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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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Comments

  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2014

    Well I only have a few lashes trying to hang on and half my brows are gone...looks weird.  I looked under the light again for hair growth and I can see more than I feel I guess that's because the hair is so fine, looks like more gray too!! I keep forgetting to take my Biotin pill,,it's ironic that they are pink.

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited January 2014

    I know the hair can come back any color - mine came back sooo dark black that people think I dye it.. I have like 3 gray strands on each side and that's it.. I always had brown hair .. my hair dresser said just to leave it the color it is for now - he said, do what you want but I think you should  just leave well enough alone..I suppose at my age (63) I should be glad it didn't come in all gray.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2014

    funny, it's like your hair comes back "opposite" ! I always had loose curly hair, it has come back very straight (yeah!) with some wave in the back. When it started to grow back, I was shocked at how white it was. I have been colouring my hair for years, but didn't think I was that gray. Over the last couple of months, I have gotten more colour-if you can call ash colour. It's now a very nice (I think!) salt/pepper.

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited January 2014

    slv58 - it really does look very nice

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2014

    thanks Nancy! I thought that I was going to run to get it coloured when long enough, but I've learned to like the gray! Yours looks great as well! Isn't it nice not to have to get it coloured!

  • RhodyMMM
    RhodyMMM Member Posts: 278
    edited January 2014

    I cannot tell yet what color mine will come back in. Looks white right now but it's too early too tell. Part of me says to deal with what comes naturally.....it's a badge of courage after what we have all been through!

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2014

    Rhody, mine started as white also, gradually more colour appeared. Before BC I was a slave to colour, blow drying and then flatiron. My hair was so damaged, thin and lifeless. When it started to come in I just felt that I would wait until it was long enough and see how the colour made me feel. I still feel that way. If I start to feel the colour makes me feel old, I will revisit the option to change that! Right now I'm quite proud of my salt/pepper! It's different and is a badge of courage. That may change, who knows!

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited January 2014

    slv58 and RhodyMMM - I feel like you both do -my "new" hair is my badge of courage and its a good message to other women... reminds them to get their mammograms and encourages them to see there is always hope and new beginnings :)

  • jumpy
    jumpy Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2014

    Hi, Everyone. I'm curious to know how many others out there were slow to get their hair back, but actually got it back. It seems that most women get full coverage by 6 months. But, are there any others out there for whom it took longer?

    My hair has been slow coming back from TC, particularly on the top of my head. My MO and her RN both say it can take a long time, but what is long? I saw a dermatologist 6.5 weeks ago (5 months PFC) he was pretty certain that the cause was primarily due to the Tamoxifen. So, I started both Rogain 5% and I bought the Hairmax Laser Comb. I also started Biotin and boosted my protein levels. Obviously, my fear is that this is permanent, but from what I've read in the scientific/academic literature (I'm an academic myself), permanent Taxotere induced alopecia is USUALLY also associated with loss of eyebrows and lashes. Fortunately, both my eyebrows and lashes are making a strong come back (just in the past month). So, am I just slow? Here is a pic of the top of my head at about 6.5 months (28 wks) PFC. Thanks and happy new year! --Jumpy

    image

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    jumpy if your hair continues to grow longer then it's doubtful it's Taxotere induced alopecia

  • jumpy
    jumpy Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2014

    Thanks, lago. However, I think some women do get some length. A recent academic article (Kluger et al. 2012--Annals of Oncology, 23: 2870-2884) included some online pics of permanent Taxotere Induced Alopecia.

    http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/suppl/2012/05/09/mds095.DC1/Figure_2.jpg

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited January 2014

    your hair looks thinner than mine at the same stage but mine was much shorter.. also mine grew straight up and out not nice and flat like yours.. I think we are all different..

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    But Jumpy I don't think it gets any longer than that. I know a friend of mine had hair growth just like yours. She too was on Taxotere too. Her hair if fine now.  I really hope you don't have this.

  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2014

    jumpy, I think that you have such even hair growth is a good sign. You may just be a little slower. I know my hair has taken quite a hit as for former thickness. My eyebrows and lashes are much thinner as well. For quite awhile I was sporting a Friar Tuck and had little to no growth on top. Here are a couple pics of me at 3 months pfc, so compared to me you may only be a couple months slower. I started taking biotin, b 6 and bamboo silica about 3 weeks post rads. I'm not sure if this has helped or not but I have continued to take this-probably till I run out. I know how hard it is to wait for growth. Hoping this helps a bit-hugs

    image

    image

  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 224
    edited January 2014

    Hello ladies,  I have been following this thread and marveling at the beauty of each and every one of you.  I am 26 weeks pfc and went shopping today without a wig.  I am not sure if I startled anyone or was stared at...but I felt comfortable and that was all that mattered.  Im going to schedule a trim and start going wigless on the weekends and see how it goes.  My hair is pretty crazy looking...gray with white tips but it is so soft. 

    Love, MsP

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited January 2014

    iamnancy my hair came back like it was when I was a young girl which was always a little fine so it doesn't stick up. My bangs always curled up when they were short so the later pics I started to blow dry my bangs straighter and left the rest curly.

  • flat13good
    flat13good Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    I had my hair came back like a man losing his hair  The top was so slow to come in while the sides did much better.  I finished chemo March 2012 and I think the top is finally catching up to the rest on the thickness.   I had waist long dread locks and was getting Adryamicin (sp?) Red Devil  so I knew it was all going to come out. I cut the dreads off and when it did start coming out it was awful to I had it all shaved off.  I am much happier now with my hair but wished my curls had stuck around longer.  Flatsy

  • maggs09
    maggs09 Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    How safe is biotin for highly ER + bc?

    I'm trying to decide if I should take it to help my hair re-growth, but came across an older article that vit B7, (which is biotin), can increase estrogen. I don't have any idea if this is accurate info or not. 

    Does anyone have any recent info and recommendations?

    Thanks,

    Maggs 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    I've have been taking biotin for years prior to diagnosis. Took it all through chemo too with my oncs blessing. She would have made me stop if it was an issue… but check with your onc/NP first. You might have some other things that may need to be considered.

  • maggs09
    maggs09 Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    thank you for your advice, Iago. 

    What dose do you take?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    5MG my Dermotologist was please to see I was taking it, and at that dose. Please check with your doctors to be sure it doesn't conflict with any of your meds or other health issues.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,422
    edited January 2014

    Lago - interesting that your derm doc was pleased about Biotin.  My podiatrist was the one who suggested it for my damaged toenails.  MO has approved now that chemo is over.  I see my dermatologist next week & will look forward to her comments.

  • maggs09
    maggs09 Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    lago and MinusTwo, I'm glad to hear that your doctors approved but I will definitely check with my onc. I wonder if it may have any impact on estrogen production....wouldn't want to take anything "estrogenic".

    Any other suggestions?

    😊

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    I saw my Dermo about my nail issues with taxotere. Biotin is good for hair and nails. To bad my nails still suck although not as bad as before.

  • maggs09
    maggs09 Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    it's funny how I had really great nails during chemo, (although I kept them very short and dipped them in all kinds of oils every day), and now, 1 year after chemo, they are brittle and dry. I hope biotine helps with that too.

  • flat13good
    flat13good Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2014

    My nails almost came off even on my toes from Chemo now they just look discolored and ridges on them.  I am taking a vitamin for hair and nails so I should look into Biotin maybe it will help.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    flat13good all my toe & fingernails lifted. Started with my toes. They oozed and smelled too. It was awful. After all these years some of my nails are still a little lifted on my fingers but only I would know. The color is not the same. A bit  yellowish and now thick, brittle with ridges. My toenails are even worse. Taxotere really did ruin my nails but this isn't that big of a deal. I had really nice nails before. Dermatologist did try some stuff. It did help bring the lifting down a little bit.

  • girlstrong
    girlstrong Member Posts: 299
    edited January 2014


    Just chiming in on the nail discussion.  so far my nails have streaks of dark lines.  Mainly on 1 index finger and verylightly on the others.  I have also notices some ridges, on several fingers, near the cuticle.  I am sure this is all side effects from Taxotere.  At this point I am more concerned about hair than fingernails, polish covers everythinig nicely :).  Hair is growing  S..L..O..W... and very patchy.  Sigh.....I need to be patient I know, only 4 weeks PFC.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited January 2014

    4 weeks PFC that's nothing. Remember a cycle is 3 weeks. So technically you are 1 week into regrowth. My hair grew very fast (even on Herceptin) compared to most folks and I didn't go topless till week 13. Also I have a lot of thick hair so it filled in faster than others. It was still pretty short and the front crown had yet to fill in. linky

    I had the nail thing pretty bad. One of the worst on this forum for someone who was only doing early stage treatments. As long as your nails aren't lifting you probably will recover.

  • girlstrong
    girlstrong Member Posts: 299
    edited January 2014


    Lago..thatnks for the reality check on my hair growth.  I need to be patient.......I'm just so tired of the wig although it has kept me warm in this cold freeze!!

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