Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Day: I had ACx4, then CMFx4. In my case, the hair started to fall out at about the two week mark - it was actually Day 16 that it really started to rub off in the shower. It was pretty much all gone by three weeks. I see you had TC. I think most people lose their hair early on with that too. I know how traumatic it is to lose your hair, but once it's gone I think you somehow will not feel so bad.
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Best of luck to you janny99. Glad to hear your insurance pays for a wig. That was the one thing my insurance didn't cover, covers chemo at 100% but not for a wig. Just a thought...you might want to get a couple of wigs and perhaps file the claim on the higher priced one. I bought a really nice one for work, dinner outings and a shorter one less expensive for running errands and stuff. Take care!
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Mary, it's not that. It's that now I feel that I might have buzzed it off for nothing if it won't fall more than it did. Right now it's, as I said, non-noticeable.
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Day, I am starting to think the same thing. My hair started falling out the second week of my first FEC, so I had it shaved, and now I am in the second week of my second cycle, and it seems like nothing more is happening. I wonder if I should have waited, even though it is too late to change things.
By the way, can someone tell me what PFC stands for? Thanks
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Hi - PFC stands for "Post Final Chemo"
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dutchgirl, is your hair growing at all? Well, I expect mine to grow very slow, so maybe it IS growing but I just not notice it yet, it's only 6 days after all, and the next day after buzzing it I went again all over the head so I don't get any irritation from any nubs I might have missed. As I said, it doesn't seem to be thinner at all, maybe (just maybe) at the temples, but then I always had very thin fuzzy hair there.
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My hair started falling out day 15 after my first treatment, mostly in the shower for the next 4 days. I then buzzed it off to almost nothing. I thought the same thing after a couple of weeks, maybe I should have waited, maybe I wasn't going to loose anymore. A month or so later, I had stubble but you could see most of my scalp. It was still falling out just must slower than in the beginning so I just didn't notice it. Don't stress about buzzing it off, nothing you can do now. I drove myself crazy thinking I had made a mistake. Take care and be strong!
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Day, I am 21 weeks PFC and my hair is probably about 1 1/2 inch in the back, but shorter on the crown. I buzzed my hair after the first tx, I just couldn't stand the thought of it falling out. I have very thick hair and I also thought about not buzzing it, to see if I would lose it all. I am glad that I buzzed. After 4 treatments, I still did have some hair, but I kept it cut down to the scalp, because it hurts and it made the wigs uncomfortable. Anyway, about 2 weeks after my last tx, I was as bald as a baby's bottom. I mean slick. You may not lose it all in the beginning, but it will eventually all go. I didn't lose my eyelashes or eye brows until 4 weeks after the last tx. I thought I had dodged the bullet on that too, but no, it was not to be. I have not worn a wig in almost 2 months, I just couldn't take it anymore. In fact, I get so many compliments on my short hair, I may keep it this short, it is so easy to take care of. My DH loves it.
My Med Onc told me that I would continue to lose hair after the last tx and it probably would not start staying in until about 6 weeks to 2 months after the last tx. She was correct.
It never hurts to think you will be the lucky one, but with these drugs you might as well accept the fact that you will follow in others footsteps. I had TC x 4 and I didn't lose all my body hair, but it thins and doesn't grow much during the treatments.
I did find that once I buzzed my hair, I could move on. Losing my hair has been the most emotional and traumatic part of this journey. My thoughts and prayers are with you all who are starting this journey, I know what you are going through because I have been there. BC has changed my life and I am sure it has changed yours.
Hugs,
Juannelle
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, like most of you buzzed my hair. I did mine right after my first yx, I figured since it was going to come out I was going to have control over that one part. Since I had no real control over other aspects of my cancer I was going to contol the thing that I could.
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Juanelle,
Thank you, that is what I wanted to know, and it makes me feel better. Like you, unbelievable maybe, the loss of my hair hurt emotionally more than the loss of the breasts. I was really upset thinking that I cut my silky, waist-length blonde hair for nothing, and I am kind of relieved now. Sounds weird, doesn't it?
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Day - it doesn't sound weird at all. I can completely relate. My hair was long and down to where my bra strap does up at the back. I had just had it layered and long bangs cut in and finally got it to a style that I really liked. Ironically the day I had my new cut...was the day I had my first mammogram that set off this whole mess. Anyhow, losing my hair was very traumatic. Now it's growing in and am so enjoying the short 'do. I'd like it a little longer on top but I stopped wearing my wig three weeks ago at 12 weeks after chemo finished. I thought I might have been lucky and had mine not fall out but like most everyone else, mine came out, too. I never lost it all but I certainly couldn't go without a wig or head covering. I also think the hairs that do hang on end up coming out when the hair starts growing again. Kind of a shedding sort of thing. My eye lashes and brows thinned and then fell out at 8 weeks after chemo but grew in right away. Good luck!
Sherri
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Hello Ladies!
Well it has finally happened.....
TODAY is the first day I can honestly look in the mirror and say to myself that it looks like I have a hairstyle rather than hair regrowth!
I am 18 1/2 PFC!
I have had 2 mini trims in this time - mostly to snip off the white chemo ends and tidy up around my neck and ears.
My elderly aunt (not all there in the head) who hasn't seen me in 2 years told me over the weekend that my hair is very nice but I've cut my bangs too short! My dad and sisters looked horrified but I just laughed!
My sister put me on to Morocan oil and it is really affecting the texture and style-ability of my hair. I love it!
Most of the white is now gone and my hair is coming in darker - more of a steel gray tone rather than salt and pepper. I'm not going to colour it anymore.
I will try and get some photos and post them to the group later or over the weekend. Right now we've got a sick house with almost everyone out with a cough and cold. So far I'm holding steady - past the sore throat part and now just a bit of runny nose - this is the first bug I've caught since I was diagnosed last July so I feel pretty good!
Happy hair growing to you all and have a great weekend!
Marie
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Can anyone give me any recommendations for hair products? All I used during chemo (on my bald pate) and now was Johnson's baby shampoo. I did put in conditioner once or twice but it didn't seem to make any difference. My hair, which was previously straight and color-assisted brown, is now curly and gray. It looks dull. Is there something I should be doing to nourish my scalp. I feel its due a reward for pushing out all this hair so quickly. I'm now four months PFC and have a decent amount of hair.
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Mary - I am 15 weeks out from chemo. Three weeks ago, I had a protein treatment done on my hair at the salon. I am using Matrix Biolage Hydrating shampoo and moisture balm conditioner. I was using Nioxin 2 but stopped when I switched back to Biolage as my hairdresser says it has too much alcohol in it and that it's too drying on the hair. The Biolage makes my hair feel really nice and conditioned.
Sherri
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Thanks Sherri. Is Biolage generally just available through a salon or can you get it in a pharmacy?
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Mary - yes, it's available at most salons and at some beauty supply stores. I think it's available in the US. Here's link (look under hyrdatherapy):
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<<PFC stands for "Post Final Chemo">>
Thank you for posting that! For months I've been wondering what that stood for. I've looked all over the abbreviations and never found it, so of course I filled in my own name for it and, believe me, my "F" word was something entirely different!
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Sherri,
I think I saw it at Sally's here in Oklahoma City, probably Sally's sells it.
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Sherri - You were 2 days ahead of me in chemo tx and your hair looks much longer than mine!
My photo was taken about a month ago and now my hair is much thicker, but only about 1/2 inch long. My hair was a medium to dark brown before chemo and it came in all white and silver at first, but now it is black and white/salt n pepper. It's a new color for me, but I like it. I always wanted to go lighter with my hair color, but blonde never looked right on me, but I like the silver. It actually looks good on me. So far my hair is still straight and very thick, as it was before, so I'm hoping it will have some body this time, and not be as fine as it was before.
My nails also seem to be coming in stronger. Before they were very thin and split easily. I shut 2 fingers in the car door when I was a kid. One grew in split for about 15 years before it finally closed into a single nail. The other one is finally a single, whole nail for the first time in over 30 years. It sure is nice to be rid of that nail problem. Now I just have to wait for the ridges to grow out. (Unless of course instead of having wavy hair I am instead going to have wavy nails!)
Meg
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Meg: Your interpretation of what PFC meant is what we all call it privately.0
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Has anyone used Nioxin to prevent hair loss during chemo? or is it just something that helps with regrowth afterwards? I start chemo June 7th ~ when should I start looking for my hair to start thinning???
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Janny99, most times it starts thinning about day 14, I cut mine before that because I couldn't stand the thought of it falling out. It will definitely start before your second tx.
I did not use Nioxin to prevent hair loss. They are having some success with the cold caps, but I didn't try that, so I am not sure how it would have worked.
Good luck to you.
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Janny: I think two weeks into chemo is typical for the hair loss. But I see you are starting with once-weekly Taxol and then going on to CAF, maybe someone else who was on a similar regimen can comment. Have you got your cranial prosthesis yet? It's a good idea to do that while you still have a full head of hair so they can advise you on getting a wig that's similar. You can always go and choose a wig and have them put it aside for you until you are ready.
I cut my hair short before it fell out but didn't shave it. The people at Look Good Feel Better advised that.
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Sherri: I found the Biolage products today but they're expensive so I just bought a conditioner - Biolage Hydrathérapie Ultra-Hydrating Balm. This is in a tube. Is that the one you found good. Or maybe I didn't need the Ultra. The online reviews for the Hydrating Balm seem better. There were a couple of conditioners in tubs but they were more expensive than the tubes.
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Mary - my conditioner is in a white plastic tub. I'm sure the one in the tube is either the same or is equally as good. I've used Biolage for years and always have good luck with it. Before chemo, I was using the color care line. I really found the Nioxin drying so I'm very glad to be back on to Biolage again and my hair feels normal again. You'll be happy with it!
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Thanks everyone for all your input. I got a package in the mail today with a some goodies for my soon to be thinning hair. It was from 'Topsy turban', and I had purchased a gift set that had a couple pretty scarves, finishing scarves, headband, a turban thing, plus 2 sleep caps. I couldn't believe how excited I was, I guess shopping is shopping and something new is fun, even if it is for losing my hair!!! My 2 year old grandson helped me try everything on. I asked my daughter what she thought he would say when suddenly grandma doesn't have any hair.....she said he'll probably just point to my head and say something like "Where'd hair go?"....and not think twice about it. I think my daughter is probably right, he may even be wearing a sleep cap with me....
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Janny, I know what you mean bout the fun of getting something new, even if it's to do with hair loss. That's the way I felt when I got my beautiful silk scarf for free from franceluxe. If you would like one go to Free Headwrap or Scarf from L. Erickson USA. It wasn't just the scarf itself that was exciting but the way it was packaging and the individually signed card that came with it.0
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Well, all my second guessing as to whether I had my head shaved too soon is over, the fuzz is starting to fall out now. My DH noticed last night that I had a couple of bald spots on the back of my head, and this morning I noticed that the area around my temples is also fuzz free. So, in answer to your question of a couple of days ago, Day, no my hair doesn't seem to be growing, lol. How are you doing these days, any progress either way?
Sherri, thanks for clarifying the definition of PFC, although I am inclined to agree with Meg and Suepen on the true meaning of the "F"!
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Dutchgirl: I found that the stage when there were just some bald spots was the worst. Once it all came off and I was completely bald, I felt better. My head was quite itchy as the hair started to fall. Some people have noted that their scalps felt sore. Once I was bald, I could wear the wig comfortably.
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My scalp was itchy and sore when my hair was falling out but it also got really itchy before it started growing back. My hair is growning so slow and it is so hot here in MD not to mention the wonderful hot flashes I am having. I would give anything to have my old hair back. Good luck ladies, it's a long journey.
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