Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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I am 5 months post chemo. My eyebrows came in so pretty, full and a darker shade than they were which was lovely. Just yesterday I noticed they have almost fallen out again. Is this normal? I know one of my radiation nurses had BC and said her eyelashes are constantly coming and going. I am done with Herceptin because of heart trouble, so it isn't that.
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Denise,
We have very similar experiences and diagnosis.
I did not receive/ am not receiving Herceptin however.
My eyebrows did not fall out during AC or during the 3 week break between AC and weekly Taxol. They did fall out at 2 1/2 weeks. They then started growing back in as did my eyelashes and my hair which grew all through Taxol. Two weeks after I completed the weekly Taxol, I lost a little head hair ... and shortly thereafter my eyelashes started going again. My eyebrows didn't go.
I think we all go through such different experiences. My eyebrows are back but they are lighter and I still am trying to train them into submission as there are hairs that want to stick straight out. My eyelashes are back to normal and then some.
I know eyelash hairs have about a 3 month cycle so I am preparing myself to lose them again the first part of November and that way I'll be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't happen ...
Eyebrow hairs might have that same 3 month or so cycle.
Diana
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Im 25 weeks and the eyelashes have been thining in almost the same pattern as when they made their first departure !!! Fortunately unlike the first time, there are new ones right behind...still sucks - had to beef up the liner again and try to get both eyes to match..lol. I've only lost a couple of eyebrows - BUT they seem to be lighter .... which is what happened before they thinned during chemo - I'm sure without the bangs on a wig..the loss of eyebrows would be tragic.
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oh my goodness, everyone's hair looks great. I'm 24 weeks PFC and have nowhere near what any of you have. Sides are growing well, sort of wavy. Top is growing straight up like a porcupine, but lots of scalp still visible. From the back, there are two patches close to the top that have very light growth, but still look bald... I'm rationalizing that my hair might be growing slower because I had eight treatments of TAC, vs. the usual six. Plus anesthesia is supposed to affect hair growth -- two major surgeries in less than a year (and several "lighter" doses for SNB, lumpectomy, and colonoscopy). I'll use anything to convince myself that this is going to get better. Still struggling with the dry skin issue too -- i read that adriomycin can cause degeneration of the oil glands.
P.S. - does anyone else check out their hair growth CONSTANTLY? Even when I'm really busy, I find myself analyzing hair and brows several times a day. And on a quiet day at home, too many times to count:)
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These were taken today, at 11 weeks PFC. It's really thick but not very long. I need to color it to my dark brown color.
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rn4 - looks great!
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Sorry they're so big. I tried to make them smaller.
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I entered the darkened garage and spotted a big, furry dead animal on the floor. I shrieked and began to run the other way until I realized that, unbeknownst to me, I had dropped my big, furry, flippy wig on the ground.0
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m4--i'm not far behind you in time but def don't have the coverage you do! wow!
tho i can tell daily that my hair IS trying to come back!
joan...wow- you have to laugh so you don't cry!!!!
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Joan - thanks for the big LOL! Lumpy is right - laugh so you don't cry!
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rn4: I am a few weeks ahead of you and my hair looks about the same. I did get it colored at about 10 weeks PFC (my son got married). I am getting it colored again at the roots next week. I have had a couple of trims around the ears and hairline in the back. I am so glad I got it colored. Haven't worn my wig since my son's wedding on 9/15.
Joan: That's too funny!
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Thank goodness I found this thread. I have been obsessing about my hair (or rather my lack of hair) for weeks now, and to find some kindred spirits is awesome. So what does PFC mean? Post F'n Chemo? Anyhow, I just had AC #3, so only one more to go, and then those bloody Taxols, and then my hair should start coming back? Ugh. Only 3.5 months to go, I guess. Please tell me yes yes yes it'll grow back soon!!! And by the way, all you ladies look LOVELY with your new hair. I am SO jealous. Hugs.
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shockd - yes PFC - technically post final chemo, but those of us who have endured it prefer f'n for sure! Congrats on only one more AC to go! That red devil is nasty! Are you having weekly taxol or DD? I had 12 weekly taxol and my hair did NOT grow back during that time. Many others have had better luck. I was a hairless chihuaua until 8 weeks PFC and now growing, but not long enough to my liking of course. Hang in there sister!
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Hey MamaV - one more A/C, and then I have the choice of either weekly or DD - thinking I might go for the DD just because 8 less visits/infusions ... hopefully after AC I can stand the Taxol ... I shaved my head and there is a little itty bitty growth, but thinking that soon that will stop soon or fall out. So glad (as I said before) to see all you beautiful women with your hair growing back. Can't wait.
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shockd...I had 3 DD/ACs (I couldn't hack the 4th) and 12 taxols...found them very easy to deal with. About the tenth treatment, I started to get white fuzz. It was very exciting!
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shockd, I am with you, if I had not found this I would be inconsolable. My hair has not started to grow and now almost six weeks PFC, my eyebrows are coming out. I have used a gel that was supposed to help from losing brows and lashes religiously and been so happy...and now even with continued use...one brow is almost gone and the other thinned a lot. The fact that others have had such a variety of results does bring me hope. I am now getting daily radiation treatments which are supposed to make me tired after a few weeks and maybe cause some skin issues. I have very fair easily suburned skin. There was a point during chemo when I really did wonder if my body could take more doses and my body and I made it through. I guess now my emotions will get through this part, but it is a struggle. Reading other people's stories really does help.
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TNNurse - most of my brows & all of my lashes fell out at 6 weeks PFC as well. They all grew back pretty quickly, thank goodness - almost as if the new ones had pushed the old ones right out. Now at 22 weeks, my lashes are thinning again. Brows seem to be holding on, but they pretty much stick straight out since growing back in the first time.
We've a wedding to attend this weekend, so am excited to be getting my first real trim - I badly need it shaped & neatened up in the back as you can probably tell from my avatar. Have been hoping my lashes would hang on for the most part at least until after the wedding, & so far so good! It's just so disconcerting to find one or two on my cheek each day - I've hated losing them more than the hair on my head!
It was 8 weeks PFC before I could really see that it was beginning to grow back, & it seemed like it was taking forever! Then, it just kinda took off...you & shockd will be there soon, too...
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Does anyone have any knowledge of whether shampooing more or less frequently would have an affect on hair growth? (i.e., every day vs. every other day)
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TNNNurse: What CAYH says it so true! Your hair, plus brows and lashes will take off like a weed. I have had my hair trimmed 2x's around the ears and back and I am about 16 weeks pfc and getting it colored and cut again next week. It's not long, just getting unruly. I had 3 eyelashes less than a month ago. Now I can curl them and put mascara on them again. My eyebrows grew back in less than 10 days! Just try to keep thinking....it's only temporary...
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Thanks for all the positive notes. I wasn't really clear last time I posted, but 1 more AC, then either 12 weekly Taxols, or 4 of the three-week kind. Either way, another 14 more weeks til I see some growth. Counting the days! 0
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I am surprised at my hair. I love it. It is gray and brown. Everyone loves it at work. I always wanted to cut it this short but never dared. I find finished chemo in April. I am using baby shampoo and it is so soft, light a a lot of wave. I don't dare to color, I don't use anything on it but a little gel. My big question is..am I ready to be gray?
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TNNurse - I know this is a hair thread but since you mentioned radiation, I wanted to comment. I burn easily as well and my RO said that doesn't mean that I will burn badly with rads. I am getting my 27th rad today and am just a little pink. RO says most people are burnt worse than me at this point.
Cayh - I hope your cut goes well. I got my first trim a week ago at six months PFC and was devastated losing 1/4 to 3/8 an inch of hair. I really needed the trim, but it took a while to get over the shock of even losing a tiny bit of hair. But it does look better
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SHOCKD - Whether you have DD taxol or not, the overall cumulative dose is the same. If the treatment is compressed into the shorter DD timeframe, you get a higher dose each time and the chances of sides effects are greater. I virtually had no side effects with 12 weekly treatments. Just something to consider......
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shockd - I'd go for the 12 again too - very tolerable!
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I did my taxol every 2 weeks X 4 and did fine out of it.
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My hair started to grow back during Taxol treatments too
Did 12 weekly. 0 -
Kayak2, MamaV, ang7894, Thanks for the advice, all.
I am still mulling it over just because if I go for the three-week dose, I can afford time-wise, to go visit my family in Canada (and I am hoping that I won't be too sick to do it, as a result of the larger dose). I wish I could know for sure before I commit. At least the DR says if I try the one and don't like it, I can switch (to the weekly). My husband is gone two weeks of every month, and I've been fortunate enough to have family and friends visit, but the coming three months sound lonely. Maybe I better suck it up and go with the weekly. Well, I have 3 weeks to figure that out.RoBo47- so sorry about your hair. Hugs.
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I have bought my first real flat iron! I've never had one of these before, but the 1/2" one I've used is just too small now. My hair is wavy on top and sides and more curly in the back. I'm almost 11 months PFC and still no haircut (although I did trim some ragged ends on my bangs). Sometimes I look in the mirror and although I didn't choose this hair I think it looks good. Other times I think it makes me look old as compared to my old long hair. The one good thing about short hair... you can wash it in the bath. I could never do that with long hair.
Robo, I hope you're doing well these days. Was thinking about you the other day and poof... there you are :-).
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Rockym - I just got one too !! Now if I can figure out how to use it :-). Just got a keratin straightening yesterday and was amazed at how long the hair on top actually is. The curls where giving me the poodle look. Now I look like one of those wishnik dolls...lol tomorrow ill wash it and start practicing with the iron.
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AEM, with my smaller one, I used it like a brush except instead of brushing down, I clamped and smoothed outward. With my long hair, I used a round brush and blow dryer my entire life. Heck, when all the girls were using curling irons, I didn't even go there :-). With my smaller flat iron, I only smoothed pieces until it looked like I had a style. If I tried to straighten too much, I looked like bozo since the hair keeps going into a "in-between stage."
I saw the flat iron I bought at some store the other day and it seemed expensive. It works on dry or wet hair. The next thing I knew, I was in Ross and there it was again. This time I took it home. Okay, so I'm off to do my hair!
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