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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 624
    edited June 2009

    Spring:  I have it on good authority (!?!) that the curls/waves will last for about 18 months or so -- then the hair straightens out to what it was "back then".  Takes awhile for the follicles to relearn their lessons, I guess!

    Linda

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited June 2009

    Bonnie & Noda - that's great!  I am meeting with Lisa1964 on Saturday and can't wait to get home, rip open the box with the Prisms and get it on my head to cover the yoda hairs!  I think it will feel more like there is a lot more up there than really is, if only an optical illusion.  I'll take what I can get!

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited June 2009

    Ok ladies... well I did the dreaded "trim" today and tried to put some color in my hair.  The color didn't really take too much as you can see. Maybe I have to wait a while longer.  Anyway... I don't have the cockatiel effect anymore:-)

    today EXACTLY 12 weeks post friggin chemo!!!!!

    Sue

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Susan - it looks great! I can't wait till I have that much hair!

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited June 2009

    Susan, what are you talking about?? It looks GREAT!!!

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited June 2009

    awe thanks Elaine and Nodapearl.  As always I am just so impatient!!!!!!!! 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited June 2009

    Susan your hair looks awesome.  I hope I have close to your amount at 12 weeks.  You know that I have no patience and I am 2 weeks out looking, waiting and praying for hair (my head is cold). 

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited June 2009

    Susan, friggin chemo, YOU CRACK ME UP GIRL!!! LOL!!!1 What a trip! You look lovely with yoru trim!

    Lindasa, 18 months of curls!!! OK, well that is good to know. Just about the time I am all used to curls and dealing with then, it will change!!! Sounds about right!!! Or, maybe at that point, I will be ready for a change! LOL

    Spring.

  • ann-idiot
    ann-idiot Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2009

    I look like an ostrich

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited June 2009

    Karen,

    Congratulations to you! It is really something to look back at all that we have gone through so far on this journey.

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 271
    edited June 2009

    This HAS been quite a journey for all of us so far. 

    Today my radiation oncologist told me to be optimistic as I move ahead after treatments end next week and not to worry about every little ache and pain.  I thought that was pretty good advice.

    Lainey and Susan -- love your hair! 

    Jamieh -- great avatar! 

    -bonnie

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited June 2009

    Nodapearl, if you had any dry spots on your scalp, the color will stick to that skin.  But don't worry, that dry skin will exfoliate itself quickly and take the color with it.

    I work in the industry and the first time I used Prizms post chemo, I got scared and only left it on 10 minutes - and I knew better! He He!.  Covering that grey really does make you feel better. 

    A word of caution.  Yesterday the only shampoo I had was Nioxin which I had stopped using months ago.  I used that and it stripped all the Prizm color right out of my hair.  I will be getting a fresh bottle of good shampoo today  - and redoing my color tonight!

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited June 2009

    Susan, you have GREAT hair for 12 weeks!!  I am 7 weeks and still look like that magnetic man game that kids used to play with - you drag the magnet over the little metal pieces and the man's hair all stands up!  Add a 5'0clock shadow, and there I am!

    Lisa, good advice!  I've been using the Nioxin, but once I get the Prisms on tomorrow, I'll start using my regular shampoos I used pre-chemo when I had color on my hair.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Today, I am exactly 5 weeks PFC (Post Friggin Chemo)!!!!!!

    Lisa - Thanks for the Nioxin info.  Now I don't know what to do.  I really think the Nioxin is helping my growth.  I will try to post a pic later tonight, but it seems like I have a lot of hair (relatively speacking) for 5 weeks.  Should I keep up the Nioxin or start dealing with the color????

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2009
    Nadapearl. Dang girl you have more hair than me and I will be 8 weeks out on Monday. I put bronzer on my head and you can kinda see that there are tiny white hairs going all over the place. I am on herceptin so the hair growth is not as profound as most of you.Cry I do not have a 5:00 shadow. I hope that next week will bring more growth. My head is so shinny it could land a 747 in the dark.Yell  I feel like I do not even belong on this thread because it is so pathetic. But I am obsessed so your success is mine.
  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited June 2009

    Nodapearl, I know you are anxious but I would recommend waiting just a few more weeks.  I was close to 11 wks when I colored mine and I can already see new growth at the roots. 

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Lainey - I am very impatient, but I will wait to do any more with the color.  I want to keep with the Nioxin to encourage growth.  Now all I need is brows and lashes.  My lashes are just starting to stubble a little.

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited June 2009

    Susan: Your hair looks great! You must be so happy!

    Bold: I too, am on herceptin. I will be 6 weeks out PFC on Monday. I do have hair growing and no more shiny head. I kind of feel like an ostrich though.... I am using the Nioxin and follicle booster and I do think that it is helping. Do you use it as well?

    Nodapearl: How much hair growth do you now have? Sounds like a lot more than what I have going on. Smile

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited June 2009

    I just want you girls to know you are cracking me up! PFC!! Post Friggin Chemo!!! LOL LOL LOL.. What a riot!!

  • jezzy234
    jezzy234 Member Posts: 127
    edited June 2009

    Springtime...I agree.  Lord , I needed to laugh.  I am 5 weeks PFC  and I still look like my 83 year old dad!!!!!!!  When will it change!!!!!!!!!!????This thread is wonderful!!!

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2009

    Blake, I am getting some today!!!!!!!!

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited June 2009

    Yeah for you, Bold!!!

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited June 2009
    Bold: You go girl!!!!! Here's to PFC and hair growth! Laughing
  • Jane_M
    Jane_M Member Posts: 932
    edited June 2009

    Karen - Whoo Hoo for you!

    Susan - it looks great.  My last chemo was 1/19 and  I still look like GI Joe.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    All - I was going to post a pic of my great hair growth 5 weeks PFC, however, when I took the picture, it appeared that I have less hair than I thought.  So, either I am delusional about my hair growth, and when I look I "see" more than is actuall there OR my hair doesn't photograph well.  Either way, I was bummed after the attempted photo shoot.  Ugh.

  • Unknown
    edited June 2009

         I am still in the losing hair process.  I did not lose all of it on my head, it went sort of like male pattern baldness as I kept the lower hair, sideburn area,lower sides and on the nape of my neck...I actually did not lose all of it on top, but the stuff I have left is really soft like the feathers baby chicks had that you used to get at Easter...sparce and it's white.  I had let my hair go  gray so it was a mix. some my old color which was sort of an ash brown, gray and white.  I had my beautician trim it all up yesterday so it would be even and she thinks I should go without my wig, but I am sure they would not like that at work. The gal who was evening it up, thought some of it might actually be new growth, but I doubt that.  So far I have had 15 treatments of abraxane once a week and after 24 am having scans done again..  I get avastin every other week and have been getting that since last year when I was doing oral chemo.and that did not seem to effect my hair.   I have lost quite a few eyelashes, but did not really notice them going.  I have very little left in the pubic area, have lost all the fuzz I had on my face, but still have evebrows. The hair on my legs is gone and I am happy to say the eyebrows area I used to pluck did not grow back and neither did this one little wild whisker I had under my chin that even electrolosis would not get rid of.  So there were a few perks to this hair loss, but I am wondering why I did not lose the hair on my arms ( of which there was a lot)  and am hoping I will not lose my eyebrows.  I have been using a shampoo called Revive TH which I got from a beautician .....in addition to the shampoo there is a spray that you are supposed to mist you head with daily.  I was also using Nioxn at the advice of this lady at the wig place. I do not know if it the ReviveT helps or not since I really do not think the beautician saw any new hair growth since I was told at the oncologist's office my hair would not grow until treatments had stopped.  I had a LOT of hair which may be why I did not totally lose all of it on my head.  I got three wigs, all of them synthetic....one cost $110, one $180 and one I got from free from Cancer Family Care...one of them is gray, but the other two are more the color my hair used to be. .  The American Cancer society will reimburse you for one wig if you have a RX, but we have not turned that in yet.  There are several women where I get my treatments who got wigs that were under $50 and they look really good....Paula Young makes them.  I think this summer I am just going with bandannas or bald when I am around the house. I dislike the feeling of a wig....it is itchy and also even though it is the right size, they make ridges on my scalp and feel uncomfortable.  I went to this one place in the beginning and the wig I liked best was $999 !!!!!.  I can't imagine paying that for a wig.  It was not even real hair,....someone on here said how the real hair take more care and several people I know have confirmed that.  The synthetic wigs all you have to do is wash them and shake them and I usually just brush the hair with my fingers to style it when I put it on.  They look very natural and several people have said "Wow.  Maybe I will get a wig.  It would be nice to have just to pop on when I don't feel like messing with my hair."  Yeh, right!  I don't see why anyone who has real hair would want to wear a wig.  I like all of your short hair pics and always used to say If I ever get thin, I want my hair really really short.....well I am going to get my wish if it grows back, but so far have gained rather than lost lbs.   

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2009

    Marybe - How do you get the Cancer Society to reimburse for your wig?  I searched on their website and couldn't find anything.

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited June 2009

    Nodapearl: I think it is the pictures. I too took a couple pictures and when I looked at them, I actually did think that I had more hair than what was photograghed. No you are not delusional! Hang in there!

    Do you all feel the same about how your hair looks in pictures?

  • Unknown
    edited June 2009

       It's actually your insurance company that will reimburse you for the wig....I made a mistake when I wrote American Cancer Society. You need a Rx saying Cranial Prosthesis from the oncologist and a receipt for the wig and I think then all you do is mail it into your ins company.  Each ins co is different as to the amount the allow.  However, a lot of people have told me that the American Cancer Society will get you a wig for FREE....so that is even better.  Does their website say anything about free wigs? 

  • kjbell
    kjbell Member Posts: 454
    edited June 2009

    Goldie-your hair is incredible! Beautiful and thick!!!!

    Marybe-my friend who has shoulder length hair actually does want a wig for the days she is too lazy to do her hair. I told her she is crazy! 

    My hair is 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long, very dark with lots of long wild gray hairs! And unfortunatley, still straight as a stick. I was hoping that for once in my life I would have some kind of natural wave or curl! Oh well, what are/is Prisms? A dye? I am scared to put anything on my scalp that might end up slowing the growth. It has been 32 years since I have seen my natural color though, lol!