Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Didel: I can confirm that your onc is correct about eyelashes and brows post chemo. I am 14 months pfc (did TC x 4), and lost my lashes 3 times. Brows thinned, but there was always something there. I first lost my lashes at 8 weeks pfc, and they grew back fully in about 5 weeks. The next time I lost them was about 3 months later, and they grew back in 3-4 weeks. The last time was much more staggered (at around 8 months pfc), and the regrowth was also much quicker. Now, the lash/brow fallout seems to have stopped... finally.
Irr4993: Those tiny little hairs are in fact new growth. Give it two weeks and you will see new lashes that will be long enough for mascara again.
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Ruth - I am 4 months post chemo and my hair was coming in straight but now is getting curly (which is what my hair normally is). I would advise you to look in magazines or online for short styles that you like and take them to your hair stylist. That's what I am doing. I agree with arubajan - mine is starting to poof on the top a la Elvic Presley - yikes! Hope this phase passes soon. InTwoPlaces - yes, it was tough to lose lashes and brows, but I used good makeup (Smashbox has great brow makeup - Sephora sells it) and bought red eyeglasses, and not a single person ever notices - I swear. Hang in there!0
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The lashes do seem to grow fast. I just a couple of days I can now see the bottom ones coming in pretty well. Still too short for mascara, but now visible without straining my eyes. In the meantime, my top lashes are rapidly disappearing. Yikes!
Why on earth do they fall out this far out (I am almost 9 wks PFC)?Toni - do you have the little wax/power smashbox set with the purple top? That is what I have - it has worked well. I am particularly happy to have the wax as some of my new eyebrow growth is out of control in terms of direction and staying in place. It is like old man eyebrows!
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My brows and lashes fell out slowly, but seemed to take forever to grow back in. I think it depends on what chemo you're on. I had 4 dose dense AC and 12 weekly Taxols. My hair started growing in about 6 weeks into the Taxol, so I was happy about that. It is so crazy now.
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8 weeks PFC, TC, well 54 days, still got lashes, brows thinning but still there. I hope they hang on. Hair growing but slow, i still see scalp everywhere. I look kind of like a porcupine lol. But with very soft quills. Using Nioxin 2 shampoo system and taking 5,000 mcg biotin.Hair growing on my body too but very light and soft even after i shave it.
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Last wed. Was my last TCH treatment and I lost half an eyebrow and most of the lashes on my right eye. For about two weeks now I have been using "rapid lash" and my lashes and brows are growing in. Just wanted to share what seems to be working for me.0 -
Had my last TC today! So now I can hope to see my teeny white hairs that are growing in to get longer... hopefully faster... and fill in with something other than this see through stuff. Really hope my ooph on 2/28 doesn't stall growth. I'm 44 and doc doesn't believe it will cause any effect on my hair growth.
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Yeah!!!!!!!!!! CC4npg mines is this THURSDAY! I am so excited now the waiting game begins......
Kittycat: my eyebrows are soooo short. I just add mascara and no really notices all that much. Winter here in the nations capitol is cold this year which has really helped get me through treatment, because if I wasn't sick I would still be in the house hiding from the cold.
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Congrats Angelisa!! I am almost 5 weeks PFC and am seeing some good growth. I can still see my scalp, but there is hair there!! It is coming in dark on the sides and back, but snow white on the top!
Best wishes on Thursday Fighter!!!
Tiffany
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I'm having my 4th TH tomorrow and my hair is coming too
Mine is coming in white on the sides and dark on top 
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In two places- too bad we can't trade so we are dark all over!!0
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Kittycat: My brows and lashes are taking their sweet time growing back also. I still don't have a single bottom lash and I'm 7 weeks PFC. My brows never totally fell out, but they don't seem to be doing much either. The top of my head finally seems to have a few sprouts.
CC4NPG: I've got to have an ooph also. I had an appt today to discuss it with the gyn but I didn't get to see him because he left to deliver a baby and I made another appt. rather than hang in for what could be a long wait. Glad to hear that the ooph doesn't affect your hair. I had wondered about that.
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CC4 Congrats on your last TC!!
Fighter good luck with your last treatment on Thursday!
Hope everyone is having a good week, and staying warm.
Diane
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Dear all,
As a researcher, former cancer patient, and a participant at bc.org boards, I have become interested in learning more about patients' reactions to the information they receive as they are diagnosed and presented with treatment plans that involve chemotherapy.
This interest has led to the development of a survey that asks about experiences with patient education materials provided at oncology centers across the nation. This is a formal study, and the research protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Brown University, where I am on the faculty of the Division of Biology and Medicine.
The survey is anonymous and brief. It will take you about 15 minutes to complete the survey.
To participate in this research, here is the link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PatientEducationMaterial
Your participation will add to the body of information on this topic and is intended to contribute valuable data regarding patient education materials for oncology patients.
Above all, I hope you are well.
Warmest regards,Marjorie
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I am glad to hear about the hair growth with the ooph. I have to get an ooph in the next couple months. I'm really not looking forward to it, but know that it is necessary. Besides, I'm already living a menopausal life after chemo!
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I'm now five months PFC,and thought I would report in. My brows continue to drop out just as other parts are growing in, so I have what I call the "moth eaten carpet". I have read over and again that brows and lashes never fully recover from chemo, what has been folks' experience with that? My lashes are dreadful, also falling out in cycles.
I have a full covering of hair, same color, same amount of grey, a little more wavy. It is incredibly short, only 3/4 inch after all this time! I trimmed it twice, so it would otherwise be about 1". Mine took months to fill in fully. I bounced back so beautifully for the most part, but my hair really was S L O W.
At the end of the day, I understand why hair is such a big deal. It has been a much, much bigger deal for me than I could ever have anticipated.
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MPH - My brows and lashes came back pretty quickly, but the hair is slow. I am 4 months PFC and seem to be in the same ballpark as you. My hair is very grey but maybe coming in a little darker as time goes on.
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Ladies - here's hope! I finished chemo a year ago and my hair has grown back to the point where you can't tell I had been bald. My bangs are about 1/2 inch below the bottom of my eyes and they are driving me up the wall and I can't get in for a trim for over a week. A year ago, I couldn't imagine desperatly needing a trim. I'm not complaining but merely trying to give you hope that before you know it, the hair will be back. Hand in there. My avatar photo was taken about four weeks ago so the bangs have grown a lot since. My pre-chemo hair stye was long without bangs so I didn't realize how quickly they grow over the eyes. I don't plan on growing my hair long again. I'm going to keep it short.
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MHP - I also didn't expect the hair loss to be any big deal, but NOW I see I should have paid more attention! I think the growth has slowed down since I started tamoxifen 1 month ago, so great! hmmm....tamoxifen or hair?
Sugar - love to see photos of everyone with their hair back! My hair was always long, too, but I'm starting to kind of consider keeping it short. Either people REALLY like it or they are just horrified when they see me and say they do - LOL!
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Ladies, I agree with Sugar! My avatar picture is 3 or 4 weeks old and my hair is now what it was when I started chemo in mid november 2009 and I was done last march 1, 2010. Your hair will be back before you know it but it sure does require alot of patience!
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I can't wait for my hair to be longer and i have more styling options. I do straighten it and i like it better because i feel less like a cancer paitent. Good Luck to all of you finishing up your tx and congratulations to those of you who just completed your chemo. I have been reading and it seems that your hair stays curly until it grows out and is cut off.
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Hello Ladies - I know many of you already answered this question but could you again please? What product did you use to straighten/control curly chemo hair? Thank you.
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Sugar/MBJ--Your hair looks great. Thanks for posting....gives me hope!!
I am 9 weeks PFC and my hair is growing in faster now but certainly not enough to do anything with it or go out without a hat (esp cause it is cold). I am hoping that within the next 4 weeks--it will be much longer. We are hoping to head on vacation in the spring and hope that hair is looking OK by then!
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FYI i asked my oncologist and she said tamoxifen should not slow hair growth.
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Sugar-love you hair! Love your bangs! My hair is growing in thick, straight and super soft. I can't wait for the bangs to be a little longer...okay...a lot longer...lol! I am going out without any head coverings already but I think that longer bangs will make it look like a real "hairdo"...not a "chemodo".
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mbj: thanks for the update.. So it looks like I have 6 more months to have as much hair as you. I had me last chemo treatment aug. 2010. I have that poofy look now and feel like nothing I can do with it. I am wearing my wig until my coming out party which now looks like it will be May 1st.
I have had a horrible time with grey hair. Has anyone else treated their hair and the grey just stayed put?
Im using nioxin shampoo too. Not sure if it helps though. Any other suggestions?
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I finally had a decent picture taken of me in my wig for my avatar. It looks so much like my old hair, I hate to part with it.
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Like I said earlier, before you know it your hair will be back. I couldn't wait for my bangs to hit my eye brows. They were curly and it'd constantly pull the curl down to see how long they were. Once they got longer, the weight straightened them out more. Lol...this morning, my boss walked by...stopped and said I really needed to get my bangs cut. The blowing snow today didn't help any but you get the gist! I think I'm going to put them in a barrette tomorrow if my DD will let me use one of hers.
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Hitting the eyebrows, wow. That feels like a million years from now! I'm so much more compassionate towards women and their hair issues now. Thinning, balding, "bad hair"--I had plain hair, but it worked. And...even the most beautiful woman can have a funky head.
I'm going to do a rosemary and sweet almond oil soak: will be putting it on before I go swimming under the cap, then I'll wash it all off when I'm done.
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Poodlebug- you cracked me up! My hair is also coming in thick, straight and soft AND darker/grayer than I could imagine. But I'm told all the time how Great it looks, and I keep thinking they are just trying to be nice and make me feel better about looking like my dad with a buzz cut! I love the term Chemo-do! I am going to use that one for sure!!
My hair is really, really thick on top...am I headed for the poofy look on top like Kraemer or a future Joel Osteen?? I better accept all the compliments I can right now!
I hate that I'm keeping my wig Just-In-Case...
MJB your hair looks terrific! Did you use a regular stylist or a cancer center spa-type stylist? I'm waiting for the surge of growth so many have promised
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