Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Hi Lyn, Sounds like it's coming though. So glad your brows and lashes are back. Wish hair came back as fast as those. My surgical side, especially on the top, is much slower than the rest. I'd be very happy it everything was like the back and right side. I did start using Rogaine the other day. Hopefully that will help. The longer this goes on for me the more frustrated I am getting. I just don't have the nerve to go without the wig. A friend shared a video with me tonight about how to make a top piece out of a wig. Maybe I should try that since the top is what seems to be lacking.
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Seq24I know you probably don't notice but you have a ton more hair then the last time you posted a picture! Wow 😳
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seq24, I definitely noticed that the top hair seemed thinner than the rest, and my hair dresser said she thought some of it was due to the wig. Once I ditched the wig, it did seem to fill in all the way. But 15 weeks pfc is still pretty early. My guess is that in another month or two, you'll see a lot more growth. For what it's worth, my hair in the back and on the sides grew in much more quickly, as yours seems to be doing.
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Diana--Thanks. You're right. I don't notice it. To me it looks the same as about a month ago.
Rainnyc--I knew it!! I've thought for awhile now and my husband and a friend also mentioned it that the wig could be preventing the hair on top from coming in the way it should. Is 15 weeks still really considered early? I've seen pictures of women 8 or 10 weeks PFC and they have a full head of hair close tot 2 inches long already.
KB870--Thank you. I almost got brave today and went without the wig. It was HOT here (funny because it snowed last week) and I was totally convinced after several hours in the wig that I definitely won't be able to stand it when it's this hot every day. Are you going without covering your head yet? How do you even get up the courage to do that? My hair was always shoulder length, as is the wig. To go from that to an inch (or less) of hair seems pretty shocking to me.
I'd love to hear how every transitioned into not covering your head when your hair started coming back.0 -
seq, all I can tell you is that I had at most an inch at 15 weeks. I couldn't even look in the mirror! I rationed myself to one quick look in the mirror every week, because I knew it would either be that or every hour or so, and that would drive me nuts. I just slapped the wig on each morning, and that was that.
I wore a hat everywhere when I ditched the wig and still do outdoors much of the time. It was cooler weather when I stopped wearing the wig. The issue for me is that the early hair that grew was soft and very curly, and the later hair is coarse and wavy, so it still looks as if I have two very different types of hair growing, which I guess is true. I'm guessing that in another 5 or 6 months, the wavy hair will be completely dominant and I'll be able to go back to the blunt cuts that I prefer. Right now, it still looks like a bad shag.
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rainnyc--funny you mention the coarse hair. I was just thinking the same about mine today. When it first came in it was very soft and fine and grey/white. As soon as I got the ok from my MO I had it colored, probably at the end of March. Now I noticed that the growth I've had since then is in my normal color again. I just knew I'd have dark tips and grey roots when the color started growing out. Glad that's not the case. I noticed just today that my hair feels a lot coarser and kind of wiry although it is still on the fine side if that makes sense. It's definitely not my normal hair. When I saw the PA for the RO last week she asked about my hair. I told her it was on average an inch long--some places longer, some shorter. She said that when I come back in 6 months I will have 2 inches of hair. Only an inch more in 6 months--I hope not. I do not have one single curl or wave. I don't know if my hair is going to stay straight or get at least some wave. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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Sorella-regarding the bonus facial hair-it is disconcerting, but it thins out and goes away on its own.
Seq24-I think you asked how you transition away from the wig/headcover. I ditched my scarves about 16 weeks PFC when I only had an inch or so of hair (and a super bad cowlick). Try going to the grocery store or running some quick errands bare headed. If you aren't totally down with bareheaded, put a scarf or hat on. I planned to work into going bareheaded over a week or so, but pretty much ditched hardcovers overnight, just because it felt so much better. I did have to keep a hat with me, because it was winter and iwas cold.
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Seq, my hair right behind my widow's peak was thinner pre-BC than yours is now. I had to rely on a comb-over to cover the sparse areas. I can see how it's very hard to be patient when you previously had long hair.
With the welcome return of the brows and lashes, the 'stache is coming back and I'm going to have to start shaving my legs again. What do / have y'all done to quell a hairy lip? I shaved the peach fuzz on my cheeks in the past, but felt like I could see stubble on my mustache. I can't afford professional waxing.
Lyn
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VLH--I hear you there with the facial hair!! OMG--I was looking like a caveman. Not only the upper lip but the sides of my face too. Nair makes a facial hair remover. It's inexpensive. That's what I've been using. I never expected hair to come back in places it hadn't previously been. I don't know if this is temporary or if it's here to stay but I sure don't like it.
Yes, I'm definitely losing patience with the hair. I'm going to a Look Good Feel Better class today. Better late than never. Maybe they will have some tips on hair growth.
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seq24 - I see a lot of growth in your hair in the most recent pics. For the first time last week, I went into the cancer centre for radiation treatments with nothing on my head! I figure we're all in the "same boat" there and no one from precancer life would see me. A couple of other ladies waiting told me they liked my hair and asked when it started growing back. It' greyish white and soft and fuzzy about 1 1/2' long. Not my normal hair at all....
What I'm wondering is how I will be able to go back to do things I usually do with people who don't know what I've been through and not wearing a wig or winter hat? Most people thought my wig was a new hair cut. I didn't correct them unless they really went on about it. Obviously, no one would have hair like my current hair on purpose. I really don't want to discuss my health issues with everyone. Anyone have any suggestions or personal experience on transitioning back to being bare headed?
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Hi guys...6 weeks PFC. I only have baby hair. My hairdresser told me to wait until it's a bit longer and then have it shaved back with a 2 blade - I assume that means back to 2mm - as the quality is poor. But I met a lady at radiotherapy and she said she was advised to cut it back with a scissors like you would a baby's hair. Any advice?
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KB870 - Looking good! I had my hair trimmed around my ears and at the back as it was getting wispy. The top is too fuzzy to do anything with it.
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KB--your hair looks great!! It's really filling in nicely!!
Bravepoint--I have the same question about people seeing me for the first time since finishing treatment. I have kept my diagnosis and treatment very private so not many people know. I haven't left the house without the wig. I'd love to go without it but my main fear is running into someone I know then having to explain everything to them as to why my hair looks like it does. I went to a Look Good Feel Better class today. I was the only one who was not brave enough to take off the wig. Everyone else was sitting there bare headed but me. I felt very awkward and I still don't look good and definitely don't feel better. As you said, this is not an intentional hair style but how to transition from the wig to nothing is something I just don't know the answer to. I can't keep wearing this thing through the summer but don't feel like I can go without it either. I see this as a huge problem. I don't have much self confidence anyway and this surely isn't helping.
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seq24 - I went to a Look Good Feel Better class back near the beginning of chemo last November. Only 1 lady was bare headed, the rest of wore hats, scarves, etc. I totally understand what you're saying about explaining to people why your hair is as it is..... A good friend who went thru this 10 years ago told me to just go for it, cold turkey, no head covering. My DH keeps telling me I look good with short hair but I just am so not ready to bare my head! It snowed here today so i was able to wear my hat!!
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- I have been a lurker on this website since April of 2016. I have so appreciated the information in so many different topics as I plod along the breast cancer journey. I too worried about hair and how I looked and how people reacted but it is so not important.. Bravepoint listen to your husband. Seq24 go for it. Beauty is inside. If people don't get that that is their problem
0 - I have been a lurker on this website since April of 2016. I have so appreciated the information in so many different topics as I plod along the breast cancer journey. I too worried about hair and how I looked and how people reacted but it is so not important.. Bravepoint listen to your husband. Seq24 go for it. Beauty is inside. If people don't get that that is their problem
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Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I am so self conscious anyway and this hair ordeal has been the worst part of all of this. One of these days I might get brave and actually leave the house without the wig. A few weeks ago we went to the drive through to get a sandwich for dinner. I was tired and hadn't put the wig on so I just wore a cap. These 2 younger guys came out of the restaurant, took one look at me and were laughing and pointing at me. That convinced me never to go in public without the wig again.
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I'm so ornery that I would probably chase those guys down and lecture them on the chances of someone they love and respect facing cancer n the next five years; if they're so tough, let them make it through months of chemo, etc. but I can see why that experience was discouraging, Seq. A combination of excessive testosterone and making themselves feel better through belittling others seems to plague young men (and there are plenty of mean girls, too). There's a reason that bullies show up so often in movies. :-(
Speaking of weird hair stuff, I never lost all the hair on my arms and I just noticed how hairy my knuckles are. If it would just thrive where WE want. Sigh...
KB, looking good! I'm cutting off my odd "whispies" with scissors, but don't have enough growth to worry about a buzz cut yet.
Lyn
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Please don't buy cheap essential oils. There is a reason why they are cheap. They aren't pure and can contain contaminants. Use only therapeutic grade organic oils. Do some research about them before buying. I'm not sure if I can mention brands by name here, so I won't.
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Well I got my first official haircut today! She really cleaned it up well. I was told once again that short pixie cuts and gray hair are all the rage, so I guess there is a "silver" lining to BC after all.
21 weeks PFC
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Nice hair!
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docmama, looking great! It looks like we started TCHP almost the same day. When did you finish? I'm about 17 weeks out I think.
Mine is still very thin and short on top and around the crown, but it's progressing enough I got some gel stuff today to give it a little help when I'm skipping the caps and such around the house (indoors ~) lately. I may try putting some color on it to make it easier to see how it's doing. With a lot of white/grey mixed in, it's hard to tell.
Step by step I guess. I hope to be able to contact my stylist next month but will have to see how things develop,
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mosslike, my last TCHP was December 16. Still on Herceptin till September.
Heading out with hubby tonight. First event we go to since my diagnosis. A little nervous to be seen by his colleagues!
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docmama ... You look great!
Coach Vicky
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Docmama- sexy mama! You go girl
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I DID IT!!!! I went out "topless". I spent all day yesterday with my big bald head exposed to the world. I walked to the grocery store (twice), to the book store, to CVS, picked up the dry cleaning, and grabbed a pizza to go. All without my usual coverings. No one stared, pointed, or laughed. It was very freeing. The first time was rough, but I just gathered my courage up in a ball, didn't make much eye contact, and went out to face the world. Each time, each interaction got easier. Each time I felt more confident. By the end of the day, it felt good to tell the world: this is who I am. This is what I look like. If my appearance makes you uncomfortable, well honey, you don't know uncomfortable! Let me tell ya'....
I do have to make two caveats to my story. 1) I'm a light-skinned black woman. There are a few examples of black women rocking the super short or bald look. This is an advantage to me. 2) I'm 800 miles from home, traveling for work. The chance of running into anyone that I know is quite slim.
Even with the caveats, I'm proud of myself. I did something that was hard for me this weekend. I declare a small victory for me.
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Midwest Laura--GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! I am sure you are beautiful!!! I'm trying to gather the same courage as you. I am 16 weeks PFC and have some hair, but it just isn't me. I'm just now getting so I will go out in the yard without covering my head. I have nosy and gossipy neighbors. They don't know what's going on and word will spread fast once they see me. YIKES!!!
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Midwest_Laura - Congratulations! It is liberating to go without...the first time I went out bareheaded was 500 miles from home. I think that's a good strategy, if you can make it work. I was at a work conference where I had a small group of very supportive colleagues that egged me on and 500 people I didn't know. Caveats to my story: I did have about 3/4" of hair at the time which did not look intentional at all and I'm a pasty white midwesterner (no good role models there).
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Midwest Laura - Good for you! I did the same thing a few times last week starting off with going to rads bare headed and progressing to the grocery store. Like you, I couldn't make eye contact when out and about but no one pointed and stared so I feel a bit more confident. Still trying to get up the courage to do it around people that know me.....
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Midwest Laura- way to go 👍. Freeing is the perfect word . Being a prisoner of our own body is hard enough. Off with the wigs!!!
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Midwest Laura, I'm with you, I DID IT TOO!! I went all weekend without my wig, went to several stores, and then saw my son, daughter in law, and two grandsons. No comments at the stores, and my grandsons only slowed a little at first sight but then said it looked great. I just decided it's getting too warm here, and I get a headache at the end of every day. My bangs are still barely an inch long, but everyone finally convinced me to just give it up.
Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of the day I got the final news. I've had to wear something on my head for 9 months and am just tired of it. People say it looks adorable, I don't think so, but I just decided I was OK with being me. I've been through hell and back for the past year, and I'm ready to be comfortable and be who I am.
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