Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Offer to show them the "other" bald spot.
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OMG GSG how funny was that!! Thanks for making me laugh!
Rock-that's great!
I hope all of you have a great weekend!
Tiff
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OK Rock, I peed my pants AGAIN!!! Peeps, just look to Rock's pic for inspiration. Maybe wear a pantyliner (matching the rest of your ensemble) on your head. I GUARANTEE nobody will say a fecking word!!!
XX
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After seeing rock's hilarious pic (again), I've thought of a new way to collect those shedding scalp hairs that are such a nuisance as we're going bald from chemo.
Love the earrings, dahling!
otter
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I can't get a break! I decided not to go back to the wig place because I didn't like the lady and really didn't want her buzzing my head. I didn't know how I'd react and had wanted to be with a friend instead of a stranger. She told me I had to wait for my hair to fall out before styling the wig after I driven all the way out there (over an hr.) after they said it was ready. So I called a friend whose cousin said she could style it. She's been busy every time I ask. The wig is sitting in my laundry basket looking like a wild mophead. So today I decided I'd get my ears pierced so I wouldn't look so manly. I go to the mall and no one is at the Piercing Pagoda, so the security guard pages the person, no one shows, so some woman pages her, she finally shows up and says I need a friggin' driver's license to get my ears pierced. I said it was in the car and I wasn't walking all the way back out to get it. But she said she needed it for info. I'm 54 years old and I need a driver's license??? So I said f--- it and left. H is asking why I'm not wearing a wig. I wouldn't wear it in the house anyways. He told me I looked like a guy when I went for a walk with my friend. Oh brother.
Got my shot today and still feeling fine. When I told my onc that a lot of people thought TC2 was the worst one, she said, "well at least you know what to expect". Then she asked me which day last time I landed in the ER with the constipation issues and I said, "Day 7" so she booked me an appt. with her on day 7 this time. She seemed to think that my body would react the same to TC2 as TC1.
Peeps
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Peeps,
Ah, sweetheart. I'm sorry, I'm not normally the kind of person who calls someone sweetheart. But my heart is going out to you. You deserve a frigging BREAK and all I wanna do is say "Oh, sweetheart" and give you a big hug and some pats on the back (pat pat pat pat). I'm sorry. (THere is a thread called "I bitch, I moan..." you might want to check it out -- it is also a good place for empathy not to mention the women over there are funnier than h*ll.)
My "professional" recommendation? Screw the wig, the earrings, the EVERYTHING this weekend and take a long hot bubble bath. And then buy yourself a treat. The fact that you have gone through all of these indignities and frustrations without hauling off and smacking someone makes you a saint in my book.
You take good care of yourself.
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Rock, loved your letter to Peeps - was the best. Fact is, I feel like smacking a few people now & then - especially the "friend " who said I was "lucky to get a "good cancer". Where do these people learn this stuff???
Peeps - please accept some bigs hugs from me. too! I'm thinking you got some good breaks coming your way.
Take care, everyone
Gail
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I saw someone the other day that went through all this misery like us quite young. That was 5 years ago. I was very disapointed to see that she still did not have any eyebrows. If mine don't come back I am getting them tattoued on. Anyone else try that?
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Peeps, I have to send you a hug. That person is over the top acting out with you. Why I don't know, but I think maybe she has issues and fears about Cancer I presume. Whatever; you don't have to deal with her at all. I walked and sweat all over NYC last week with an itchy wig on over a wig cap, then a I wore a scarf, then a cap. My cap/scarf combo is it for me until its snows. I can't do the wig yet.
I see so many women up and downtown looking so so good with buzz-cut/bald heads wearing gorgeous earrings. I may even try some earrings later that I would never ever have worn pre-chemo. My eyebrows have been leaving since forever so I love the tattoo idea. TY all for this thread.
hugs to everyone.
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I remember when my hair started falling out I went to my wig shop and told her to shave it off, and bought a wig.
I had her cut and style the wig, a style I would not have done on my own hair. I loved it.
I would wash my wig and put it on my head stand and style it, oh it was so easy.
Now my hair is growing out, I'm kind of at the in between stage so I'm still wearing my wig and what a pain of having to now do my own hair and my wig. I have never had really short hair so I still feel uncomfortable without my wig. Now I can't wait to get rid of my wig.
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Hi:
Feeling ok, thanks to all of you. Today a bad day, wicked headache probably from the Neulasta shot yesterday, then my laptop crashed. My brother-in-law lent me his spare though, he knows how much I need it. He was married to my sister who died of lung cancer 6 yrs. ago and he knows all about the chemo and misery, so fortunately he came to my rescue and I am back in business. Did a little walk with the dog. Actually wore my wig out with a hat on when I walked the dog. H said it looked ok.
You guys are the best!
Peeps
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Hi All!!
I'm in the middle of my chemo, will have radiation for 5 weeks and will have Neulasta for a year. Will the Neulasta keep my hair from coming back. I've lost all my hair now. I'm into wigs and turbans. Thanks for any info. Dee
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Good for you, peeps. Wear the wig like you have ALWAYS worn it. That really works..the fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. My eyebrows are worrying me too, as I think I've still got more loss ahead even though I'm finished chemo..only two weeks though. I'm wonderingif loss/re-growth is affected by how or if the brows were plucked beforehand. Any of you girls been into serious plucking? I haven't plucked mine (not even one hair) since 1980. I'm interested in how all this pans out. What do the tatt'd ones look like?
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hi all... I've been a hairdresser for 37 years... what I have learned over the years is that without chemo, hair will grow on the average of 1/2 inch per month. Some people have faster growth, some slower. It will grow faster in mild temps; ie; fall and spring and you have fall "fallout" in moderately cool temperatures. Each hair strand will last 3 -5 years before falling out and replacing itself. So if your hair grows 1/2 per month and last 3 years, it will not grow as long as someone whose hair grows 1/2 a month and lasts 5 years. All of your hair does not grow at the same rate, if it did, it would all fall out at once and replace itself at once. Most chemo hair will start growing in kinda patchy, grey & dark and curly. Most chemo hair will eventually be nearly like it was before losing it, but it takes about a year after it starts growing to get your texture and color back. Some will have more body, some less, some will retain some of the curl, some will not. If you did not have curl to begin with, you will probably have straight hair again eventually. When you first start getting your color back, it will usually look a bit faded. If I think of anything else or if you have further questions that I can be of help with, I'll let you know.
kudos to us all...
donna
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Kerry....I was a horrible "plucker". Meaning...I"m just damn bad at it. I never liked my eyebrows. For me...the eyebrows and eyelashes were the last to go...several weeks post chemo. However, they are the first to show considerable growth. My eyebrow growth has actually shown me my natural growth and how I want my eyebrows shaped. Hard to explain...but I Iook at them and think...Now that is the shape I always wanted! I actually plucked a new hair or two yesterday as it was "interfering" with my wanted look.
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SEVERAL WEEKS POST CHEMO???? A-A-A-R-R-R-G-G-G-H-HH-!!! On November 22 I am seeing my family interstate (Dad, bros, SIL, nieces) for the first time since all this shamozzle began in February.
They are going to be shocked enough as it is..without adding the full-on Cancer Girls brows as well. Sigh... 0 -
My eyebrows started coming in like crazy about 6 weeks after my final chemo tx. I never lost them completely, I've always had really thick eyebrows that I waxed regularly,they thinned a lot and I had to fill in the spots with pencil, but I'm lucky that I never had the full Cancer Girl look (never lost all my lashes either, there were lots of gaps and only a few left on the bottom lid but they did hang in there). FYI I had four sessions of A/C which supposedly gets rid of ALL hair. Anyway, after years of waxing they came back just fine, so I don't think the plucking connection is relevant. I've had them waxed twice since chemo and they seem to be growing in slower than before and keeping a really nice shape.
Donna, thanks so much for sharing everything you've seen. My hair color is sort of dull compared to before chemo so it's nice to know that's normal. I had exactly the progression you described -- gray/white and dark in patches, and then it started getting curly. 5 months post chemo I have about two inches of very tight curls, mostly dull brown with a bit of gray, that looks sort of frosted on the tips because of the white stuff that sprouted first. It is as thick as before which is a big relief to me. I had wavy/curlyish hair before but never like this -- I'm hoping it relaxes a bit as it grows because otherwise it's going to grow straight UP instead of getting longer.
Hang in there, it will come back. (I didn't like it when people without a clue said this to me, but I have BTDT so please let me say it!) I hated being bald more than anything in life -- for me, everything is easier/better with hair. I'm still dreaming of it being longer (literally!) but it is fabulous to have hair again.
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Yes, Kerry, it's a well-kept secret among our oncos that, not only do we lose scalp hair during chemo, but many of us lose our eyebrows and eyelashes, too....several weeks after finishing chemo! Just when you think it's safe to come out from under the wig, you find yourself learning creative ways to paint eyebrows.
It's not too difficult, though. I've never worn much makeup--mostly just a splash of foundation (or whatever it's called) and some mascara. Imagine, then, watching me figure out how to make scraggly eyebrow hairs look like a nice, full brow? Suggestions are available when the time comes (if you need them).
This post is meant to be a hair report. I'm 19 weeks post-chemo (NINETEEN WEEKS, folks), and this is all I have to show for it:
I guess I shouldn't complain. It's thick, and it has color (okay, the color of a mouse, as I've complained before). There is some curl, which I've never had before.
Today the young postmistress at our local, very small post office, told me she liked my hair. I explained that it wasn't a style I had chosen--it was regrowth after chemotherapy. She said, "I like it anyway--it looks good on you!"
That, from someone I don't know and who has no knowledge of my recent medical adventures.
otter
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otter, it does look good. I'm envious. Since I had the chemo again after my surgery, my hair doesn't seem to want to fill in as fast as it did curing my chemo break. It's very sparse, as in you can still see more scalp than hair. WAH!
19 weeks? That'll put me closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving, which was when I had hoped to finally ditch my wig.
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Otter,
For those of us who are newly bald that looks like a lot of hair!! And, I have to say, right now I would love hair of most any color.
I'm actually envious.
Chris
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Otter I think your hair looks great as well!!! It does take forever and ever..I am beginning to have dreams of having longer hair and waking very disappointed that it is not true! I am 26 weeks post-chemo and yes I have a full head of hair but it is crazy hair. Different colors if i don't color(yes I have used temp colors several times now) and wavy as all get out. I had lots of body in my hair to begin with so this is not really a surprise. I belong to a support group locall that is for younger women with cancer (under 50) and there are women who are about a year out and I am told that their hair came in very curly but grew out and then with each hair cut was back to what they had before. I cannot wait to get an actual style back in my hair. I too get compliments on my hair and reply pretty much in the same way.. thank you but not my choice really. Too bad there isnt some way to 'fertilize' our heads that is safe and really works! LOL
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Otter-your hair does look good. I'm 16 weeks out and mine is very close to yours! I too have that same color if I didn't color it. I'll admit I've been using temp colors a few times now
But now it's several different shades of brown...and grayish. Have you trimmed it at all? I'm going this weekend for a slight trim, mostly to clean up the back (neck area) I've got this strange cowlick going on back there...I'm sure when I walk into the salon they'll wonder why I'm there? 
I'm glad you're feeling and looking good!Tiff
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I too want Otter's hair!!! I'm still in treatment, it looks GREAT TO ME!!!
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Otter, I think it looks BEAUTIFUL!! Be proud of it and all you've gone through!
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otter - I'm so impressed. You look wonderful. I'm 16 weeks out and my hair is a bit thinner and shorter than yours. My color is similar to yours also or was similar. I have a very low hairline and when I wear my wig which is most of the time, the gray shows. The wig is brown. I had used a temporary color which ended up with a purple tint so I had it colored professionally last week. What a relief! Now I don't have to keep adjusting the wig all the time wondering where the gray is peeking through.
tiff2008 - I too thought my hairdresser would wonder why I was there. Not so. It felt so good to need her again. Last time I saw her was in May when she buzzed what was left.
and otter - I've been thinking that by the time my hair looks like yours, I'll be ready to go topless. I have never enjoyed wearing my wig but have had so many compliments that I don't mind it as much especially now that's it's been cool in the Northeast.
So maybe in 3 weeks I'll be where you are now. Always hoping.
looahvul donna - thanks for the expert info. I never thought to ask my hairdresser about any of that. My hair used to grow very quickly - haircut every 4 weeks although 3 weeks would have been better. I hope the pace picks up soon.
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Hi everyone,
Otter, I love your hair! I think it looks great! Mine is like Sandy's - a bit shorter and thinner than yours, only it has more silver (I'm not calling it gray). I think I'm 15 weeks out; I've lost track.
I've gone "topless" for 6 weeks now. It was too hot to keep covering my head, and I was just ready to move on. It was awkward at first going out in public, but got easier the more I did it.
Prior to chemo, I had full eyebrows and long, thick eyelashes. The eyebrows have come back, although not as full, but my poor eyelashes are short, few in number, and growing in different directions. I don't bother to wear mascara anymore, so at least it saves some time getting ready.
I'll post some pictures of the hair growth journey as soon as I can take the time. I do so enjoy seeing everyone's pictures.
Michele
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I keep staring at otter's picture. I love the color, style, waves and the shape of your head. I took some pix of mine - not easy to do and when I look at them on the computer, it still looks like chemo hair to me. I'd be ok with posting them and looked at the directions but am still confused. I use picasa to store my pix but am not sure where to find the URL. Does anyone have easy directions? Thanks.
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Otter your hair looks great I am so tired of hats and scarfs. Had my last chemo yesterday so I guess I still have another year left to cover my head. Does rad treatments effect the hair?
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Rads and hair. Nope! Not that I've noticed!
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Otter - your hair looks gorgeous to me! Just looking at it makes me want to run my fingers through it.
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