Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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I'm 14 weeks post chemo and i don't even have as much hair as Susan.I have maybe 1/4 of an inch and still have some spots that are not shiny bald,but bald nontheless.My eyebrows and lashes all fell out after chemo was finished.Both are starting to come back in now.The brows are starting to look like Andy Rooney,sticking out all over the place.
I started going without hats 2 weeks ago,never could stand anything on my head,even as a kid.So one day i told dh i'm going to go "commando" and i did.I figure if no one like it,that's there problem.I already went through hell with the cancer,surgery,chemo,and i'm not going to be uncomfortable to please anyone else..
Kathi
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Chelev- been thinking of you. Hope things are getting better.
Kathi- thanks for saying you won't be uncomfortable for anyone else. That hit home for me.
I can see more fuzz on my head daily. Not much with the brows/lashes. I will be so happy to use mascara again. Can't wait!0 -
I'm 2 weeks into treatment...Carboplatin, Taxotere, & Herceptin. Looking for anyone who did not lose their hair, or is that an absolute given?
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Nodapearl - Hi. It is doing a little better- I have been doing research on folliculitis, which I strongly suspect I have, and until I can get in at the dermatologist this week to have them check it out and give me something to clear it up, I've been using hydrogen peroxide to clean and cool it off, and then am trying some antibacterial cream. Let's just say it's better than when I had the cortisone cream on it - that really seemed to flare it up. But, gotta go to work tomorrow, so on go the wigs. I think until I can get in at the dermatologist, every time my head gets sweaty, it gets bad again. Unfortunately, this will be a busy week at work with our top clients coming in, so I really can't go without until at least Thursday, when I can wear a scarf. The gray hairs keep growing, so that's good!
How are you doing? Everything okay?
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Chelev - I'm ok. Glad you figured out what the problem is. I was bummed for you. Waiting so long for hair to come back, then having problems. I can't imagine. Good luck at the dermatologist! I am also stuck with the wig for this week & probably longer.0 -
Well, as you can see by my pic...my hair is growing back in remarkably well. My entire scalp is covered. That pic is taken 3 1/2 months after ending chemo.
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Thanks, Nodapearl. I have my appointment this afternoon, right before rads, so I am hoping we can get this itchy, rashy ugly thing off of my head! I'm wearing a silk scarf to try not to aggrevate things too much, but it will be wigs for tomorrow and Wed. for sure.
Caligrlof68 - you have great growth - that's an encouraging sign for us!
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Chelev - glad u got the appt early in the week. Good luck. I am getting mapped 4 rads today. How are rads going 4 you?
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Good deal - be prepared for your arms to fall asleep! It's a long process but worth it when you get your treatments - makes it so much quicker once they measure, poke, move, adjust everything. So far, rads are good - 4 tx down. I'll be almost halfway there by the end of this week. Only se I'm noticing, besides being tired a little earlier at night is a tightness near the outer part of the breast being treated, almost immediately after the treatment. It seems to go away after a while. Been slathering on the aloe vera gel morning and night, to keep it well moisturized.
Good luck today!!
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Hi Susan13, you wrote that you had chemo twice and that you didn't loose all of your hair with your last treatment of taxotere. What other chemo drug were you on ? Also did you shave your head when your hair started falling out or just cut it short? Your picture looks great and hopeful expecially after getting chemo twice. I was wondering if maybe you didn't shave your head and only getting bald spots and thinning helped your hair to grow in and blend in faster? Let me know how you did it, it would be very much appreciated! Thank You and Best Wishes --Geri
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I found a new use for the $40 eyebrow kit I bought and never used. I have found that the dark powder in the eyebrow kit works fantastic on the silver/white hair patches on my head! I came in to work this morning and heard from a few people that my hair looks like it's really grown a lot! I already posted about using eye shadow but the brow shadow works much better.
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Hi Geri- The first chemo for me was adriamycin/cytoxin and 5FU. I shaved my head and then went completely bald. It grew back nicely at 3 months post chemo. It was soft and even coverage, and straight and a nice texture. Then in January I had 4 rounds of Taxotere. I never shaved it, just let it fall out as it wanted to. Some parts like over my ear seemed like they kept on growing, but the top and back fell out and left me with bald spots...kinda like Bozo the Clown:-))
Well ladies... guess what... I went out this weekend, finally... I know I know I should have done it sooner.... without my wig. Even went out shopping and to lunch at a restaurant TOPLESS! wohooooo! It felt so good!
Chelev-Sounds like you are having an allergic reaction to something.. did u dry taking benedryl?
I am on my LAST WEEK OF RADS! My skin is NOT happy!!!! Poor poor skin....
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Susan13 - Thanks for answering Geri's question (and thanks to Geri for asking it!) I just finished 4tx of Taxotere and Cytoxan. Never shaved (except one spot, then I chickened out) I'm thinking if I shave the whole head now, maybe my hair won't grow back all curly (used to be straight) Do you think the differences you had in hair re-growth was due to the fact that you had AC the 1st time and Tax the 2nd, or do you believe the shaving/ not shaving played a role? (sorry if that doesn't make sense...I'm kinda chemo-brained over here!) - Ann
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Hi Ann - I'm not really sure. But it definitely is growing in differently after the Taxotere then it did on the AC. The same way that some women's hair grows on Taxol. It's very fuzzy now, and it wasn't like this after the AC, but it's hair and I'll take it! Some ladies shave the fuzz off... but I just can't do it, I'm going to let it come in the way it wants to, so I think cause of that it appears longer. I'll just use gel to tame it down!
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Susan13 - Hi. I went to the dermatologist prior to my rads treatment today and it is folliculitis, which means an infection in the hair follicles. Started out as a reaction to the last chemo (taxotere is notorious for this, in some people who are prone to lots of side effects, which would be me), and turned into this infection. They took a sample of the (sorry if I offend anyone here, but there is no other description) - pus from one of the whitehead looking pimples, just to make sure it isn't anything else, and put me on oral antibiotics, 3x a day for 2 weeks, plus a topical antibiotic cream. Hopefully it will start looking and feeling better in a few days. I also gave my rad oncs the heads up about the infection, because they did a blood draw today to check my levels, and if anything came back showing infection I didn't want them to worry.
They said that about halfway into my treatments, probably next week some time, they will measure me for a different type of treatment, this is the boost some of you have talked about - my last 7 treatments will have this apparatus on the machine that will target the scar tissue only, like a surface treatment, just to make sure. anyone else having or have this?
Treatment 5 was easy. Came home, took my antibiotics, got the stuff on my scalp and then gave myself a good aloe vera dose.
Hope everyone has a good night.
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Chelev: Glad to hear that you have an answer and a treatment for your scalp. Yeah! I went to my onco yesterday for my Herceptin and found out I have an eye infection. I thought it was a SE from the Taxotere. Also potasium is low so now on a horse pill for that. I start rads in July...any SE's from that? How long does it take?
Nodapearl: Feeling better this week? I hope so!
Susan13: Good for you going out topless! I can't wait!
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Kathleen - Thanks! It feels better already, with two treatments of the antibiotic foam and three rounds of the antibiotic pills, thank goodness! I would have wanted to go wigless for the rest of the week, but we are having client meetings today and tomorrow, but at least it's feeling better. So far, no se's from the rads. I have 5 treatments done. Found out that about halfway through, which would be next week, I will be measured for the "boost" part of the treatment, where they will use a different apparatus to treat the scar tissue area only, surface treatments, just to make sure. Those are the last 7 I will receive. Meet with the rads onc today as part of the weekly checkup, plus the daily contact with the nurse. They are staying on top of anything that might occur.
Have a great day and good luck with those horse pills. Too bad you can't cut them in half or anything.
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chelev i am done with my rads and thought i would give you a little advise if you want it i used my girls radiation cream it is now recommended by mass general hosp. it works great i am very fair skin and had little reaction for 35 treatments including boost. use it 3-4 times a day but not four hours before treatment. if you would like more info i will tell you how to get it. sharon
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sharon,
Sure, I'd definitely be interested in checking out the cream - anything I can do to prevent any major skin damage is good!!
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Chelev: Great news that the meds and cream are working! Thanks for the info on rads. How long are your sessions? I had heard of some new machine that is much quicker now. I have to do 30 sessions.
soaplady1950: I would be curious to know more about the cream for rads as well!
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Kathleen, my sessions are about 5 minutes for them to position me correctly once I am situated in the mold and under the laser guides, and then treatment takes about 2 minutes, maybe less. I can't see a clock to time it, but it doesn't feel much longer than that. Whole thing from getting changed to treatment and back in the changing room is about 10 minutes. Very fast. It takes me longer to get to the place than it does to get the treatment!
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Blake - Yes, I am feeling better, thanks. Got mapped for rads yesterday. Maybe that's what was stressing me out?
Seem like things are getting better for all this week - thank goodness!!
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lpeters: I was on TCH, every 3 weeks, 6 x. I was terrified of losing my hair and I asked before treatments started. The answer was yes, you will lose your hair. I had long hair and cut it short about 1 1/2 weeks after my first round. I didn't start losing it until after my second treatment. Two days after my second treatment actually. Funny thing is that the hair along my neckline never fell out. I kept it. I never shaved my head either. I had some long ostrich looking pieces. I am now three weeks out and it is growing back. It will grow back, keep that in mind. Hang in there!
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Hi Ladies,
I am new to this thread, though I have been on this site awhile back, on a different thread.
Compared to most of you, I'm actually a 'veteran' lol - I had a lumpectomy in July 2008. I started my chemo in August 2008 and finished tx in December 2008. Started rads almost immediately (about a week after chemo completion) and finished my rads in February 2009 - I am still getting Herceptin tx once every three weeks - that will go on until August - almost there - yay!!!!!!!
I am somewhat discouraged about my hair growth. I started to lose my hair about a week or two after my first chemo tx (late August/early September). I went and had it cut ultra short - not shaved though. I've been wearing a wig since!!! I started to grow 'peach fuzz' (white/gray)sometime in December - I think around 3 weeks after chemo tx was completed. To me, it seems to be taking FOREVER!!!!! Right now, the back is doing good!! I'd estimate it to be about 2-1/2 - 3", and fairly full. BUT, the front, top and sides are sooooo thin and close to my head - there is no volume at all - probably only measures about1". What we would call sideburns, is also a not too bad length - but above that and on the top is super thin and short!!!! I am really discouraged about it - some say, it will catch up with the back, but I am just so upset that it is taking so long. And, I guess a big part of my problem is that I am vain (wish I weren't), and yet I am sooooo sick of wearing the wig - and now that the weather here in NJ is beginning to be springlike - I can't stand the thing on my head - the second I walk in the house, off it comes!!!
KATHIMDGD & SUSAN13: I admire you both - I like what you said Kathi, that if no one likes it, that's their problem. And, you're so right - we went through hell with the cancer, the surgery, and all the chemo, rads, etc. why should we be uncomfortable just to please others!!!!!
I just need the nerve to get out there and go 'TOPLESS' - I am proud of you!!!! Maybe if I think hard enough about you gals doing it, you will be my inspiration. I truly want to, but I chicken out every time I think I'll try. My dh tells me to go for it - he says, do you think anyone cares or will think anything less of you? He keeps telling me that I do not look as bad as I think I do -
Does anyone know if it will 'thicken' in time? I'm getting so impatient. Another thing: does anyone know if it would be okay to color it - or do you have to wait until it is a full fledged head of hair??? I would like to go back to my ash blonde that I had from Clairol for years now, before the beast entered in.
Sorry, ladies, didn't mean to go on and on like this - I'm really going to try and 'flip my wig', - thanks sisters!!!!!
I will keep thinking of your courage!!!!!!
Hugs to all -
Maggie
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Hi eveyone,
My hair is growing -- but slowly. But it is now sticking up in all directions. How can I get it to lie flat on my head?
Thanks,
Jo Anne
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chelev, the web site for the cream is www.radiationcream.com theresa will get it out to you immediately she is great she is also a survivor it cost 25. or 29. i can't remember but that includes shipping tell her i sent you to this site.0
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blake1960, i used the cream and my skin held up great got a little pink but not to bad considering i am very fair skinned with feckles. if you do start to get sore anywhere stop wearing your bra and go get sweet nothings from walmart it is a camosile with gentle support made out of material similar to nylon panties they have the boob cup impression in them already that saved my day when i got one blister at the bottom of my surgery site. if i can help in any way just ask we need to share to keep out sisters from suffering, if at all possible. sharon
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My last chemo treatment was around the end of Jan 2009 and I have about an inch right now. I have been soaking my head with the Men's Rogaine they sell at Walmart and it seems to growing in nice and thick! I brush my eyebrows and eyelashes with Rogaine and they look incredible. My eyelashes are incredible... longer than my hair... lol
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Sharon, thanks for the site info - I'll check it out!
I wish I had more progress - it seemed like last week (week 4), I was getting lots of sprouts, though mostly gray, but this week nothing seems to have happened. Maybe once the folliculitis clears up (it's getting better) that will help things along, because I can't put anything but the prescription foam on my head until it is all healthy, which bums me out! I honestly thought I'd have more growth by now, with the way my hair usually grows!
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Maggie, my hair is growing faster on the sides and back too. I've noticed that I have more white fuzz on the top. I started going wigless a couple of weeks ago. A couple of people told me that hats and wigs can stunt the growth so that was my main motivation for ditching them. Just remember, you are beautiful inside and out! It might help if you take "baby steps" and go wigless to the grocery store first and then gradually increase it. That's what I did and before I knew it, I was going everywhere without it - even work! I found that I was my own worse critic and a little vain too! This is my latest pic at 9 wks post chemo. It's very short and very salt & pepper, but it's me! This is another terrible pic of me taken by my camera phone! Sorry it's so big!!
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