Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Firni ha ha about the panties...I figured out if you tell them you have your period they give you the sexiest mesh panties!! They're hideous but covers the important parts. I will mysteriously have my period for this surgery as well. Sorry some of us have a little modesty and don't like to be naked. My panties are clean why can't i wear them??
Thanks to all for making me smile and laugh in reading your posts! I soooo appreciate everyone here!
Love and hugs to all!
Diane
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I realize that this has nothing to do with hair, but it is on the topic of undies and surgery. Many years ago, when I had my wisdom teeth removed, I had it done under a general at the hospital. I was told to remove my panties, and I asked why, since the surgery was going to be on my mouth. They said that it was a matter of being sterile. Whatever. When I had my lumpectomy and AND, I was allowed to keep my underwear on, both times. I guess dental surgery was more of an infection risk than cutting my body open
. Different hospitals, different rules.0 -
I'm so sure, Dutchgirl. I certainly would have questioned having to remove panties for oral surgery. But you are right about different hospitals having different rules. My Mx and expander placement surgery was long so I had a cath. Had 2 other surgeries at another hospital. Panties OK. Last few surgeries at another hospital, panties not ok. I really don't have much modesty left. Just would prefer no one could see my fat thighs and belly. Panties don't help with that.
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Can you tell me why my post chemo hair curls up instead of down? grrrrr
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those that received AC treatments followed by Taxol ..... hair began to grow back even during Taxol treatments?
It sure seems as if it is on my legs & hoo ha (LOL)
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Mine didn't start for 2 months after my last chemo.
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Have a question - Am 23 wks from last chemo, am still on Herceptin, have 1 1/2" growth, and suddenly the last couple days my head has been really sensitive/sore. ?? Same feeling I had for a couple days right after my hair all came out. Anyone else have this? And wonder why?? No shedding of new growth that I can tell - just thought it a little odd. (Of course, what ISN'T a little odd when dealing with this BC experience!)
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Hi Everyone,
I am a cold cap user (Elasto-Gel Caps) designed by Edward Stout.
I have had one chemo treatment. AC x 4 (bi-weekly), then Taxol X 12 (weekly), then lumpectomy, then radiation.
It is day 13 and so far no hair loss anywhere....maybe too early...but, I am thinking positively. I chose the Elasto-Gel Caps because I thought the fit would be better, and it does fit tightly over the head. I will let you know how it goes as my treatment continues.
I was given a Rx for Latisse, but I have blue eyes and hesitate to chance turning them brown. I am very curious how often that happens. One woman where I am taking my treatments told me that she uses the Latisse....al lot of the women there do....and to save money, she bought a small, thin artist's brush because the one that comes with the Latisse is so big, and her Latisse lasts her about three months, so the $98.00 (Walmart) is cut in third. I may try it....and will let you know. Oh, the lady's lashes are in good shape and long, she never lost hers, but she said they did thin out some, but the Latisse has lengthened her lashes, even longer than before chemo. Sje had light green eyes and she said the color did not change.
Loreal Lash Boosting Serum --- I bought and used this on my lashes before I knew I had cancer, and I definitely did feel it worked well enough to buy it two more times. I like it, and fell like it does condition and keep my lashes from being too dry. There is a mascara that goes along with it. I buy it at Walgreens for about $25.00. You can buy the serum for about $13.99 and the mascara with the serum in it for about $12.00. Usually you can buy one get one half off at Walgreens. I stopped using it when I found out about the cancer....duh!
I am taking large amounts of vitamins, especially Vit. D (which I am low in, as are most cancer patients.) I do cut all but the Vitamin D out 10,000 IU daily two days before chemo, and start up again two days after.
I also am using Vitamin D to rub on the scar I have from my port and it does look very good....but the rubbing of the scar is what really flattens it out....you need to rub your scars for at least two months a few times a day. Vitamin E, can actually toughen and sometimes thicken scars, so I use it only internally. Any oil or petroleum jelly works well on scars, but I prefer Vit. D, and petroleum jelly next, so my fingers can glide over the scar. I concentrate on any 'high spot' on the scar while rubbing over the whole scar in many directions.
Diagnosed: July 2010 IDC Stage II, Grade II, Tumor Size .1.6cm, ER+, HER2-
Treatments: AC x 4 (bi-weekly, Taxol x 12 (weekly) then lumpectomy, then radiation
Treatments so far: Chemo 1 of 8 (AC)
Worst Side Effect for me so far: Nausea
Regrets: That I allowed my family and doctor to convince me to install the port. (Yes, I know...it is easier...I just wish I hadn't.)
I just thiought I would add this information, in case it helps someone.
All my best!!
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Hey, I lost all my eyelashes 7 weeks PFC and I started using the L'Oreal serum too and I feel it is working pretty good! My lashes are coming in nicely and very thick (thicker than they used to be, I think!)
The hair on my head is now about 1/4 to a 1/2 inch and coming in a color similar to my old color... a dirty blonde. Haven't started the "chemo curl" yet.
((Hugs to all))
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Hi Peggy: It will be interesting to see how the cold caps work. AC is tough on the hair. I had dose-dense AC*4, then CMF*4. My scalp hair fell out after the second treatment. It was Day 16 or 17. I didn't really notice when the other hair fell out (leg, underarm, pubic hair) but I was certainly completely hairless by the fourth or fifth week. That's exept for eyebrows and eyelashes. They fell out a week or two after I finished chemo.
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Hi, arubajan05... I just bought some more Loreal Lash Serum....I'll try it first, then maybe the Latisse.
MaryNY...yes, it will be interesting to see how the caps work. I also joined the Cold Caps forum...there is a lot of information there. Most use Penguin Cold Caps, I chose the Elasto-Get Caps....they are much more simple, and I like the fit.
I can't wait til the medical world finds a cure without all these barbaric remedies. All this seems too extreme for me....at the same time, I feel grateful we have what we have.
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Hey Peggy! WELCOME and Congrats on having one treatment done!! Just remember protein protein protein. Are you taking Emend for nausea? If not you may want to ask your onc, it saved me.
My PS did not recommend Latisse to me because of it potentially affecting eye color and he said once you stop everything falls out and goes back to how it was before you started using it. I think a lot of us didn't lose lashes and brows until after treatment. My PS says with lashes you just have to be patient which I totally am NOT
My PS also recommended Mederma Scar Remedy. It's a little pricey but I think it works. I did not have a port because I did not want the scar and the nurses HATED me every time I had treatment. I think they drew straws to see who had to find the vein.
Good luck with you through treatment and with your hair..it's the worst part of chemo in my mind but hopefully by next summer it will all be a distant memory
Diane
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Peggy - I also regret the port. I am about 16 months post chemo, I the scar has healed nicely, but it has changed the pigmentation of my skin. I had the port in my arm, so I have a big dark spot that is very noticable. It is a constant reminder of the chemo. I wish it had been explained better to me, because I would not had had a port! However, I am trying to think of it as a reminder of what I have conquered and how well I did. I like my scar about as much as I like my chemo curl!! (But at least its hair). Good luck with your caps. I hope they work for you.
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Hey all!
I'm new to the thread so I apologize if I ask some repeat questions.
I had 4 doses of AC followed by 4 doses of Taxol, eow.
My last infusion was 8/5. I lost pretty much all my hair on my body, except a few stragglers here and there. My hair was very dark, and my eyebrows and lashes were black. Now I see some white, soft fuzz on my head, and it's freaking me out a little bit. I'm only 27 so white hair is a little nerve-wracking for me.
I'm very impatient about getting my eyebrows and lashes back. Any suggestions for boosting their growth? My onc said Latisse is very expensive, and I really don't have too much money. But I'm really, really wanting them back though...
Any thoughts on when I might actually be able to go scarf/hat-less? It feels like it's taking foreverrrr....
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Hi there - I see a lot of chat about latisse or the L'Oreal lash booster stuff. Is there some reason not to wear falsies? Now I don't mean like big ugly glam falsies, but just something small to at least have some lashes. Is that not okay?
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MelBell: I was about 15 weeks post chemo before I went wigless/hatless. I had AC*4, then CMF*4. Your chemo regimen would be harder on the scalp, so it may take a little longer. I think you will start to see the darker hair coming in soon. In my case I had to give up on my wish for dark hair as I'm much older than you and didn't realize all the grey and white that was being covered up by my haircolor.
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To Nodapearl and Peggy and those of you who regret having a port.
Did you have a treatment in the vein before getting the port? I did and I had a reaction at the site. It was like a burn from the inside out. They used the vein in my hand and I now have a loss of sensation in 2 of my fingers. I got a port for my next treatments and wish I had started with one. I don't mind a little scar to be able to keep the feeling in the rest of my fingers.
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Hey MelBell! Welcome! I too had a lot of the white "peach fuzz' stuff.. it only lasted a week or so on my scalp but it is still evident on my face. I am 9 weeks PFC. I have about 1/2" of hair on my head now; i think it is a bit darker than my original color, but so far i am happy it is not dark or gray. I am 43 and never colored my hair... it was thick and blond and I loved it. I hope I get something close back...this is the hardest part for me. It does take FOREVER!!!!
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Lots of great discussion on here about eyelash serum and general hair growth.
My lashes and brows fell out before my last chemo treatment - between 5 & 6 I think. I did wear false eyelashes for a bit over the holidays but found it a pain to put them on. My sweet daughter offered to put them on for me when I needed to wear them. She uses the individual lashes and so she was really good at putting them on me.
After they were completely gone and I'd finished chemo (01/19) I started using Rapid Lash and I have to say that it really worked for me. I used it on my eyebrows too and they filled in nicer than pre-chemo!
The hair on my head is that fuzzy chemo curl and I just go with it. I put a bit of Morrocan oil on it to keep it soft and shiny and I'm loving how quick and easy it is to get ready now.
I've had 4 hair "trims" and the last one was a big cut with lots of shaping. The hairdresser even blew it out and gave me the look of bangs!
It's hard to say how much it's grown now since I've had many trims but I'm almost 8 months PFC with thick curly hair (no bald spots) that looks like it's in a style rather than a grow out.
As for the port regret - I am glad that I did not get one. I had a PICC line and I only have a small brown spot where it went in on the inside of my upper arm. Although at the time I had a terrible reaction to the dressings and had to go in 3 times weekly for "maintenance" - once I got that under control it was a breeze. I too had an allergic reaction to the E (in my FEC) and after the first vein infusion I was ordered the PICC.
I would highly recommend a PICC to anyone.
Well that's it for me today ladies - I've just had my TE surgery yesterday and I should probably lie down for a bit now.
I'll check in with you again and in the meantime Happy Hair Growing to you all!
Marie
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I am so disappointed with my hair growth!!! What is going on? I am 7 months post TC and my hair is thin and straight!
In 2006, after my first bout with BC, my hair grew with a vengeance. Wild thick curls, which was my regular hair. I always had thick hair!!! I spent so much money straightening and smoothing it.
Now I have baby soft thin, straight hair. I hate it with a passion. HELP!!!
Brenda
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Brenda
Sorry your having hair troubles. I take Biotin and Vitamin E. I also shampoo, condition and treat my scalp with Nioxin For Chemically treated hair. Since I haven't had to regrow hair before I can say I think its working for me ... BUT my BIL uses Nioxin system too and he has more hair on his head now then he did 20 years ago!!!
Good luck!
Diane
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Thanks, Diane. I've heard so many good things about Nioxin. But I have more questions:
Should I stop using my Ovation Cell Therapy?
Is it possible, 7 months PFC, that I am still losing and regrowing hair? I am saying this because I see that my hairline is constantly changing. Sometimes I have the little hairs on the hairline and sometimes they're not there making my hairline more defined and looking like I did before I lost my hair!
Thank you for any input you may have.
Brenda
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helloooo ladies... this is the most recent chat about hair so i thought id start here. I'm 17 and woke up with all my hair on my pillow! i guess i should of shaved it... this is the most traumatic thing ive ever had to deal with. i just started school and i have no idea how to deal with all the stares at school... losing my hair doesnt really help with how self concious i was feeling from all the steroids.. i have zero self esteem anymore! how do YOU deal with it.... how do you make yourself feel confident again??
erin
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Oh Erin, you're so young to be dealing with this! Well, I haven't lost my hair yet, probably next weekend, but I was just watching some videos on youtube about tying scarves and making them look pretty on your head. Some of them were Arab or Muslim women, and the colors and makeup were absolutely gorgeous. I don't usually wear very heavy makeup, but I can see how a little more definitely accentuates the face. Coordinating the scarf color with what you're wearing makes it look really put together.
Also, a person is not defined by their hair. Allow yourself some time to recover from the shock, and then try to find some scarves, or even a wig, that makes you feel good. There are some really good wigs these days that, if fitted properly, are nearly undetectable. Maybe your mom or a friend can go shopping with you today?
Teenagers can be immature and may not understand what you're dealing with, but hopefully you have a few close "real" friends who will stand by you and love you through this difficult time. Hold your head high, and keep visiting here - the ladies here are wonderful.
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Erin, why did your hair fall out? Are you having chemo?
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MellBell: I think everyone just about has their hair come in white at first and I shaved this off after it got to about an inch long. The regrowth is darker but I do notice alot more grey then I had before.
MrsNice: I have heard that after chemo your skin is very sensitive and you could actually pull off your skin along with the adhesive while removing false eyelashes, plus it would delay regrowth even further. I got real creative with Revlon waterproof eyeliner. It gave the illussion of eyelashes until they started to grow in. I also used Clinique's brow powder brush combo to draw on my brows and still use it as a filler.
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Erin: Only 17! It's just not right. Get yourself to a wig store and you can find a real hair wig for around $60 in a modern cut. It's not as nice as the $300 ones, but I have 3 that I have used and they look pretty natural. You just wash them and hang them on a wig stand to dry. The real hair ones cannot be blown dry but they can be flat ironed and curled. Be strong! You will get through this.
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I have this blonde peach fuzz hair on my face, down from the sideburn along the chin line. Does anyone else have this? Does it go away, fall out? Should I get it waxed. I've never been a hairy person, and this is really grossing me out. Thanks for any advice.
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Hi Erin,
I didn't want people staring at me either, so I bought some wigs and started wearing baseball caps with wigs. They even sell 1/2 wigs to wear under caps. I got ones that looked like the way my hair was before it fell out. I finished chemo in May, and my hair is still really short-looks like a crew cut, so I'm still wearing my wigs. I found that I wasn't comfortable in scarves. I didn't want people looking at me and knowing I had cancer. I admit I'm tired of wearing wigs and hats, but I feel more feminine and more myself with long hair, even if it isn't my own. Do what feels right for you. And yes, I shaved my hair off when it started falling out. I think having it be my decision, and taking control by cutting it myself helped my mental state. But, I did cry at times, hair is a very personal thing to lose. First my breast, then my hair. But you get through it, and it does get better. Good luck to you and God Bless!
Margie
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Margie: Yes, I have the peach fuzz too, and I am hoping it goes with the rest of it!
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