Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Oh my gosh - I go out of town without my computer for a few days and look at all the posts!! I flew wearing my hat and had no problems at all. The security people barely even looked at me. So worrying was for nothing!!!
I think I am about 10 weeks PFC and can see changes in the little hair I've got. Still that soft velvety feel to it but now also a little color (grey/brown) instead of transluscent. It is perhaps 1/8th of an inch. Not much, but it does cover my whole head. I'm looking forward to going topless, but it will be a while yet.
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It is six months Jan 23, since my last chemo and I have a quite a bit of hair...it is thick, but really soft,much softer than it ever was before....I would guess it's about 2 1/2 to 3 in. It is a silver gray and I have gotten a lot of compliments on the color and am surprised it is this color since I thought you had to have black or really dark hair to come out with a nice gray. I have actually decided to keep it short and so far no curls at all. My eyebrows are a little wild in some places and a lot less thick than they were, but they are there so I am not complining. However something is going on with my lashes. Today I saw the opthalmologist who put the tubes in my eyes after the tear ducts closed off because of chemo. They asked me today how I was doing with the tearing and I said just fine, in fact I thought maybe I was starting to get that dry eye problem they talk about...lst the intern looked at my eyes and she said I had a patch of lashes on each eye that was growing the wrong way and she put some stain in my eyes to see if the cornea was scratched from the lashes which I guess were actually poking my eye.....Dr came in and said they had to pluck them out which caused me to to stupidly respond Will it hurt? I am sure all of you have been through a lot of pain and discomfort so what's a little eyelash extraction, but I don't like messing with my eyes.....can't wear contacts because I just never could master sticking my fingers in my eyes to take them out. Anyway, it did hurt a little, but trying to keep my eye still and looking down as they were doing it was the tough part...-I felt it a lot more on the left eye and that one teared like mad. They didn't have to do a lot....just 6 lashes on each eye in the same area on each eye. Guess something is still symetrical on me. So now I have to observe my lashes and see if any others start to turn inward. I have said all along they were growing down, not out and I am thinking maybe using an eyelash curler would help train them in the right direction. I asked about that Latise (is that it) and they said it would be worse because that makes your lashes grow faster and if they are going to go toward the actual eyeball would just get there faster. Anyone else have this problem with their eyelashes?
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Marybe - have you ever used one of those old fashioned eyelash curlers? They were around in the 70's and 80'. My cousin still uses one. It almost looks like scissors, you put your eyelashes between the two pieces and squeeze hard and it makes your lashes curl upwards.
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Sido - He's adorable! I have a short-haired Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Would you believe that my hair is so stick-straight that I'm actually considering getting a perm or body wave put in? Unless I style it, I can't leave the house - it's not wash and wear friendly.
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Thank you all for your wonderful support! I gave up smoking around a year ago now. I do miss it, but I know that I am better off without it. I am not going to have any surgery for the time being, I just want to enjoy feeling well for a while. (although, my stomach has been pretty bad this past week, I am not sure what is causing it : ( ).
Hope everyone is doing ok today, hugs to all, Judy x
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Hi Girls.......I'm back! With a new pic.
So many new faces around here, I couldn't possibly keep up! But you all have great support here. This thread is always "refreshing" itself with new gals. I think its great, and everyone...new or old...is there to help the next one.
Well I am almost 16 months PFC. The curls are not going anywhere! As you can see in my middle picture. (I hesitated to even post that one) But the first pic is me 25 yrs ago, look at my now pic! See any resemblances???? OMG! I couldn't believe it when I happened upon that blast from the past!
Happy Hair Growing,
Lori
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goldie, I guess it's true when they say, "what's old is new again!"
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Lori, you look great!
I'm at the point where even a good 5 o'clock shadow would make me happy. But, there seems to be more stubble every day so I'm hopeful.
Thanks Jane! Cooper's just my little sunshine.
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Wow, Lori, what a blast from the past and you look wonderful!!!
I am getting my first trim up on Friday, even though I swore I wouldn't until it was grown out more - but I want to get the fuzzies and dead ends off and see if some of those kinky curls come off the back. Pretty pleased with the growth so far.
Eyelashes . . . sigh . . . bottom lashes continue to fall out, but there is new growth so I'm not going to get too worked up over it, except it looks like I put one really long lash extension on just in the middle of my left eye on the bottom. Weird!!
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Marybe - My eyelashes grew in at weird angles too. I could feel them poking my eyes, and my eyes were irritated and itchy. They corrected themselves though, didn't have to do anything, I am hoping that in 2010, boobs and hair will no longer be an issue for me.
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Good morning ladies
I am excited because I am going to get my hair cut for the first time on Friday. I will be 5 months PFC. I am hoping that she will put some color on it. I want some highlights. This black hair that is coming in does not feel like me. Fingers crossed. I will put a picture up of the NEW me LOL.
Tammy - I was on weekly taxol too and yes my hair started growing about the 5th -6th treatment. We are lucky to get that jump start on growth. The whole hair growth thing is weird because it comes in so thin you think how is this hair ever going to cover my whole head. But it will! Mine never fell out again once it started growing.
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Lori - you barely look 51 days older, let alone 51 years old!
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Lori, you look wonderful!
My bottom lashes are coming out slowly, and I can see some growth behind them. I only really notice it when I try to apply mascara. I am trying to ignore it : )
Hope everyone is doing ok today, hugs, Judy xoxox
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Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Hugs, Judy x
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My hair started growing while on chemo - it's about 1/2 - 3/4 in long, more around the sides than on top. I am so tired of covering my head that I decided today would be the day my head would makes it debut in public. I went to work without my scarf. Everyone was supportive and seemed fine with it. I will say that the men had the hardest time with it. They wanted to say something, but weren't quite sure what to say. Overall - it was a good day.
Hope everyone has a great evening and wonderful weekend!
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Thanks again ladies! Especially Jane....I think I want you as my new best friend! That was a sweet thing for you to say.
Chelev, I hope the trim went well for you. I think our hair grows better if we keep getting those ends trimmed. As for the curls....you can see mine have not gone anywhere! I trust you will post a pic?
Jenn, congrats on going top less.
I was lucky with the eyelashes and eyebrows. Mine never fell out after they came back. Below is a picture of what I have been using on my hair. It is a dryer. I can smooth my hair, but don't get that poker straight hair that you get from a flat iron. It is made by Conair. Model #BC173. Sells for $54 on their website. I think I got mine for like $38 at Fry's Electronics. I really like it. I dry my hair with a reg dryer until its just barely damp, and then use this product.
http://www.conair-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=CON+BC173&HDR=HAIR
My best to everyone,
Lori
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Lori: I had wondered how you made your curly hair look so wonderful! I am 9 months past chemo and quit wearing my wig the week before Thanksgiving. I use MoroccanOil (which helps tremendously) and a round brush and blow dryer. I get tired and my hand starts hurting long before I can do a good job of styling. Maybe this is the answer for me. My stylist can really blow it out nicely, but my efforts don't compare. I think I'll go online and order one.
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Lori: I haven't ordered yet - just have one question for you. Does the heat damage your hair? Even before chemo, curling irons seemed to fry my hair. Since chemo, my hair is much more fragile so I can't use a curling iron at all. Do you think this product would be okay?0
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Rayhope, It does have 3 settings, a high heat, a low heat and a cool. But using the cool, I don't think will straighten it at all, never tried it! Maybe I should, eh? The high heat is pretty hot, sometimes I see.....what looks like smoke, but I think it is steam, from the damp hair. I hear you about arms and hands getting a workout, from trying to use dryer and round brush! You might be able to get the same results from any kind of dryer that has a brush attachement on it. This Conair, doesn't have a brush on it, just plastic teeth. And on each side, you can't see from the pic I posted, is like a velvet coating that your hair glides over, which after time, I'm sure will wear off.
I have bought so many things to work with my hair. I have different size curling irons, curling brushes, flat iron, this Conair dryer has been by far the best one for me.
Good Luck!
Shop around, don't pay $54 for one!
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Goldie, Thanks for all the info. I think I'll go ahead and order it today. You are certainly good advertisement for it!
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Just looked it up--it's on amazon.com for $38. Plus, free shipping!
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Hi All! I just got home from my first haircut and color in 11 months! I am almost 7 months PFC and finally went out in public without my wig!!!! What a freeing expierence! My hair is about 21/2 inches long and dyed a reddish brown. If I only had bangs and something that made it stiffer, it is so fine and soft! I will play with it and see if I am ready for primetime sans wig!!!I've been lurking on this thread for months,and finally I can contribute! Thanks for the support....
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Hi!
I've been lurking here for a while checking out all your photos and news of hair growth. It's all very exciting and encouraging - thanks for sharing!
I lost my hair within 2 weeks of my first chemo TX. I had it buzzed really short but not bald. It's been kind of like velcro and helps my wigs to stay on.
'm having my 6th and final chemo TX of FEC on Tuesday Jan 19 and my hair starting growing in the last couple of weeks.
My kids think I'm nuts but really I can see it and it is just starting to touch the top of my ears on the sides. It is white and very soft like baby chick down.
Will this hair fall out and then my real hair will come in when I finish chemo or is this my "new" hair?
Also, thanks for the info on going through airport seccurity - I was wondering what to do for our upcoming trip to California (I'm in Canada).
I will probably just wear my wig when we travel - I'm most comfortable with it.
I can wear my good custom fitted wig all day without trouble (it's the one in my photo). I'm just wondering if the sizing clips in the back will set off the metal detector? They are kind of like the clips you see on bra straps and I've never had my bra go off so I think I should be ok.
Good advice about getting a letter from the ONC - my passport photo looks NOTHING like the current me!
Thanks again!
Marie
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46674655@N06/4281815488/" title="steph045 by planegirl73, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4281815488_3aa9e5d7b7_b.jpg" width="1023" height="1024" alt="steph045" /></a>
Hello got my hair cut on Friday and she put a temporary rinse in to brighten it up. I am now 5 months PFC.
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Hi all, just popping in quicky.
Really pleased for the ladies who have gone topless recently, it is so very liberating!
Also, I don't think that the hair that I had during treatment (I didn't shave my head) fell out after I finished, but I may have trimmed it when the peach fuzz came in.
Hope everyone has a good day, hugs to all, Judy xoxox
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Yes congratulations to all who've gone topless. I'm very fortunate that my hair has been growing nicely (last chemo 9/23/09). I used a root touch up color and my hair looks thicker. I've also been using a biotin shampoo for a couple of weeks and my hair actually feels thicker. I look like I have a pixie cut.
I'm not taking a note from my onc when I go to Cancun this week (i don't look like my passport) but I have so many drugs I'm taking I figure they'll believe me if there's any question about my photo.
Have a great week everyone. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Suzette
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Suzette - have a great trip!
Judy x
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I was just popping in to see how everyone was doing. The advice here is great and I love hearing stories of our hair growing out. Goldie - your pictures are wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
I posted Friday that I went to work w/o a scarf - I decided to go to dinner w/o a scarf and walk the neighborhood as well. I think my scarf/bandana days are over, unless I need something for the cold.
Hope everyone has a great evening.
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I'm only 10 days or so out from my 6th and final TC treatment. I can't stand wearing a wig ... it itches and just doesn't look right. I wore it once, back in October and it's been in the closet since then. I have white fuzz over the top of my head, bald on the sides. Back to work this week, at least for a day or two (I've been working from home mostly since I was diagnosed this summer). My usual combo of bandana and baseball cap isn't going to mesh well with my work wardrobe. I'm flummoxed about what to do. And about my appearance in general. My eyes still water relentlessly, wearing make-up is impossible and I'm way overly obsessed about my thinning eyebrows. It all feels so minor after what I've been through, but at the same time, it's depressing. Today I had lunch with friends and just took the damn bandanna off and sat there bald at the table. Nobody looked twice ... and it felt great. Too bad I'm in New England in the dead of winter, I think I'd go commando the whole time! I'm hoping I can just feel my way when it comes to my appearance, and what to do with my bald head, as the days go by and I go to my office more frequently ...
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You ladies are right about the freeing experience. I am back under the wig, my scalp shows thru on top and I have no bangs so I will continue to wear the wig, maybe another month! I am so bummed, but I hate looking like a cancer patient, so here I go! Fri will be one year from my second DX, so many changes. I have learned to live for today and not worry about tomorrow! Thanks, Dawn
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