Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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seq24 - Wow!! You're hair is really coming in. I'm so jealous but thrilled for you.
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Dyan--well said!!!
I think the thing that I am having the hardest time with right now (although the hair loss was the absolute worst part of this whole ordeal), is that I feel normal again, I act normal but I still LOOK like a cancer patient. I never thought I'd connect myself with being a cancer patient. Even 9 months after diagnosis I still find it unbelievable that this happened to me. I'm sure we all have those feelings. I just can't get it out of my head though. I am 12 weeks PFC today, and today is 3 weeks since radiation. I am so thankful I've finished treatment, but again, I look like a cancer patient. Somehow I feel no matter how long my hair grows I will always have that image of myself now. Does it really ever go away?0 -
seq24, I hear you! I was happy with my body, and it's never going to be the same. I can never forget that the changes were unexpected, unplanned, unwanted. But I am Trying to look at it as an extreme makeover. Hair will definitely be different, body, too. But I can embrace a crazy spiky hairstyle, and work on a boy-silhouette body. Wardrobe is going to be different now, which is kind of fun. I don't know the answers. Just trying to muddle through it.
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seq24 - I feel the same way. Other than my hair, I look and feel more like my old self. I attended a competition yesterday with my dog, one of my favourite pastimes. I struggled with what to put on my head that wouldn't look stupid, wouldn't have me overheat and wouldn't fly off when we ran.....
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seq24, your hair looks great and whIle whether to go without covering is a highly personal decision, I just want to say that I think you could. I finally have a five o'clock shadow and am ready to strip. I am so tired of being ashamed! Having said that, I still wouldn't go out without my eyebrows enhanced and while happily examining my new head hair sprouts noticed that my left eyebrow lost hairs over night.
Dyanbrooks, your story gives us hope. And you are so right that our lives matter more than our hair. It is hard to remember that sometimes. Besides our physical identities being so dependent on hair, I do think that having it back helps us feel normal. I also just want to fade into the crowd sometimes, be a bit anonymous like I felt I could be before this ordeal. But all of this has made me realize how precious life is. I am afraid of health care costs but just put in my early retirement at 61. I want to enjoy my family and friends (will probably work part time too) and visit my friends in U.K.and Greece., my son in Italy, and hang out with my daughter and her cat, here in Philly.
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Seq24, It's filling in really well. I know mine is still growing, but it sure has slowed even more than before! I'm faced with the same issue of wearing a wig in summer. A friend of mine as super thin thin hair and we met for dinner and she looked amazing. I asked her what she was doing and she confessed she finally bought a "topper." It's just the crown and down a little for bangs. That might be a great option for us through warmer weather. I'd be fine with the sides being short if just the top and front looked longer. I'll look into it and let you all know.
I'm wondering if the AI could also be slowing the growth? I've read that can be a side effect. (That along with weight!) It would be so much easier if I just let it all go to hell and not care how I look! Unfortunately, I"m not wired that way.
Yesterday was a really good day at my pottery studio. I've signed up for a special workshop that uses a special kind of firing called obvara. You first fire it in a rake kiln and then plunge it into a mixture of water, salt, yeast, and sugar. So yesterday I did the prep and make 4 big old pots to have ready. I just really love going to the studio and completely forgetting about hair pain etc. I can totally immerse my self and have fun! Hope everyone has a similar thing that can help us get through all this! Happy Saturday!
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Sorella: I too wish that I could fade into the background sometimes. I feel like the big bald elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. My DH and I had dinner with some friends last night that we had not seen since before BC. Everyone said that I looked great, but no one made eye contact with me. Awkward! I just want my hair back so that doing normal activities can be normal. I want the cancer to go back into the "private" closet. My hair problem is the one sign that turns everything from private to public.
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So Happy Easter. Here's my pic from this morning after shower. 26 weeks PFC. :-|
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Dara- ve
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Midwest_Laura, I felt annoyed by the non eye contact friends. I try to be generous in my responses to others as I know a lot of their reactions come from fear. I'd like to see some of those people buck up and at the very least look into our eyes. There are three different looks I get when out walking and those who keep that eye contact and smile (not with pity) are the ones I feel are most human.
DaraB, You may have described this already but I am wondering about your pain. I am behind you in treatment (22 days left of radiation ) and still dealing with surgical pain daily. Your pottery sounds great! And your hair looks very nice to me but I guess it has to look nice to you before you show the world.
KB870, I love your buzz cut idea. I think I will go that route (or root
when it comes in enough to do so. I think short short hair looks great but haven't had the guts to do it before this ordeal. I guess this may have given me those guts. I am 61 and was tired of dying my hair so may let the grey fo it's thing as well. We will see!0 -
Sorella, for quite a few years, I've suffered from psoriatic arthritis which has led to 3 hip replacements, a full knee replacement and major foot reconstruction. Every once in a while I get discomfort from the BC surgery. The surgeon said we can expect some twinges etc. for up to a year afterwards as the nerves are regenerating. Recently, my arthritis had been flaring because I was off a certain medication due to cost. I really think I've done my bit now for the medical community and think I should get a pass on anything else!
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Dara--You have a lot of hair!! Please let me know about the topper. I wonder how it attaches if we barely have any hair to clip it to. It would definitely be worth looking into. Anything has to be better than a full, hot, itchy, tight wig. I worked in my yard all day. I wore a baseball cap and could have cared less if the neighbors saw me. Although if I saw them outside I came in. LOL!
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Has anyone tried some of the hair thickening shampoos that are out there
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KB870, I love to swim but have had trouble with my gym since they started tons of kiddie lessons. I love kids but the pool is small and with chemo, the locker room seemed rather germy. I am in radiation now and was told to avoid the pool so all on hold. I am thinking of doing some zumba until I can get back in the water.
DaraB, So sorry to hear about your pain! I believe your pottery must be the best therapy. Maybe you could post a photo of your work? I have had surgical pain since my lumpectomy and lymph node removal on Sept 26th, 2016. On hold from PT, which was helping, until after radiology. I also do a self hypnosis video for pain which helps a lot, believe it or not.
seq24, I agree, Dara does have a lot of hair. My mother used one of those toppers for years after I was born. The joke was that I stole her hair!
Dianarose, I use conditioner which I bought in the section of the store which sells African-American hair products with black castor oil, shea butter . . . I read that conditioning was even more important than shampooing. I also use rosemary oil and take a B-complex vitamin. I have no idea if it has been helping as my hair started to grow faster around week 6 after chemo. I am still bald but with a five o'clock shadow. Here is the conditioner. I think Shea Moisture should give me a kick back for advertising!
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Thanks Sorella- I will look for it. I know when I did chemo the first time my hair was like pubic hair when it grew back. I used every product out there. Once it got long enough to trim it helped.
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I used Black Castor Oil when it first started growing in. I'm currently using the Nioxin conditioner, but maybe I'll add in a little of the oil and use once or twice a week. My skin has gotten so super dry so I imagine my scalp and hair may also need a little extra boost as well. I just ordered some Madison Reed hair color. It's super gentle on the hair and has no ammonia, phosphates etc. Someone else recommended it a long time ago on this thread. I'm hopeful that with the gray/blond ends are gone it will look better.
Hope you all have a good weekend and those who observe Easter have a nice holiday. Luckily, my son is hosting it this year so it's a bit easier on me. My energy still wanes late afternoon. Thanks to all you guys for the support, kindness, and information. Dara
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Dara- I just have to say that I think you're doing great with the hair! I like your idea- get into the salon and let them do their magic and you might be ready to go out before you think! Once I colored mine it gave me the push I needed to just go for it. Also- I went out without anything on my head just to the store or something where I wouldn't know anyone. Once you take the baby step- then you're more comfortable and your friends, family will be as well. I swear sometimes I forget and think I have long hair (roll the car window up you might blow my hair.....wait, have no hair lol).
Happy Easter ladies! Can't chocolate speed up hair growth?!!
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I also have a very nice wig that I posted about in the Free thread months ago. I only wore it once.
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Dara! looks like you're going to get some curls back! Rock it Girl!
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Happy Easter to all the Easter celebrators out there! I had planned to be beautifully bare for the first time tonight as we were having 2 friends I have known for forever. Then, I realized my daughter's boyfriend that I have known for just like 4 months was coming and felt chicken. I started out covered but the unseasonably warm weather put me over the edge! That coupled with white wine did the trick and I let my little sprouts out! A bit scary at first but it felt great in the end. Lovely comments about my fabulous head shape and my daughter's boyfriend never avoided eye contact once. So all in all a milestone, and a happy one, at that. More power to US!
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well done Sorella. That first time can be the hardest until we realize those that love us will still love us when we're bald, or sprouting. :-)0
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Happy Courageous Easter to you, Sorella
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yesterday holding our youngest granddaughter Sadie. The grandkids were so used to seeing me bald that the 3 year old asked me why I was growing my hair0 -
Dianarose- Your granddaughter is adorable!
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It was interesting to read that others have had stunted growth on our surgical side. Tomorrow marks 6 weeks since my last Taxol treatment. The top of my head is still completely bald, not even a five o'clock shadow; however, my eyebrows are coming back! Initially, it was just a shadowy promise, but now there are actual hairs that have broken through the skin. Since I had fairly dark, thick brows, this is a welcome Improvement.
I'm one of those women who runs around with a naked Noggin most of the time. I'm not brave or bold. I took a beating during chemo and haven't had the energy to devote to my appearance plus I tend to always be hot. I had a knit hat and pre-tied scarf to wear if I got cold. I've seen some beautiful scarf wrapping ideas if only I could stand having that much fabric on my head. I got a wig, but it looked fake and gave me a headache. I'm sure the wig could be adjusted to be more comfortable, but that wouldn't change the way it screams "WIG" a mile away. Wearing one in the Texas heat would be brutal.
I don't see any eyelashes yet, but the brows will make me look more like me so I'm encouraged. I feel a little stubble in my nether regions when I shower so surely the lashes will stop being shy and will appear soon.
Lyn
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I'm two years out of chemo and even today, when I dye my hair with regular dye, my hair turns orange. It's the same color and product I used for years before cancer. I know that the chemicals can linger in your body for a few months later, but it's been two years. My stylist says that chemo has forever changed my hair and I am now forced to bleach my hair. Has anyone else experienced this?
Also, my hair is thin. It didn't come back great but since I started AI's it's really thinning out. You can see my scalp in some areas. It's thin on the top and in the front. I use biotin, I use all the shampoos, it just keeps falling out. I am seriously thinking about using rogaine but from what I understand it won't make my hair grow back it will only keep it from falling out more. I don't know if it will be worth it but I have to do something.
And also, my eyebrows didn't really come back. I have about fifteen on one eye and ten on the other. I draw them on but am looking into getting microbladding, I just don't know anyone who has had it done in my area and that's something I need to be picky about. Over all I look ok, but not great. I know it could be worse but I really do miss my old self.
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MeToo14- So sorry to read about your hair problems, I know some people will use a hair piece on top or a halo hair piece to help their hair look thinker. My daughter does the microblading eyebrows and she has a lot of pictures - when you find someone ask them if they have pictures of their work, and maybe clients that would let you see them.
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MeToo, another person has written that every time her stylist colored her hair it turned orange. What color were you using? I'm 26 weeks out and hair is still about 1 1/2 - 2" long. I can't see my scalp through the hair, but it feels baby soft. The back is curly, the top sticks straight up. Most of the AIs say they may have the SE of thinning hair. It all just sucks (sorry). I just order a hair color Madison Reed that is supposed to be gentle on the hair and has no ammonia etc. My lashes came back fine, but then after about a month, started falling out again. My brows sound like yours, very skimpy and scarce.
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Today i took off my wig and put on a cap and sunglasses. Out i went shopping for my son's school supplies. I am happy there was no weird stares from strangers. I am 11 weeks PFC. The top of my hair at some parts are about 1cm or so. No bald spots. But some parts are thinner than the rest. Hair still very short but they are not standing or curly. Maybe when it grows longer...
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Oasis- good for you 😎.
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