Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Binniebin, that’s crazy! Everybody deserves a place where they can be themselves, hair or no hair!
My hair is continuing to come in but much in back than in front. My husband says I have male pattern baldness!
Thanks for your post a few days ago, MamaOz.
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I had the docetaxel for my 4 final treatments and my hair is very, very, very slow growing. However, from very good advice given to me here, it is hard to see progress day to day... better to take some pictures leaving some space in between.
Here I am in order:
6 weeks PFC - bald as a billiard ball!
15 weeks PFC
17 weeks PFC
And today's (the final three) 21 weeks PFC
Hoping this gives some hope to others where growth is very slow. However, I'm just 6 days into Tamoxifen (I went with that choice rather than Arimidex which scared me too much) - and am worried that any gains I've made re: sparse areas which I still have will be lost. Hopefully there are others out there where they didn't experience too much thinning of the hair with Tamoxifen???
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That seems to be coming in nicely CanadianGirl! Much more even looking than mine at 50 weeks (sigh) though mine is still filling in at a crawl.
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To Misslil... thanks for your response - This 21st week is the first time I have a bit of hope that someday I may be able to ditch the hats or wigs at some point in my future. Up until now I thought I might have to be a lifelong wearer of coverings (I still fluctuate between this belief and hope).
Re: your hair... even if super slow I am glad yours is still coming in at 50 weeks - for your sake, as well as mine. So good to know advancement can still take place months down the road!
You hang in there!
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You're making progress CanadianGirl! Keep ding what your doing and keep the faith!
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agatha, integragirl and Flynn, thanks i feel better knowing that you get my feelings. I think the feeling of loosing my sanctuary is the worst. My husband doesn't get the lack of privacy never has. He grew up on a farm where people would just turn up and they'd often have other workers just around. Me a grew up where people knock on the door and wait to be invited in. But the fact that I had addressed it with the neighbour a couple of months ago is so disrespectful.
It's been interesting to read about how long some of you have had for regrowth to happen. Like all the side effects, we all get it a little differently. it helps to be prepared for a very long haul.
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Here are my pics. I found it really inspiring and helpful to see others' posts with pics of hair growth when I was bald, so I hope this helps for those who feel like it's taking forever. Hair is such a part of our identity as women!
I finished chemo on June 28th and immediately started taking biotin and using a hair tonic I made with Jojoba, Rosemary, Castor and Argan oils. I would just rub it all over my scalp every night before bed. It took 5 weeks before I saw ANY kind of growth at all but then my hair started to grow in pretty thick and even (and unfortunately, grey...). Still not growing fast enough for me! I was finally able to colour it last week (the final photo). I also started taking Tamoxifen about 6 weeks post chemo so I've been on it for over 3 months now and have yet to notice any hair thinning.
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"Up until now I thought I might have to be a lifelong wearer of coverings (I still fluctuate between this belief and hope)."
Totally understand that CanadianGirl. Totally
Trying to focus on the hope side, even while wondering if the best I will get to is the current fluffy stuff that is too thin to style and too sparse on top/back to make a passable combover. If nothing else, I'd like it to get long enough I can do something with a scarf and have natural hair showing underneath that looks nice and non-scary.
I was driving yesterday and an elderly man with thin balding hair was crossing the street. Somehow seemed familiar
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Jenniferx, thanks for pics and the last is Devine!! Not sure what your original style was but you suit it!
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Jennifer ...you look AWESOME!
Coach Vicky
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HI for those of you using Latisse, is the prescription from your MO or family Dr? Thank
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Jennifer you look awesome, I should start taking biotin. I met with this lady who got her hair back in 3 months PFC that’s so wonderful! I’m hoping I can stop wearing my hat in summer,
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To VL22 RE: Latisse
I am from Canada so perhaps it is different in the States.... but in Canada you only need a Rx for the drops which go in the eyes - prescribed for glaucoma. Latisse is a commercial venture - sold by speciality shops. You apply Latisse along the edge of the eye where the lashes are -not in the eyes - no Rx needed.
Latisse was developed by the same company (I believe) that came up with the glaucoma drops. It was after they discovered that a 'side effect' of the glaucoma drops was that people's eye lashes got longer and darker and stronger. They realized there was a market for this so developed the product sold commercially. Very expensive but worth it.
I just googled my city and Latisse and it gave me the locations where it is sold.
Hoping this is helpful.
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RX is needed for Latisse and there is a generic that is a bit cheaper, anything you get without a prescription just isn't the same. Might help but it's not the same.
VL22, I got it from my plastic surgeon. My MO played dumb to what it was and if she should prescribe it.
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Jennifer - you look awesome and had a quick recovery for hair compared to me... however, I have hopes of eventually getting there especially since where I am now was - at some point - one of your stages... will just take me longer I think. And thanks for your information on tamoxifen... I am hoping it won't cause thinning..
MissLil - if you've got the soft fluffy look I have no doubt it will develop further! I am hoping in my sparse areas that new 'soft fluffy stuff' will start - and start to fill in the thin bits. I know what you mean re: seeing men with bald spots etc... it WILL get better for you I am sure - and at least as women we do have a lot more options than men, I think, with wigs etc. Still devastating but options... (Nevertheless I am sure if you've got soft fluffy stuff like me that it will turn into 'real hair'!
To T-Sue - thanks for your comment!
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Thanks Canadiangirl and TWills - Iasked because I feel my MO will also “play dumb”.
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I am almost 14 weeks PFC. Pics from today:
For reference, this is from November 3:
And this is from September 23:
My hair is growing fast, but has a lot more grey than before. It also has a part that I cannot seem to get rid of. I think at this point I'll take what I can get.
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Thanks all.
@Binniebin, my hair could not have been MORE different! It was long, darker, straight and thick. But I’ll take what I can get...
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Jenniferx- I only came on here to ask a question, but I must comment on your hair - so super cute! You look fab!
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CanadianGirl, Jenniferx & Lovepugs, you all are coming along great! I’ve started weekly pics but not enough growth yet to show a big difference.
Interesting about Latisse. After I get past surgery, I’m looking into getting eyebrows & buying some Latisse. I figured that I’d need an rx.
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Lovepugs77-Wow, wow, wow! You must be so thrilled, growth looks amazing!!!
My chemo regime includes 4A/C plus 12 taxol treatments. I’m wondering if you could share if your treatment was the same?
I started to see head hair growth about 2 to 3 weeks into Taxol treatment. I’m hoping it really takes off when I’m finished! I’m currently losing all my lashes and brows, so your post just boosted my spirit!!
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Jenniferx, I agree - your hair is super cute!
CBK, I did dose dense AC & taxol, so I had four treatments of each. My hair started growing back a little about halfway through taxol, but not much. My head was covered in white fuzz for quite a while, and it honestly seemed to stop growing for a while. I noticed it really start to take off about 8 weeks PFC. I still need to go get the white ends trimmed off.
I lost my brows and lashes during taxol, too. I noticed a grey five o'clock shadow on my brows about 5-6 weeks PFC, and then they seemed to grow pretty quickly, too. I can't tell if they are just a lighter color or if they aren't completely grown back in yet. My lashes are definitely not full length.
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Thanks everyone! I love seeing everyone's progress pics.
I too live in Canada and pay out of pocket for Latisse but it does work. Doctors will not prescribe it for "cosmetic purposes". I am lucky enough to live close to the US border however and order it from a US site (which is much cheaper than up here!)
Speaking of hair growth, has anyone experienced fine facial hair growth?? I've noticed a very thin and fine growth of very fair hair growth all over my face!! Not quite sasquatch worthy but bothersome, nonetheless!
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Jenniferx, I have the fuzzy facial hair, too. I have no idea what to do about that. I'm afraid of doing something that makes it grow back even worse
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Hello Flynn.... note that one other person said she needed a Rx for Latisse so while I don't - I'm in Canada - so it may be different for you in the States. Re: pictures... yes, my pictures between bald (6 weeks I think) to 15 weeks... no point in pictures because while I could see a change, it didn't show up in the pictures... also big gap between my 17 weeks & 21 weeks... still, looking back I found it encouraging to see I had actually progressed as much as I had. Looking forward to seeing your fabulous hair whenever you're comfortable sharing it!
Lovepugs77 - wow! Your hair is wonderful!
Re: eyebrows... I am done with having no eyebrows... I booked getting my eyebrows micro-bladed on for December 18th. I will share pictures of that if I remember. That way I will have more options with my hats and will be able to wear my wig... currently I am only wearing caps in public that come down over my brows (to hide the fact I don't have any)...
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Lovepugs77, I know! I'm hoping the facial hair will perhaps fall out or diminish over time? I too am afraid to do anything about it either so I guess I'll wait it out.
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oh jennifer it looks fabulous!
My hair was a chestnut brown with greys starting so I highlighted , but as you saw in my pics a few weeks ago its grey now
Chemo ended April 10th.. then surgery and radiation , im now taking arimidex
I am trying to figure what color to use
My hair now is nice but makes me look like an old lady
Im going to send pics to my hairdresser so she can think of ideas and make an appointment!!
As you can see the front and top is light grey , sides and back are darker
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CanadianGirl, I think you're making great progress!!
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Face fuzz is malignant down and is common after chemo: I just shaved mine off and it hasn't come back. On top of everything else, I am NOT looking like a monkey.
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Jennifer, your hair looks great! And, yes, I too have LOTS of peach fuzz facial hair. I asked about it on this board recently and a couple ladies suggested an epilator though I'm a little scared to try it. May just try shaving as Integragirl suggests.
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