Hair Hair Hair - Another question
Comments
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Kerry, I'm with you. I was just wondering if I was the only one who felt this way!
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Yes sweetie...You will do it! And although the very first one, was so minor, you could barely see the hair on the floor, you most likely will want those stragglers that do not/will not conform to be tamed! 
YES! It will grow and you will be thankful, but you will tame it as you always have! 0 -
Lets do it Joia. 6 weeks out from chemo was when my hair JUST started kicking in.I was hoping to have more hair by now. Its growing in but I didnt realize how long it takes to fill in the bald patches. I think it has to do with the cycle thing. Eyebrows need a wax badly but I am scared of round 3 of the fall out. I will kick myself if am eyebrowless again. I am starting radiation this week. At least hair can continue to grow through out that!
I am with you Kerry, Nothing is going to prompt me to trim, cut or shape a single hair on my head I am sure for a long long long time. GROW BABY GROW!!
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Kerry - I thought the same thing. But then I had this really long stuff (really long hahaha...its a matter of perspective)on the base of my skull at the neck and some long scraggly stands that like to stand up. Last week I went in and had it all evened up.
I remember thinking, when Rock had hers trimmed early on, that there was no way a pair of scissors or any other cutting device was going near my scalp any time soon. That change of thought took several weeks but it did happen.
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I guess it would depend on just how uneven your hair was. Normal growth isn't always even...one side of my head that grows a little faster than the other (must have been dropped on the slow side as a baby, LOL).
But if I left my hair alone, didn't shave it before the great fall, and only had a few straggling hairs several inches long hanging in through all the chemo, I'd take them down as the new growth came in. The greater the difference, the stronger I feel about it.
When I had my second round of chemo after my surgery, the hair that had grown back after my neoadjuvant chemo was 1/4 - 3/4" long (see, there's the different growth rates). I didn't buzz it or shave it, but did lose almost all of it again.
Now that it's been growing without another interruption for about three months, it's between 1/2- 1" (for some reason, longer in center front, hence the "Skeezix" comment). It took a while for it to start up after the last chemo, so it's really only just hitting it's normal growth rate. I hope and expect to have at least 2" by Christmas and will ditch my wig. But if the center front has continued to outstrip the rest of my head in growth, I will have no qualms about trimming it back a bit to keep it looking like it's intentional.
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Nancy D. (and others with more hair than me...)
I stopped chemo Nov 10. I am hoping to have a few inches when it gets warm around here. Like, say, April/May? And get a really short sassy "cut" (or shape?)
Does that sound reasonable?
Springtime.
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Yes, it sounds reasonable. They (whoever they are) say about 1/2 inch is normal for a months growth. Really depends on the indiviual.
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I am sitting here reading (should be working) and just going nuts. It is day 12 for me after my first treatment. I am goign weekly and my third will be tomorrow. I am just in this waiting game for my hair to go. I am just miserable thinking about it. I keep telling myself that it is only hair and will grow back but right now it isn't helping. Strand here and strand there. I have very fine, thin hair already. How did you all deal with the anxiety of this waiting?
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With time and focus on the bigger picture. Hair will come back. It was the worse aspect to deal with when it was happening, worse than the surgery, but maybe that was b/c it's so slow in happening. Have you picked out head coverings you'll use? Wigs/hats/scarves? Or will you go bare? Being ready for it will help. Many {{hugs}} but this too....will one day be behind you and you'll be amazed how quick you forget the feelings of loss or of fear of losing that hair.
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Does it take a while for your hair to "ramp up" to the 1/2 inch a month rate? Is there like a "shocked" period where it's just waiting for another shot of chemo?
CristlC - Hang in there. I agree with Wish, get ready. I had cotton caps, ball caps, scarves, a wig, etc. The day I noticed it starting to come out a LOT, I went and got it cut short to a really short pixie. I couldn't bare to Buzz it. Then, it all just fell out slowly over time. For me, this was easier. Others felt that would be too depressing! You just have to do it the way that feels best for you.
Starting Chemo (anticipating it) and anticipating the hair falling out were the two hardest thigs for me so far. Harder than surgery, yes!
I say this whole BC thing would be a lot easier if you could just go through it with your OWN HAIR. But, alas.... maybe some day!
<<<HUGS>>>
Springtime
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I finished my chemo (Taxol) Aug 7. That I think would put me about 14 weeks out, right? Anyway, my hair is maybe 1/8' in length. I was wearing just scarfs and bandanas, because of the heat here in Florida. Now I am wearing a wig, I feel great, so I think I should look great. I hate to look in the mirror! But the wig works for now! When will I really see a difference? I hate getting "ready" as posted above. So much time and work. I am a throw on your clothes and run kinda girl. Now, makeup, hair, clothes and acessories, anything to take away from having no hair and to feel better of how I look. Cant wait to look "normal" again! Deb
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Oh yes. I was the wash and girl too, till there was no feeling of being a girl anymore
Then it's the makeup and jewelry and such....Now, that is feeling more normal than not. Wearing makeup and jewelry. Maybe b/c I'm feeling so old on this Ai now, that I need to feel better emotionally, if not physically.My hair started coming in (the fuzzy start) before my 4th A/C. No T here, so that may be the difference. They say it grows in 3 months intervals, so maybe that's it. How many weeks of chemo did you have? Perhaps you are in between that 3 month cycle and will be there soon?
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My chemo after surgery was for 8 weeks (I had for treatments every other week) with the last one being Aug 7. I dont get this 3 month cycle. Can you tell me about it. Anything for some hope of the hair growing.
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Well, not positive on the whole deal, but nails grow in like 7 week cycles from back to front, whereas hair (head) grows in 3 month cycles. So, if you lose it all on say, week 3-4, then 3 months from then, it should start growing again. But if you had chemo again at 3 weeks intervals, then it would be put off for another set of time. I know I'm not explaining this well, but there are those who can better explain and I pray they don't make me look too stupid! LOL
Seriously though. It's going to grow....I've only heard of those who are on it for long term having problems with it sometimes not coming back fully. Give it time, and eat healthy, drink plenty to stay hydrated and exercise. That's the best way to get your body back in shape and encourage all cells to start recouping, including those dead hair cells!
You know that hair cells are basically dead cells, right? So they aren't really growing but dead cells being pushed out of the body to be expelled! LOL Gross huh? Kind of like brain poop! Ewwwwwwwwwww!0 -
Golly, it seems like it could be a long wait!!!
My friend said her dad mixed Wiskey and Hot Sauce and slathered it all over his head to promote hair growth. I think I'll use this as a last resort!!!!
Springtime
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Well I'm finished with chemo and radiation and started my tamoxifen...I am sooo ready to look normal again. So I'm waiting on my hair.......and waiting and waiting.....and waiting . I look every morning to see if it's grown any??? I'm 13 weeks out of chemo and I have about 1/16 of an inch...still black/white/grey in color.....
I agree with Springtime things would be easier if we could have kept our hair.!!!!!!
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I think he drank the Whiskey and hot sauce Springtime. Than he didn't care if his hair was growing or not :O)~
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Yeah, I was thinking if the wiskey drizzled down into my mouth, maybe I'd feel better about my hair???
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I agree... bad enough to go through all this and have to LOOK sick. For all they know my cancer is gone and I felt fine. Now the chemo is making me tired and grouchy and now just waiting and waiting to lose the hair and then wait and wait for it to grow back. I am just in a bummer mood today knowing my hair is about to fall out.
Thanks Wish and Springtime for the responses. The anticipation of all this has me going in circles. Waiting on the bi-lateral was hard, waiting on chemo and waiting on the hair. UGH! Now I am more concerned with my hair than my foobs. I have only gotten expanded twice since my surgery on Sept 16th. Many are done by now. But I figure I can't have the surgery until Chemo is done so why rush the process.
I have prepared for the hair loss... I think. I have FOUR wigs ready. My hairdresser bought me a human hair wig that looks pretty darn good. I just don't want to be bald underneath. Then I went and bought 3 since insurance paid for them and they are pretty good too. One crazy one but the others look like my hair for the most part (although better I think - BUT I want my own hair). I did buy one sleep cap but wasn't too sure what I would like.
I am not married but have a serious boyfriend. I stay with him almost every night. He is so supportive and trys to tell me the baldness won't bother him. What man wants to sleep with someone who is bald and boobless. I know it will all pass and things will return to some sort of normal. I keep telling myself the final version of my boobs will probably look better than the originals and my hair will grow back.
Ok, thanks for letting me rant. I hope everyone's hair grows back beautiful!
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I have been pouring Rogain 5% all over my head and I feel like the poster child for a walking CHI-PET.
Thank God I have great wigs and will be very comfortable going out to those Holiday Parties I was dreading. The salon can dress up my wig the same as they could have for my natural hair.
Thank god for good hair dressers. They listen and work miracles! Cheaper than therapy and you walk out feeling confident to face the world.
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Let me know if the rogain actually works I am willing to try anything.
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CristiC,
I know exactly how you feel, just watiting for that day when the hair is supposed to fall. I was so restless and frustrated by day 10, and venting about it to anyone who would listen. It's almost like you get to the point where you hope (or think) that it won't happen, because there's such a delay. Maddening.
And sadly, I did not handle it well when the day finally came. On the other hand, I adjusted pretty well afterwards. I was like, "hey, I'm not so scary, so what I'm bald". I hope that you are not too upset by it - it sucks, but we all deal.
Now I'm part of the crowd waiting for it all to come back. Last tx on Sept 18, and just now getting some action on my eyebrows and lashes. I'm aiming for Christmas before I expect to be comfortable enough to go wig-less.
I lurk here more than post, so I told my bf about the 3-month brow/lash phenomenon and Otter's theory that it synchronizes their life cycle. He suggested some pre-emptive plucking to force some of them off-cycle, or something. I'm still contemplating whether this would be a good idea!
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StacieR... hmmm jumping ship early on some of the eyebrows that is something to think about...
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I am today 12 weeks out of chemo and I am starting to see hair on my left side its not coming in fast enough for me my hopes are to get rid of the wig by mid Jan but its coming in slow so far everyone including doctors told me 3 monhs which is my 12 weeks today I just hope it spreads baby its cold out there without hair I will never even use hair spray on my hair I will treat it so nicely I got a new 8 week old black schnouzer puppy and I think I will look like her with my black stickign up hair have to find humor in all this. My brows didnt leave just thined out and my lashes are getting thicker than they were before chemo. I finsihed rad last week when I turned 57 so I look in the mirror and see a fatter women than I ever was,half bald hairless and dots still all ovr her chest from the marks of rad swallen arm good god no wonder I wont say yes to a date.... I am NOT READY at all oh yes I am single ....hmmm
Maura
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My Nioxin "Follicle booster" and "scalp treatment" arrived today. I can just feel my follicle's tinging in anticipation. (ha!)
Spring.
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What a cute pooch EJ!! How are you feeling post rads? I Just got tattooed today.
Christi this is the true test for your man. If he can love you like he says though all this and be supportive till the end of treatments than he is a keeper!! I know its hard going from hot to not but its only temporary.
I tried going wigless with just a cap today but its about 15 degrees in MA. now with the winds and just was too darn cold. I didn't realize how warm my hair kept me. I feel for bald men. I don't know how they go out in winter with no hat on. They must drink a lot of whisky and hot sauce...hehe
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My head freezes every night between taking off wig and putton on cotton cap! Brrrrr!!!!
(pass me the whiskey and hot sauce ShellyJo...)
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Don't you girls get the hot flashes to keep you warm yet? Good heavens, I remember last winter here in michigan, whipping off that hat/cap every time I had one, and they did get bad, but I must say, being able to go bald really cools you down quickly
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Here's a funny incident. Today was the coldest day we've had since last February. I mean, I was wearing my winter coat with the fur collar, not just my jacket with a sweater underneath. I got to work and started taking off my coat, and then I reached up and started to take off my wig like it was a hat. It was halfway off my head before I realized what I was doing. (No one was around.)
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LMAO Nancy, I have been putting hats on over the wig and the same thing happens to me. It all comes off at once. Gotta be careful with that... I am cracking up and thinking how much losing your does suck on so many levels..:O) By summer we should have a cute sassy hair style to sport around right!!
Passing Springtime the whiskey and hotsauce...
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