist from the posts but was just wondering what the actual acronym stands for :)

    I don't know what the deal is with my head.  I have hair sparsely distributed about but that has been there since the lion's share of my hair fell out about two weeks after start of chemo (just after I buzz cut my long hair to 3/4 inch long).  What remains is about 10% of the original buzz cut and as far as I can tell it isn't growing (though I like to imagine there is more than I had, I don't really think so).  I have not seen any white fuzz.  Does everyone get white fuzz before regular hair growth begins?  Had my last chemo November 9 so I guess, if I understand the meaning of the acronym correctly, that means I am 3 weeks PFC.... sigh.  I know: too early... but is it too early for white fuzz???

    Cheers,

    Lilah (patiently waiting)

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited December 2009

    Hang in there Lilah - it will come.

    Hugs, Judy x

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited December 2009

    I am 2 months out and my hair is approx 1/4 inch long in shades of brown and greys!  I think it is cool that I will have virgin untouched hair for the first time since I was ten and my Gram permed my hair...

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631
    edited December 2009

    That IS cool Michelle!

    Thanks Judy :) 

    Tonight my BF and I were in the bedroom and I looked up and caught us both in the mirrored closet doors and said "Ack!  I have no hair!"  We laughed.  I realized I walk around (not seeing myself as is the case for all) with the notion that I have hair... my self-image is a woman with long hair...so it's always a surprise to see my hairlessness.  It was good to laugh about it with him.  He has been such a peach! 

    Lilah

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited December 2009

    No worries, Lilah xxx

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 495
    edited December 2009

    Lilah - I think there are a couple of interpretations for PFC - though both denote the end of chemo. F for final or F for fu**ing - depends how you feel I guess!!!

    Thanks Judy - my hair WILL grow!!!!!!

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited December 2009

    Yes it will! Hugs to all, Judy xxx

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631
    edited December 2009

    LOL Gilly -- gotcha :)

  • lollys
    lollys Member Posts: 44
    edited December 2009

    Chelev and gcpommom you look great!!Chelev the bangs are great!! cant wait till I have some too-- I am about 17-18 weeks pfc and ditched my wigs--I still look like a BC pt but too bad--I was done withthe wigs--went back to work this week and people sorta liked my do but i think it freaked some people out--need to have a new picture for my id badge and dont want it with my short hair so maybe will wimp out and put on my wig for it--I think i need to have it shaped a little but afraid she will cut off too much for some reason it looks like it has stopped growing--hope all is well with everyone--you all look great--Laura

  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 70
    edited December 2009

    Laura, I had to get a new ID badge this year too.  I wasn't told about it until I was already at work.  The lady doing the badges pulled up my old pic and used that.  She is a BC survivor as well....so sweet, I didn't even ask...she just knew!

  • Carole01
    Carole01 Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2009

    I had my last taxol 10/27.  I did not buzz my head beacause I had enough hair that with a hat it just looked like I had short hair.  This week the hair that I had started falling out and I am yet to have any regrowth.  I am taking rads now but not on the scalp. 

    Anyone else had this problem.

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