Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Breathless - radiation doesn't impact hair growth unless you are having brain radiation. Your hair should start growing a little bit while you are on Taxol. Check the leg hair - that is what seems to come in first!
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Re: second chance eyebrows (sorry it's the previous page and I don't remember the two who asked):
I have much thicker eyebrows now than I did before chemo... kinda like what I had at puberty (before I plucked them to death and they gave up growing) LOL... so I think chances are very good that you will get more back than you lost.
Lilah
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ezscribe and breathless,
I,too, am wondering about (and hoping for) the 2nd chance at good eyebrows. I didn't overpluck mine, they just have always been thin and sparse. I'm about a month and a half PFC and they are growing back. I will let you know if they end up any better than before!
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Breathless - your hair may not grow while on taxol. If you are on weekly taxol, there is a good chance it will. If you are on a 2 or 3 week regimen, it probably will not grow until you are done.
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I'll second what Gilly said. I did Taxol DD x 4 every two weeks... NO hair grew on my head at all until about 8 weeks PFC.
Lilah
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Thanks Juli-CA - I did see the eye doctor about my eyes the other day. He recommends that I do nothing, at least for awhile. Not sure how long I can wait though. It's a little better but not much. Apparently taxotere caused the tear ducts to scar shut so the tears have no where to go but down one's face ...0
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RE: Eyebrows - My eyebrows were fine before chemo, good shape, thickness, etc... Like Lilah said the regrowth is reminding me of when I was young - lots of eyebrow hair all over the place. Again, don't want to complain because I missed them, but I think I'll be visiting a professional before the end of the week to shape the little nubbles. I did weekly Taxol and did have hair regrowth.
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Jancie we have a site if the hair doesnt come in I have been off chemo 1.5 years and not enough hair to go hatless yet and some ladies have been without it for up to 5 years ...
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My hair has been growing steadily since last Chemo Dec 7th.I had DD AC & DD T ..it started week 2 when I should have been receiving another chemo ...I thought that was weird because how did my body know I was done...I know it didn't just strange..I was shiney bald no hair so i noticed the sprouts right away.As of today I have a very short grey/drk brown (Oh thats what colour my hair is )..I go topless ...hated the wig ...hated everything that said "Aww she has cancer!!"brows and lashes hung in till the bitter end are are growing back now.
ML C
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Enjoylife - I read here on a thread about permanent hair loss with Taxotere. This is not something my oncologist or anyone else shared with me. I wouldn't have even known that this could happen if I wasn't here reading at BCO. Because of the knowledge I gained here, I refused to switch from Taxol to Taxotere when I was having bad side effects from the Taxol. My oncologist was surprised when I told him that there was a risk of permanent hair loss with Taxoterre and he has been an oncologist for 30 years. None of his previous patients experienced permanent hair loss with Taxotere. I know it is rare but it is probably a subject that doesn't get brought up at medical conventions, etc. Kind of like the dark secret that stays in the closet.
I hope that you will get some hair growth coming your way. Can I ask what chemo regimen you were on?
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My onc has never mentioned that my hair would not grow back, or that there would be a chance that it wouldn't come back. I am like you, I think it is a dark secret that stays in the closet.
In fact they really didn't tell me much about SEs or what to do about them. But since I am always on BCO, I knew what to do for most of the SEs, except fatigue and fluid retention.
Juannelle
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I read the thread about Taxotere and permanent hair loss shortly after my first treatment. I don't think it's very common and I hope it doesn't affect any of us!
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One L it is a dark secret we were never told it either and when you try and talk with any docotrs from your primary to the onc. they try to get off the subject and they say they have never heard of any of it B..S is what I want to say not after at least 0ver 6 percent of ladies like us have had this done its like your nuts when you go to talk to anyone about it. Sugar77 I sure hope none of you are picked to be affected by this and none of us were warned and YES I did ask if my hair would come back and was told yes and probaly more its a sad thing some of these ladies have battled the cancer and hair loss for 5 years and no one is imuned to it. I think all women should have a heart for these ladies and should make sure you tell your friends who have to take this drug that it has happened and can because no one else is telling them anything. I dont mean to come off harsh but it hurts me so much be have the problem it took 2 summers away from me the first was the chemo and then I thought I would be on my way back last summer and it didnt happen for me and I still have to wear a hat or get wierd looks and all I do is look at peoples hair and I have to work being single and a mother of 3 sons and they all have more hair then I do. I acutally had a derm. tell me I was left like this because my dad was bald hello i had so much hair before Taxotore they had to thin it to cut it. Please let anyone know to ask about the drug before they take it its the only way we can spread the word to help all the future women who can avoid this heartbreak.
Maura
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Janice I took taxotore every 3 weeks from mid may until August 28th 2008 and hercepten from mid may until April I did 17 total of them and my onc has been one as long if not longer and hadnt heard of it but he is now every time I go for my check up he hears it huh..I told him it wouldnt bother me if I was still married to some old guy who didnt give a crap but I am single and a young 58 year old who would love to enjoy my life and I pray every night to the big man to give me the hair nd I wont ever primp again like I use to when I was younger ha have to laugh or I will cry too much
Maura
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Does anyone know HOW LONG do you wait after Chemo to Color the Greys?
I was thinking this morning that we have a 3 year old, and thought I would continue coloring my hair for a little while longer (for him).
I thought I saw someone waited 6 months after CHEMO but not sure if that was just their preference?
Thanks Ladies
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I found these answers to your question on this website at this link http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/ask_expert/2005_04/question_30.jsp
Personally, I did the temporary rinse color when I was 3 1/2 months post chemo. My hair was probably about 1 1/2 inches at the time. The color came out pretty fast so I did it again about three weeks later and this time it has stayed a bit better (It's been three weeks since I colored it last time). It didn't irritate my scalp and my hair came out a very nice color.
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Suzwes- Thank you so much for your quick response! Maybe after RADS are completed in Mid March I'll color it to celebrate ALL TREATMENTS are COMPLETED!
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It's been a long time since I posted but wanted to put in my 2 cents. I was never told that taxotere could cause permanent hair loss. Reading here today is the first I time I heard that. I had 6 taxotere/adriamycin/cytoxan (TAC) treatments spaced 3 weeks apart with the final tx being December 1st. That being said, I have yet another thing to be grateful for because my hair is growing back. The hair on my head is about 1/2 inch long and it is still hard to tell what color it really is. In certain light it looks blonde (my natural color) and other times it looks salt and pepper.
And like others have said, my eyebrows showed up just this past week. I, too was an over plucker but my post chemo brows seem to be coming in quite full. I am going to wait another week or so and then have them professionally shaped. My lashes are very light in color, but are growing and I am hoping to wear mascara again for a wedding on Feb21.
Quite sometime ago someone posted that they were using some special hair products and I am trying them too. I am using Nioxin #2 cleanser, Nioxin #2 scalp therapy conditioner, Nioxin follicle booster and Nioxin #2 scalp activating treatment. All four products costed a total of $28. I think it is helping my hair to fill in. I had thin hair to begin with so I figured it was worth a try.
Leg hair and hair in the south seem to be back. Actually shaved my legs last week! Odd thing tho, I do not have any armpit hair. Not complaining of course, but it seems strange. Anybody else noticing this?
One more thing...I am not sure if it was this thread, but someone was wondering about airport security. I just returned from Florida. I wore my scarf. I hate my wig and do not have enough hair to go topless. In the Chicago airport, security didn't even make eye contact with me. In Tampa, the female agent explained that she would need to just pat around my middle and my back. She was gentle and when she was done said very softly, "good luck". In Jacksonville, the female agent explained that she would need to just pat me down on my scarf and my middle and my back. When she was done she looked me in the eye and just said thanks. So not an issue with wearing a scarf, or not looking anything like the picture on your driver's lic. And another thing about air travel, we were on Southwest airline and when we got to the gate there were a ton of children there. One child in particular was coughing and had a horrible snotty nose and just looked awful. Well, during chemo I turned into this germ phobe.(I"m sure I am not alone) and I was scared to death to get on that plane with that kid! I went to the desk and asked the agent if there was anyway I could board the plane first and I explained why. She gave a "pre-board pass" and said no problem. So before anyone else gets on the plane the people with the pre-board passes, along with their companion go first. So I sat in the front seat. Long story short......The snotty nose kid wasn't on my flight, he was going to Orlando! Oh well....A learning experience for me. It is never a bad thing to be your own advocate and ask for what you need.
Navy
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Navy - My leg hair came back first and hair seemed to appear from the bottom up! Although my head hair started back right after chemo. I think when I shaved my legs, that hair was longer than my head hair! I know a few weeks ago I was wondering if I'd have trouble traveling to Mexico cause I didn't look like my passport. Like you, I had absolutely no trouble. We flew from Detroit to Cancun. The security guard in Detroit, a wonderful elderly man talked to me for a minute and told me good luck. In Mexico and then back in Detroit everyone was very respectful and kind. No one questioned my long hair in the passport and my 2 inch hair going through security. I'm so glad everyone was so kind when I traveled.
Also, I've been using a Biotin shampoo for about a month and my hair is much thicker than it was - I can't say for sure it's the shampoo but it sure hasn't hurt anything!
Suzette
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NavyMom- I also had 6 rounds of TAC and am 3 months post Chemo. My hair is growing back-salt and pepper color and almost time for a clean up around the back of my head. I lost all of my eyebrows and eyelashes after the last treatment and they are back -- already had my eyebrows waxed and they keep filling in fast. Eyelashes have grown downward. Hair on my face and sides of neck is getting a little out of control-- may just take a risk and shave!? Shave the hair on my legs every day and under one of my arms -- leaving the underarm alone where I had axilla dissection- currently doing RADS and hopefully that will take care of that? The hair down south which no one sees of course is growing back the fastest and a nice black color!!! lol
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This is a pic of me and 2 other girls from these boards. We live in the same city, go to the same hospital and were in treatment at about the same time. We met for dinner at Ruby Tuesday 2 nights ago. I trimmed their hair last week. Alyad (on the L) finished chemo in June and I cut her hair up over her ears and short in the back. I (in the middle) finished chemo in July and Gramof3 (on the R) finished chemo in August and I cut her hair over her ears. So, you can see the variance in our hair lengths.
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ccbaby - great photo, thanks so much!
Judy x
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ccbaby: The pix of you lovely three ladies is an encouragement to me. All of you look great, and your hair is coming back nicely. Hurray!! My last treatment is March 31, so I hope I will have some hair by next fall.
I start three rounds of Taxotere on Feb 17, and this board is the first I've heard of possible permanent hair loss. And I was worrying about my fingernails & toenails!!! I will ask my onc about it -- but she's told me that getting the Taxotere should be "better" than my previous three rounds of FEC as far as managing the nausea. We are all pretty darned brave, tough women - right??
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RE: Where is the hair growing?
My last TCH was Dec. 1. I noticed my head hair began to grow before any other place and is now about 1/2 inch long. The second place goes to the leg hair. No hair under the arms yet but I don't mind. The south land is still sparse with no noticeable regrowth yet.
I can't wait to color the head hair! It is very gray with a few dark brown hairs widely scatted.
ccbaby- thanks for the photos. They give me hope for my future hair style.
Juli
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Hi all, just passing through to wish you all a good, safe and warm weekend.
Helen - how are you doing?
Hugs to you all, Judy xoxox
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Emegram- I was on 6 rounds of TAC and did not lose my toenails or fingernails.
CCBaby-- Lookin Good!
Loretta
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Same here. 6 rounds of TAC and no problem with nails
Navy
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I do have nail problems but was on AC DDx4 followed by the same of taxol. No toe problems but I have lost 2 fingernails so far and more will fall off later. They look pretty horrible as they get ready to depart. I also had some neuropathy in fingers and toes. Fingers ok now, still some in feet. But my fingers feel really weak - hard to open cans and jars etc. Anyone else notice this?
With hair -head doing ok but still very short though my head is covered quite well. My older osn says I look like a calico cat with all the different colors! No underarm hair but down south is coming in.
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Gillyone- After 3 months post Chemo-- I am noticing overall muscle weakness. Seems like the past 2 weeks I have noticed more when I am sitting down for a while and go to get up that I feel like an old lady and am only 43 years old! Who knows what Chemo did or will do to us in the future-- BUT on the positive note, We're still ALIVE!!!
Loretta
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What would we do if the doctors told us there would be permanent hair loss? Or even had the chance that it would not come back. Would we chose to not have treatment or would we continue on? I think I would have gone on with the tx, but it would have been nice to know.
I know I will be realy upset if my hair doesn't come back. I guess you could say I would be more than upset, but I don't know what an alternative would be, tx or cancer. What choices we have to make and then there would be one more.
Juannelle
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