Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Thanks girls. I remember when my hair was only an inch long and wanting so badly to "speed up the process" wondering what it would look like 12....18......24 months later. Looking on youtube to see how other's hair grew back etc.
It seemed as if for me it was exactly 1 year after treatment I went in for a haircut. Still thought my hair was way too short for my liking and I still couldnt do anything with it. My hairdresser told me she thought by my next haircut I'd see a drastic change in how it was looking. Was she ever right!
Hang in there!!!
XXX
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So glad I always wore my hair short. No waiting for ponytail length for me! I'm 3 1/2 months PFC and pleased that my hair covers my entire head and I look normal for me. I had my first trim 2 weeks ago and that was so nice to do something I hadn't done since April. I would never have cut my hair this short before but I think I might keep it. Very easy to take care of and I'm getting compliments even from complete strangers who have no idea that I was once bald and wearing scarves.
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I started taking Biotin today, Hopefully it will help with both hair and nails. I have black marks on my nails and can't wait for them to grow out.
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Wow, Lizzy in MI, your stats are almost the same as mine! Your hair looks great; did you get some growth while on Taxol? Love the smile too.
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hi ladies. It seems like I read some time ago that some people lost their brows and lashes more than once. Has anyone here experienced that? I lost all of my lashes and most of my brows during my last week of taxol but they came back quickly. That was in July. I started a new chemo regimen in October and have so far been in the lucky 30% that don't lose hair on this drug. Last week I noticed that half my brows are gone and also a big chunk of my lashes. I am wondering if this is from the new chemo or maybe just another growth cycle affected by the ACT. Btw, I am 6 months off of the ACT and my hair is about 1.5" and sticks straight up. I try to style it but just end up looking like Elvis. I took biotin until I started the new chemo.
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Hi girls, I am joing this group!!! I am nearly 3 weeks post final chemo and cannot wait for hair. It is my New Years Resolution...Grow Hair in 2014!!! I will be asking for a Rx for latisse at next MO appointment and I just ordered Keranique shampoo (has 2% Minoxidil in it...kinda like rogaine but for women). I am nervous to use it because I have heard that you may get lots of facial hair too. Anyone have experience with this product?0 -
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Hello ladies, i have been lurking but never post. i am 2 months post chemo and i can see hair growing but such a slow pace
Girlstrong, I saw commercial the other day re: Karanique shampoo, let me know if it work for you. Damn .... hopefully no facial hair for you Girlstrong.0 -
My MO gave me the OK to start Biotin if I want but had no idea of the dose. Is 5000 mcg per day standard? Thanks.
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Lago - do you use 2% minoxidil or 5? I had some hair loss issues before all this and had dermatologist tell me 5% was fine. I've been using it on some spots for the last couple weeks. I'm at 9 weeks post chemo. Interested in your experience with this. Did you use it for more thickness or did you have some thin spots? You hair looks beautiful in your photo chronology.
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I use the 2%. My hairline recedes in front and the sides. It's not noticeable unless I brush my hair straight back.
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Hi Ladies -
Please advise. I now know I will be doing chemo - Cytoxan, Taxotere (subject to change with 2nd opinion). From what I've read, I may be a good candidate for cold caps. The women on the Cold Caps threads highly praise them. And so, I am wondering why others may have decided against the cold caps.
Thanks in advance.
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I didn't even consider the Cold Cap because I heard it was an expensive investment, was uncomfortable and may not work anyway.. I just cared more about being comfortable during my treatments - the nurses at my chemo center said it didn't really prevent hair loss.. but that may not be true for everyone. I also didn't want to block the chemo from doing its job in any way.. I think its the Taxotere that makes your hair fall out..
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.
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Thanks Nancy. I'm going to give it a try.
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I dismissed it initially because of cost and I hate being cold… did chemo Oct-Jan. I also saw later what a PITA with all the dry ice and changing caps. Also some worry about scalp mets. I know one gal locally who did it. She kept most of her hair (some minor shedding). No scalp mets and is still 3 years NED.
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I looked into cold caps it is very expensive you rent the caps, then you have to find a place to get dry ice to store them and you have to change the cps like every 20 To 30 mins during treatment. I did A/C and Taxol and was told the cold caps don't work with those drugs. Please let us know how they work out for you should you choose to use them.
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I too looked at cold caps. In addition to the expense, you have to have someone with you to help you all change them out frequently. Since I always went to chemo alone, it wouldn't have worked for me.
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I found out about the cold caps about a week before my first chemo was scheduled. The salesman really took advantage of my fear and tried to scare me into getting them. He told me I had a 15% chance of my hair not growing back which I could not find documented anywhere, the drug company says 3%. It was over $1,000 which I could not afford and I also thought that it might inhibit the effectiveness of the treatment so that made the final decision. I was really mad that the salesman was pressuring me to do this though. It was really unethical. He kept telling me I better decide right away and have this all overnighted which was a fortune in shipping too. That being said I have a friend who used them and it worked for her. Losing my hair was really hard though, even though I never had great hair. But actually now my hair is much nicer, so I kind of got a do over. I was prepared for how long it would take to grow back. But I managed just fine.
Here is my timeline my avatar shows me about 6 months ago which would be about 2 1/2 years PFC.
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Thank you everyone or sharing your thoughts. I am fully prepared fur the wig, scarf, skull cap look but I am going to try the cold caps. Here's my thinking... It may work for me. It may not. I've lost my boobs and I really liked them. Hopefully I will like my new ones. I happen to have long pretty hair. I will try to keep it. The only other great feature I have are my teeth. If they fall out I am done. (That's a joke.)
BTW, Carol - You were working that style well by the 26 week mark! I am wondering who you spoke to. Was it Frank from Penguin Cold Caps? He's the owner and a bit of a salesman. I never trust anyone who pressures me. In my case he simply gave me information.
Candi - Yes, they don't work for ACT combo. unfortunately.
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warrior woman it don't recall his name now I just remember he had kind of an English accent . He caused me to get very upset at a time when I was super vulnerable. I was petrified my hair would not come back.
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oh and thanks for the compliment it was at 6 months I stopped wearing hats and I got a job selling bras.
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Carol - Frank is who you spoke with. I would have thought the entire thing was a scam if not for the women on here who have done it, the TV and news reports, research articles, etc. I even checked with the moderators on here. My doctors have reported that they have seen mixed results. I did not feel pressured but I did go into the discussion already expecting to make the purchase and already aware of the low risk for permanent hair loss. No matter what route we go, there is another wait and see anxiety period until we know if we can keep our hair or if it will grow back decently.
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Thought I would add my two cents on what is working for me PFC 3 years. There is no question my hair came back finer, thinner especially a bit on top, with less body, and with receding hairline with Taxotere. I have a theory: it is harder on fine hair, as the areas I had baby hair fine hair, like at the temple were really burned out. My eyebrows and eyelashes did not recover, but I have some pointers.
I have tried every brow pencil and liner under the sun. I find for medium brown folks, the Tarte waterproof line is the best. The Anastasia powders are too ash for me, and the Tarte pencil is very natural looking.
I also have been using Biosil for one month, an Himalaya Herbals hair fall shampoo. I looked at photos from just a month ago, and the growth is significantly more than I've experienced in earlier months. Tamoxifen basically means I only need a haircut every six months! But with this new combo, I think we are good, at least better. I'm still a bit disappointed, but overall happy I have hair.
I am going to take the Biosil up to 5 drops 2x a day, I was only taking 1 pill to see if that made a difference (and it did, but I might have even more dramatic results with the 5 drops). I've done research on Biosil. There are questions about whether we should use Silica long-term. Biosil is not silica, it seems like it's safe for the long haul. I do try to separate my Tamoxifen from my vitamins, as it appears some can block Tamoxifen's efficacy.
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Carrol2 - my hair is better than before - it was thin and straight and now its like I have a mild permanent - my question to you though is does your hair naturally grow with a part? mine grows straight back and I can't make it part with a little bang like you had.. I think I'd like it so much better if I could have a little bang.. I am about 39 weeks PFC and its about the length you have in the last pics 32 weeks..
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I'm like you Nancy - my hair is growing in all directions but mainly straight up! I've got what my kids call a fauxhawk. No bangs whatsoever. Guess I'll just have to spike it with gel until its heavy enough to fall over into bangs. Sigh.......
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yep Annie - we just have to make the best with what we have.. LOL! I have bought more hair products lately and have added more make-up to my daily routine also..
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I know what you mean....I think I look like death warmed over. I never wore much make-up before but am reconsidering that now. I look so washed out ...and with this crazy bristly hair- thinking maybe I could improve things with some rouge and lipstick!
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Think I will jump in on this thread too. My last A/C was November 7, I started Taxol the day before Thanksgiving. I do have hair coming back, it started a couple of weeks ago I think, some of it is about 1/2" but very thin and not sure of the color. Hubby says it's medium brown, I see a lot of white. I am unsure about the hair products...it would seem to me that a shampoo formula cannot change your base hair since it grows from within. The man who sold me my wig would be more that happy to sell me several products at $20 per bottle! I have generally had short hair my whole life, so I will be happy when it fills in and short is good. Ironically just before I started the chemo I had a longer "do" that I was happy with for my daughter's wedding. But c'est la vie! I haven't read all the posts in this thread, just the first page and the last two. I will have to meander my way through the others to see what info I can find. Just recently I noticed that my eye lashes are nearly gone, as are the eyebrows. I could tell the brows were thinning through the chemo, but all of a sudden one day they disappeared! Never used brow makeup before, but I do now!
Martha
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Thank you all for the compliments. And you all are looking great!
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