Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Serenity, what a difference. Mine was not nearly that thick at 15 weeks PFC (I do have pics back a ways on this thread). Hang in there all.
I just came across a pic of me taken just before I lost my hair, and it is so very different now: it had wave and thickness before, it isn't as thick now but is so much curlier. The curls are a bit out of control: I really need a trim, just so busy that I've let it go a little too long. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, heading in for what will be only my second cut post chemo....
I get a lot of compliments on the curls. Saw a relative I hadn't told about the bc, and hadn't seen in several years, she said she loved my new perm and hair do. Didn't feel like getting into it, so I just smiled and said thanks. The truth is, at first I hated the curls, for no reason other than that they were a symbol of chemo. However, over time, I've realized that they actually are nice, and that a lot of women pay a lot of money to get this type of result (from a perm). They may eventually flatten out, but for now, I am starting to embrace them......
Octogirl
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My hair was long and straight and all grey in the front with strands everywhere else. Now it's wavy and dark with very little grey. Now that my top has filled in I'm going without my wig. It was soooo slow in the beginning, I thought I had permanent hair loss. That was worse than when it fell out. Then it started growing like grass. Now I can' t tell as much with the growth.
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I am almost 10 months PFC, and the weirdest thing has happened. The hair on my legs, which went away after chemo and then came back, has quit growing as fast. It reminds of the way it was during chemo. Also, I have two toenails which have turned a bruised color and look like they might fall off. (I didn't lose any nails during chemo or directly afterward.) Anybody have this happen?
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I did. It was a few months after I finished when I lost two of my toenails. They lifted right off. They did grow back but slowly.
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I lost both of my big toenails several months pfc. They are growing back very slowly. The hair on my legs also stopped growing a few months after. I am 8 months pfc now, and everything seems to be growing now, including the hair on my head, finally! I wason Herceptin though, so I think it slowed everything down. Just finished my final treatment the day before thanksgiving- woo hoo!
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Congrats MTOC! It must feel wonderful to be finished after such a long chemo journey!
Seq, are you using the Jamaican Black Castor Oil yet? I'm definitely seeing hair growth now although it's till sparse. At least I believe I won't be one of the 10% where it's permanent.
Back to rads today. It sure was nice having 4 days off!
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Dara-- How long is your new growth by now? How long after you started using the oil did you start seeing growth?
I did get some of the Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I think it's the same as yours. I have used it a few times but not seeing any new growth. I put it on at night but have to wear a cap to bed to keep the oil off of the pillow. But my problem is I cannot stand anything on my head, hats in particular, so I don't put it on that often because when I wear a hat to bed then I don't sleep. Not sure if there is a way to resolve that issue and I know it's a weird hang up of mine. I'm wondering if I should even bother with the oil when I'm not done with chemo yet. What do you think? I finished AC and have had 4 treatments of Taxol with 8 weeks to go. 5 months of chemo is a LONG time. So many people say their hair comes back on Taxol. I'm hoping I'm that lucky but so far there is nothing. The hair I had left after AC is thinning more and more and I'm getting pretty depressed over how horrible I look at the moment.
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Seq24, my hair kept coming out until after my third DD taxol and then stopped. I am now only 2 1/2 weeks PFC and have new growth all over. I did cold cap so that helps, my follicles weren't burnt, just frozen! Also, I took biotin throughout and omega 3. I think that helps more than anything you use externally
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Jiffrig--did you see any new growth during Taxol. I had about 1/4 of my hair left after AC. I noticed that after the 3rd and 4th Taxol treatment there was a lot of hair coming out in the comb. It seems to have slowed down now but not stopped. Hair is definitely thinner yet. What was the dosage of biotin and omega 3 that you took? My MO has only approved me to take B6, B complex and D3 during Taxol. And all of that is for neuropathy issues which thankfully I have not had yet. Thanks for the info!
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Seq, my MO told me to wait 3 weeks PFC to start taking Biotin. I think I"m now taking 2,000 units a day. I do use the jamaican castor oil just about once a day. It says it even helps thinning hair. I also put the oil in the little bottle that came with it and placed a couple of drops of peppermint oil in it as well. It made it smell nice and someone else on this thread said they were using peppermint oil to stimulate the scalp. My hair is different lengths ranging from 1/8"-1/2". I do put a cap on at first when I go to bed, but usually pull it off before I even fall asleep. I find lately my head gets cold but still can't sleep with anything. Right above my forehead is probably the shortest.
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I did not notice it coming in during taxol but it must have for me to have about 1/2" most places now, 2 1/2 weeks out. I never asked about biotin so I've been taking it since the beginning. I'm not sure they know what inhibits chemo from working. My tumor in my breast is gone and lymph node shrank considerably. So it did not affect my progress. Not sure of my dose. It is a formula for hair, skin and nails. I have had good luck with all 3 during chemo.
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7 weeks PFC and NOW I'm losing my brows and eye lashes. Kind of bummed!
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That really is frustrating. I lost my eyebrows and lashes during Taxol. They grew back a few weeks after last chemo. For me, waiting for hair to regrow has been more stressful than losing it.
Hopefully your brows and lashes won't take too long to return.
16 wks PFC - Getting bed head.
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DaraB-I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows at about 12 weeks PFC. They grew back quite quickly. I did lose my eyelashes 3 times. It seems like they were all on the same growth cycle. When the new lashes would come in, they would push the old ones out. I am a year PFC and things seem to be back to normal. Although my eyebrows are a bit crazy now. It seems as though they grow in all directions and aren't nearly as thick as they used to be.
Ladies, hang in there. It is so hard waiting for your hair to come back. I know I finished treatment and wanted my hair back so bad. I think I quit wearing my wig at about 13 weeks PFC. My hair was very short, but I had it trimmed up and Dyed. It made me feel so much better. I have had 6 haircuts and colors since Jan 2016! I'm keeping the short hair....so much easier!
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Has anyone ever tried Ovation Cell Therapy? I've heard of it for a long time but didn't know if it's all just hype. What hair I have come n is so thin and spare. I'm hoping it gets thicker with time. I guess I"m not a very patient person!
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Dara we read that could happen darn it! My eyebrows and eyelashes are super thin, one more round to go. I can't wear makeup really as my eyes are constantly watering from the chemo.
Dee- thanks for the encouragement! Looking forward to maybe/possibly having a pixie cut in a year lol.
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Kelly, the watering (and twitching that I got) goes away very quickly after chemo ends. It totally drove me nuts! Enjoy your weekend. Next week is the last one! Then on to the next stage. We're here for you!
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I completed chemo June 22 2016. I lost all my hair every where. Leg hair was the first to come back. It is now 23 weeks since last chemo and i still have no eye brows, or eye lashes. It took a month for my eyes to stop watering. My hair is 1/2 inch in some places but mostly about 1 1/2 inches. It seems like forever. I am not a fan of hats but need to wear to keep my head warm now that winter is upon us. I used to have very thick coarse hair--mostly brown with some grey. Now it is baby fine mostly grey with some brown LOL
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mommamac -eyebrows and eyelashes often are the last to go and the last to come back! And often it is very weird - you go to bed with no eyelashes, and bam, suddenly you have them!
I recently spoke to an RN who had chemo. She said her eyelashes would come and go for 3 years before they finally came back permanently.
It's all weird, isn't it?
Sounds like you are rocking the "duck fuzz" look! It will turn into hair eventually!! Sending my best wishes!
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DeniseG, you are right about those eyelashes. I am 9 months PFC and the last week my eyelashes thinned out again for the 3rd time!
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I am six weeks past chemo with TC. My hair is starting to grow back on the sides and back of my head, but it is still thin on top of my head. I am scared that my hair is growing back with male pattern baldness.
The last time I had chemo (CMF), my hair grew back evenly all over my head.
Am I panicking too quickly? Did anyone else's hair grow back more slowly on top than on the sides?
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Too soon to panic. Many people have had the same growth pattern. I'm about 17 wks PFC. The top hairs are shorter than back/sides. The shortest hairs are my bangs.
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Early days groucho2. I wouldn't be concerned yet.
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Thanks for the reassurance, Smurfette and Serenity. I've been seeing commercials about lawsuits and permanent hair loss due to chemo with Taxotere.
Thanks for calming my anxiety.
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Groucho2, I'm 7 weeks PFC and have pretty much the same issues. Longer on the sides and right above my forehead s the shortest! My eyelashes have just now come out (I have 3 left on one eye.) It just doesn't seem fair that it takes so long!
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Groucho, I had the same happen with TC, and had the same anxiety you feel! Now I have lots of curls on top and the sides...(more than a year PFC). It took what seemed FOREVER but it did come back, and yes, I had less on top than the sides. Hang in there.
Octogirl
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I'm on weekly taxol #4. I noticed patches of white fuzz when I'm on taxol #1. From taxol #3 I noticed dark coloured hair. Crossing My fingers they won't fall out but continue to grow longer.
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groucho2: I was exactly the same way. I looked like a balding 40 man. Now that I'm 6.5 months post final chemo, it's all coming back. I'd say it took a solid 2 months to start filling in. Some people don't even have new hair growth for 8 weeks, so don't panic. These pictures are me early on, and last week!
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This is me 28 weeks PFC and mine was way slower coming in on top as you'll see below. Getting my roots done next week, 7 week growth is the roots! I am also on Herceptin. It doesn't feel like its growing much but the roots let me know
8 weeks PFC
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Ten months PFC. Can't decide whether to go back to the auburn hair or keep the grey that came in. Still have lots of chemo curl.0
