Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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What strength do you buy? Also, have you used the biotin shampoo and conditioner? I can get it from my prescription pharmacy and just wondering how many of the biotin products that anyone would buy and use.
Hope everyone has a great Super Bowl Sunday.
Thanks
Juannelle
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Juanelle - 5000mcg and I take it 2x daily. I don't use the shampoo but I did just order the Nioxin 2 starter kit on Amazon -- a different product, cleanser, and 2 products for the scalp.
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FYI, Biotin is a B vitamin and my Rad Onc told me not to take A, B, C and E while on radiation. Before taking this I would talk to the doc to see if it is OK with him. I know what mine will say, so I will get some but not start it until after radiation.
Thanks,
Juannelle
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Well, ladies, I am new to posting on this site -- but I've been following it for a couple of weeks! You all are such fun, and give a newbie a sense that coming through this might not be so bad after all.
I am a teacher and am going back to school tomorrow. I found out on Thursday that I will be starting chemo this Wednesday. I will lose my hair, and that came as a blow. I've always liked my hair as the best physical part of me! Since I'm with high school kids all day (they are the absolute BEST!), I decided I would avoid two adjustments - me with my normal hair, and me with a wig in 2-3 weeks. So I went wig shopping with my wonderful sister yesterday. I was NOT looking forward to this, and did not even know if I could do a wig. The first shop we went to was a disaster. The shop owner was not welcoming, and her wig selection was from the 50's. I left so depressed. But when we got to the second one -- OMG! The owner was wonderful. She has had breast cancer herself, and could not have been more thoughtful, considerate, and compassionate. She spent so much time with us and was honest and encouraging. My sister is shaving her head in support of me, so we got a wig for her, too! Anyway, this lovely person took a terrible thing and changed it into something that ended up being fun and not awful. I am so grateful for people like this. If anyone in the Nashville area needs a wig, PM me and I'll be glad to share her name.
When I got home, my sister shaved off all of my curls. I am typing with a soft cap on my head now, no breasts, and compression gloves. For the first time, I FEEL like a cancer patient. I'm working on shaking that feeling and getting "up" for my kids tomorrow. Say a prayer that all goes well, if you don't mind.
Thanks for listening. Sorry I went on for so long!
Sara
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I'm going to check with my medical oncologist tomorrow about Biotin. I'm going to have a 6-week space between my last chemo treatment and the actual start of radiation (Feb. 8th for chemo;March 22nd for radiation)...so I'm thinking perhaps I could take it for four weeks or so in between.
Magister - glad to hear your found a great wig shop. I agree they are not all created equally. I went to the wig store at my hospital and they were wonderful. It makes a huge difference when they are helpful, considerate and compassionate. Plus, it's even better when they have nice wigs and not stuff our grandmother's would have worn in in the '50s! I'm sending you good vibes that all will go off without a hitch.
Sherri
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Sara, welcome to our little group. So glad you have someone to help you through this and your sister sounds like an angel. Losing the hair is the most traumatic for most of us, but once it is gone you can go on to something else. Good luck to you. There are many good threads on dealing with chemo and if you need any advice just PM me and I will tell you what helped me the most.
Juannelle
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Sherri - I bought Biotin at Whole Foods. I would ask your ONC whether it's ok to take it (though mine said it was fine). It's probably fine but I think you have to let your ONC be the boss of you for a little longer
Marie -- Yes I too had less hair on my body for years... since my 20s/30s really. I stopped shaving my legs much years ago (once every few months to remove a hair or two). I'm sure that will stay the same. Eyebrows were sprouting a couple of coarser hairs before the chemo... now they are all rather lovely and uniform (and, I noticed, getting blonder with time... at first they were VERY dark - don't know what that's about -- hope it isn't a sign of me losing them again).
CCBaby -- you look gorgeous!
Michelle -- I think mine fell out a little at a time for awhile (while on Taxol) but then I did have a week where I kept noticing little hairs on my laptop (so am assuming I was rubbing them off then transfering them to the surface of the keyboard). Hope that's not TMI
They are tiny and there aren't that many of them, so mostly you don't notice the loss -- at least not the way you get the hair loss on your head.Lilah
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I also have a lovely sister. I was also lucky enough to have a wonderful department at our hospital who was a great help in getting me the wig best for me. I will be 2 years post chemo in July and my hair has grown back beautifully and I always had long hair and now I get so many compliments about my short style that I think I may keep it this way. The time has gone so quickly and it will for you and before you know it your hair will be beautiful again.
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Hi all, I can see that you have all been really busy posting over the weekend, and I have just skimmed over all the postings. Helen, good to hear from you!
So much snow here!!!!! Hugs to all and stay warm, Judy x
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there are seveal of us One-L that was neiver told and of course they blame it on if your father was bald even though you had so much hair you had to have it thinned before chemo... I use Biotn and I also take Vitiamn D and Rogaine for men twice a day plus I take a water pill for my swallen arm Lymphedemia and it also helps your hair grow and it has all helped I pray to go without a hat by summer June or May is my goal I also get it trimmed every 5 weeks and I think that has helped to get rid of the new fine limp hair ...just some ideas and I keep the faith but there are some ladies who do not have as much as I do for up to 5 years, and its not as small of a number as everyone thinks because some of them dont know to contact our site.. I am 18 months out of chemo and I wont wear a wig dont want to smother the folicles so I use a hat just my believes and my nails are starting to come around.. I hae no hair anywhere ecpet my head no legs etc..
Maura
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If I could ask for a miricle side effect not to have it would be give us chemo without loosing our hair all the rest we can handle because most of it goes away even th nails we can polish them in perfect world there would not be any breast cancer but if there was there was a chemo you took that worked that you never lost your hair ...
Maura
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I agree Maura about a chemo that didn't make you lose your hair. There is so much dignity taken from us as we do our treatments for bc. I am sure it is the same with any cancer, but I have never had to deal with any other. Thank goodness my dad was not bald, so maybe I have a chance. I can feel more new hair everyday, it is very fine and no color at all, but it is filling in nicely. I also found a hair on my chin about 1/2 inch long. Don't know where it came from, but it was attached. It is too bad they don't tell you all the SEs and that would include the possibility of your hair not growing back. But I guess that is too much to ask for.
Juannelle
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Sara - welcome and good luck...glad you have your sister angel and everyone here.
I am one year PFC and have lost my eyebrows again for the 3rd time and just started losing the upper lashes again - stopped counting how many times. Some one a few pages back mentioned salon installed lashes - I'm scared but would try that if you think it's safe. What do I look for in a salon that would do this. Can they also do brows? I am using code:ai and not noticing much activity on the brown front. Cannot believe this is continuing to happen after a year!!
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bobcat - I've heard of that happening as the lashes go back on a cycle.Hopefully it'll even out soon. Did you do TC?
I've thought about trying code:ai but since you didn't notice not much activity, I think I'll pass. There is a product for lashes called Lipocils by Talika and I found a salon in Toronto that sells it. The cost is $45.00 so I might give it a try. Has anybody tried it?
Sherri
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Eyebrows I have never got all mine back but there is a miricle out there by Laura Geller I ordered mine from QVC for 23.00 and it last at least 6 months and they stay on all day and dont look harsh like a pencil can. Its called a brow stick and its great the best money on all the junk and shampoo etc I have bought there is no mirlicle shampoo etc for our hair I know after 18 months but this eyebrow stuff works I thought of having some tatooed on but if you dont like it your stuck and I dont trust very many people with a needle anymore..
Maura
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Hi, I was told that after the hair loss with AC, it is unlikely that any more will occur with Taxol, in fact they said with many hair can start growing back. Were you also told this?
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Ladylemon -- a number of women who post here HAVE found that their hair started growing back while on Taxol. Most of those were women who had Taxol once a week. I had AC followed by Taxol but all were DD (once every two weeks); my hair did not grow back until I was 8 weeks PFC... AND my eyebrows and eyelashes fell out after I was done with the chemo. I think it varies from woman to woman.
Lilah
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I finished my chemo last Feb.Like some of you the hair on my legs was the first to come back.It was very coarse and would not lie down,no matter how much lotion i slathered on.It's still coarse a year out from the T&C 6 sessions and even when i shave them,my legs don't feel smooth as they used to after shaving before chemo.
As for the head hair,i have a head full of it but it's very thin,and that's the thing people notice first,as i always had VERY THICK hair before.I have what i call the "old lady bald spot",no offense to anyone as i am almost 72.It's just something i never thought i'd have as i always had soooooooo much hair.
My hair is however down to the back of my neck,ad i now have to use hairspray to help hold it in place..My eyebrows are pretty much back to normal,can't say the same thing about the brows.
My Onc did tell me up fron that my hair would probably start to fall out between the 14th and 17th day after the 1st chemo,and he was right on the money.He also told me it may or may not come back in like it was pre-chemo,but that it wouldmore than likely come back to some degree.
As for my hands,even though i'm a year out,they are still very weak,i even had trouble yesterday at the store trying to open those bags and pull them off the roll for the veggies and meat.My nails have gotten a lot better than they were,but my thumb nails always start cracking about 1/2 way back down the nail and i have to super glue them til they grow out far enough so i can cut them.
My hands and feet both still hurt,and my toe nails feel like they are growing in,
instead of out,they aren't,just feel that way.Dr says it's from the Femara i'm on.Another thing i guess i'll have to learn to live with.
Hope you are all doing well with your treatments,it's all doable and beats the alternative!!
Kathi
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Hi, I'm 16mo. PFC, and my hair came back S&P, curly and thin. Started taking Biotin, less than a month ago, so I'm hoping it helps. I've been going to a local hair salon, and haven't been real thrilled with my hair cuts, but it was cheap and I just wanted the frizzy curls off...So, Saturday, I went to a fancy salon in a nearby city, and got my hair cut real short and spikey. Looks like she got all the chemo. hair off, and I'm happier with it. Last week I noticed my arm hair was gone again, and I've been noticing my eye lashes looked thinner as well. I don't mind the arm hair, but seems like this never ends.0
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I talked to my oncologist about Biotin - he happens to be the chief oncologist at the cancer center. He told me that it was ok to take Biotin during chemo and radiation. I didn't find out about Biotin until I was almost done with chemo so I started it 3 weeks before my last chemo treatment. I am taking 10,000 mcg daily. I was on dose dense A/C 4 treatments and then dose dense Taxol - 4 treatments - did my chemo every 2 weeks.
I had a separate oncologist and radiologist but they worked at the same cancer center and worked together on my treatment plan.
This is the first time I have heard of any radiologist stating that Biotin would interfere with radiation.
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Leggy J I am going to get my style this week too I have been getting it cut but this time I want to make it so I can spike it hope it looks good. I need the lift I can see my scalp still but all I see on people is their hair its amazing I never focused on peoples hair until this happened and I am not trying to be vain just look liveable ... I am very excited to watch the hair fill in my derm. told me last week it had alot of hair folicles and they should come up but its just going to take some time it was much better than the guy who told me I was this way because my dad was bald, that is not true at all.......I hope we can all get our hair back it will help us get through this no one understands until they live it....
Hope for hair growth ...
Maura
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My Rad Onc told me not to take any antioxidants pills or use any antioxidant creams while doing radiation. If Biotin is Vit B, then I think he would tell me not to take it during radiation. I didn't ask him specifically about Biotin. I would certainly consult with the doctor before taking anything. We certainly don't want anything to interfere with the treatments.
Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Juannelle
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My friend just suggested getting lash extensions for a while until my own lash cycle straightens out. Has anyone used extensions or even false lashes?
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Jenn (our #1 Saints Fan!) from this site, gave me the name of an eyebrow pencil by Lancome that has a little brush on the end of it. I love it! It is powder-like. It goes on like brow powder, but so much easier to apply because it's in pencil form. I kind of outline my eyebrow shape first, and then fill in some of the middle with feathery strokes, and then use the brush to blend it all in. It works really well, looks pretty natural because it's not waxy, and stays on for the whole day. With my old waxy stuff, I would find it smearing a bit throughout the day when I rubbed my brows, but this stuff really stays because it's more powdery.
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I love the Lancome pencil for my brows - it works really well and I love the brush. I am soooooo tired of looking like a cancer patient!!!
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bobcat - I just had eyelashes applied on Saturday to fill in a very uneven top lash line - this is the 3rd or fourth time my lashes have fallen out, although this time the bottoms went first and came back, then the top lashes mostly fell out - just two or three long lashes and bunch of very stubby lashes - looked ridiculous. In order to have them put on, you have to have some lashes there, doesn't matter how short they are. They applied individual lashes with surgical glue, under a magnifying mirror. Took about 15 minutes and what a difference it makes - I only spent the money on doing it ($25) becuase I have to work a major boat show and as the pr person for our company, will be in front of the press, customers, etc. for a week and felt . . . well, I don't have to explain it to you ladies! They will last about 3-4 weeks, with care and will fall out as the glue wears off and the new lashes push them out.
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Hello everyone, It has been awhile since my last post. I am one of those people that went topless early. i hated scarves wigs and caps, but wore a cap. After only a month after took the hat off. My hair did start to come back on Taxotere. I am now 3.5 months PFC. Lots of thick gray hair. It has a gerber baby dennis the menace look. I lost my eyebrows and lashs 2 months PFC, they are starting to come back. Advice other than nioxin and biotin shampoo, I used Head and shoulders as a shampo during chemo, a good conditioner and a scalp conditoner from Amway. It worked great for me. The head and shoulders has zinc in it and helps hauir grow. The scalp conditoner helped with the dry scalp and I think helped the hair come back faster. Also started biotin after chemo, and take a good multivitamin also. Have a great air day Dianne
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I too use the Lancome pencil - in Natural Blonde - and love it!
But since my eyebrows are totally gone now I have a hard time drawing them on. So I figured out that if I scrunch my forehead I can see the natural line of my brow and apply the pencil there.
My own real lashes are slowly growing - I can now see them in the mag mirror and they are about 1/8 of inch long!
I've had lash extensions put on before BC and as long as you don't rub your eyes too much they stay on for several weeks. They typically come out when your eye lash (the one they are glued to) falls out.
Not rubbing was very hard for me because I am a die-hard eye rubber!
I've also used false eyelashes without any lashes and they work pretty well. I suck at applying them so I've trained my 16 yo DD to do them for me.
I wore them at Christmas a lot because we had so many parties and dinners to go to and I didn't want to look like a cancer patient.
There are differences to using them - with the false eyelash strip you can see the line of where it is applied to your lid (you can hide it with eyeliner) but with the individual/fan eyelashes you don't.
Also the false eyelash strip needs to be removed when you take off your makeup and then reapplied but the individual/fan lashes can last for several weeks.
Because I rub my eyes too much or they are alternating between watering and being dried up like raisins - I very rarely wear either.
I'm 3 weeks PFC and the hair on my head is coming in thicker each day - don't know if you can see in the photo below
The funny thing is that it is thicker and longer on the left side than on the right side but it is growing all over.
Happy hair growing to you all!
Marie
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I can't believe it! The SAINTS won!!!! And.......... I had my eyebrows waxed this weekend. Yes........ I had enough regrowth that I needed them professionally done. They look great - I didn't use the pencil yesterday or today - I have eyebrows again! I also noticed yesterday that my eyelashes are now long enough for some mascara and that my hair has gotten thick enough that I actually have a little side part going. Wow!
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Sara - welcome! Always feel free to come here and vent. Losing hair was one of the hardest parts of BC for me, and that together with no breasts made me feel just awful. I am now 6 months pfc and slowly getting back to normal. Still no breasts though...
Hang in there and take care, we are all here for you!
Hugs to all, Judy xxx
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