Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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I lost my brows and lashes quickly on Taxol. I think it was just after treatment 2. I'm fair so maybe there is something to that.
My hair is definitely growing back. If it starts growing in unevenly I'm reshaving it. I still like being bald & other than for sun protection, I go out with my shiny head.
I haven't bothered to fix my brows even though I have the products to do it - incl wunderbrow. Losing 'tails' on eyebrows is a common middle aged woman thing - the outer half of eyebrows either disappear or get very light colored and don't show. So it's not just a chemo & hormone therapy thing - it's an aging thing.... I do wear glasses and that helps a lot as it gives some definition to the face.
I haven't bothered with eye makeup in months though I thought I'd want to try some eyelashes.. When I feel like it I wear tinted moisturizer and a tinted gloss and call it done. Most days I only wear sunscreen & a smile.And hats for outside. I'm tempted by this one but I hate the idea of velcro as it snags on things. Maybe if I replace it with snaps....http://www.sunprecautions.com/product/48100
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Oh CBK--I did not mean to make anyone sad! I had literally like two tears before the initial (1") buzz, and when it was time to shorten it up yesterday I decided I could be sad or not. I decided to go with not. I'm really pretty stoic about all of this. I know it's temporary and I do try to focus on the positive--like this is one small blip in my life, and this Friday I'll be halfway through the T, and. . . . I'm a little sad that the kid I'm picking up on Thursday who hasn't been home in two years and is bringing his young lady to Charlottesville for the first time will have a bald mother, this after such a fabulous graduation weekend with him and the whole family last month. (I started tx three days after I got home.) And while I mostly work from home (my office is three hours away), I have two Board meetings I have to go to every summer and that is going to be weird. I've known many of my co-workers 15-20 years, and they only get to see me a couple of times a year, and I think it will be a little awkward for them. It's kind of weird that I feel like we are the ones who are the last to get used to our new looks--because anyone I've even had a 10-minute conversation with has seen more of my scalp than I have. (I mean who at my age looks in a mirror more than absolutely necessary even on our best days??) It's still a surprise when I get a glimpse of myself. I'm grateful that I still have brows/lashes--there's always something to be grateful for, isn't there? I'm <mostly> just fine.
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Ingerp, yes, you will come out the other side. I know everyone's treatment is different and everyone reacts differently but your treatment will end and your hair, skin, eyelashes, eyebrows will recover. It's not fun waiting for the re growth. I handled it by deciding to manage the things I could control. I'm careful with my diet and exercise regularly. I surround myself with positive energy. I make time to find things to be grateful for every day. For you, getting through treatment is the important thing right now. I know it's hard to miss your old self but when it's time your appearance will return to normal. Be easy on yourself.
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Ingerp-
You didn’t make me sad I just took a little trip down memory lane. You sound much stronger than I was about the whole thing. Little projection on my part.
Do you not want to get awig? Everyone is different. Actually my wigs look better than my own hair did after BMX and diagnosis stress.
Your family just wants to spend time with you. They don’t care what you look like. And you will be surprised how fabulous some people can be, co/workers included. Besides sounds like you have a super tough skin and the right attitude.
I’m cheering you on that you keep those brows and lashes. Keep us posted.
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Just a note to say I kept my eyelashes and eyebrows. They thinned a bit but recovered pretty quickly. Fingers crossed for you.
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6 months and 2 weeks PFC. I was still bald 2 months PFC. Thought I was going to be one of the unlucky ones who didn't get her hair back. Now I have crazy chemo curls. I had wavy hair before chemo. Never this curly. My curly headed mother is fascinated by it!
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Orangedaisy your hair looks great!! So when my son first saw me he said I looked great--said he thought I was going to look like a zombie. I think friends who see me for the first time are surprised that I look normal *except* for my hair, and I've been doing the ballcap thing. I really don't notice it much myself any more when I happen to get a glance in a mirror. I have to figure out what I'll do for the two Board meetings at work--it's the only time my office puts on somewhat fancy duds, and I'm not sure a baseball hat is appropriate. I have tons of scarves I haven't even broken into, but I wonder if that calls even more attention to my head?? And it just occurred to me this morning that my ID card is expiring in a few weeks and when I get it renewed, my picture will be with no hair. :-( I guess it'll be a reminder of this fun year! No noticeable impact on my brows/lashes--I've read that they sometimes don't come out until several weeks after tx? I'm still using the Lilash/Librow several times a week. Guess we'll see. . .
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I lost my brows about 6 weeks PFC and my lower lashes a couple weeks later. Never lost all my upper lashes. The brows came back within a couple weeks. Lashes slower.Both are falling out again now. I hope not all of them this time.
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Orangedaisy--I am no lash/brow expert but someone else posted that those hairs are on a cycle (just like the hairs on our head), so post-tx, they all start on the same cycle so they all come out at the same time whereas normally we'd lose hairs here and there so we always have some. I think that's why some/many women go through several cycles of losing most of their brows/lashes post-tx. FWIW, those products I've been using claim to interrupt that cycle so the hairs are constantly growing (or something like that--I haven't read about them since last fall!).
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Ingerp, Everyone figures out what works for them. I had 5 wigs (including a great human hair one...expensive but worth it) and paid attention to my makeup so I could transform from Gollum to Human
and my clients never knew I was sick. I’m now 10 months post chemo and went for my third haircut yesterday...it’s actually looking like an intentional inverted bob these days Last year was very difficult for me but it’s getting better now. One day at a time
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Actually, my youngest is considering cutting his 10"-long blond curls before entering the real world. *Man* would that make a beautiful wig for someone!!
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10 months post treatment.
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Last TC chemo treatment was one year ago today. Here is my hair this week to show progression. I've had it colored multiple times and as you can see by my roots I'm due for a touch up. I've had three haircuts at 6, 9 and 12 months. Finally it is all same length so I can grow it back into my long bob. Patience was hard to come by some days but with my hairdresser and colorists help I do finally feel like I'm getting there.0 -
Leesa, you look fit and healthy, and your hair is beautiful. Your stylist is a gem. Can't wait to see the long bob!
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Thanks Hersheykiss😘. I’m finally back to working out regularly. Although finished chemo exactly a year ago today, the year since had radiation, starting AI’s, an oopherectomy, bi lateral exchange, port infection (staph MSSA introduced at a port flush) which caused severe sepsis which caused multiple DVT’s, six weeks of at home iv antibiotics 3 x a day via a new picc line, and 97 days of lovenox shots in my stomach. Blood cultures fiinally clear and shots ended July 2nd 🙌🙌. Breast cancer and treatment is truly the gift that keeps on giving🙄. I’m so thankful my hair has grown back. It’s been a very long year and a half. Hope all is well!0
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LeesaD- wow what a difficult time you have had. So happy you are moving on and healing. It’s incredibly remarkable through all those difficulties your hair grew and thrives. 👊
My hair is super nuts PFC 7 months now. When do chemo curls calm? Love to hear from those post A/C and Taxol?
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Leesa, you sure have been through a lot. You look wonderful! CBK you look great also! I am hoping for those chemo curls soon. Thanks for posting ladies!
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Leesa—thanks for sharing. You look wonderful!!
CBK—those curls are out of control! Is that your old hair color? How curly was your hair before
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DebAl- Wishing you chemo curls but one's that are a little calmer than mine!
InGerp- My hair was not curly at all pre-chemo. I mean slightly wavy in an annoying way. Even my reconstructive surgeon, hairstylist and wig people, all which are no strangers to chemo patients and their curls are like....WTH?
Who really knows what color my hair was pre-chemo, I've colored it since I was in high school . I do think it grew back a bit darker than is was pre-chemo. I colored it at 6 months PFC. It's a bit vibrant here... but sure to fade out soon.
Anyone with insight on their chemo curls calmed down? I'm beginning to get a complex whenever I take my wig off and someone busts out laughing... OMG!!
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CBK—I haven’t experienced this yet but do read the hair threads. Common experience seems to be whatever weird chemo hair you get will eventually revert to something close to what your hair used to be. In the meantime just enjoy those curls! I have a feeling Lucy Ricardo would be jealous. ;-)
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Thanks CBK, DebAl and Ingerp!
CBK- your hair looks awesome and full and thick!! Love the color! Mine grew back as straight as it was prior to when I lost it so I can’t comment on when the curls will calm down. I think your curls look great but hope it gets back to how you like it most and what makes you feel like you!0 -
Ingerp- HA! Very funny. I know there are so many bigger things to worry about than my silly chemo curls. Everyone talks about their chemo curls having a brittle or dry texture. Mine are not that way at all, wondering if they are just here to stay.
Leesa D- Thank you... have you noticed any thinning of your hair on Arimidex combined with your ooph? I mean your hair certainly doesn't look thin, but just wondering. I have found that a huge adjustment in this whole process.. that no one even remotely prepared me for!!
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fwiw, if anyone started laughing or so much as twitched their lip when I took off my wig I'd beat them with the wig until they cried for mercy.
Nobody but us gets to laugh at us, kwim?
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CBK- so far I have not noticed any thinning due to Anastrozole or ooph. I've always had very thick hair. Prior to losing it my hairdresser would always have to cut into it with the thinning scissors to cut down on the volume as it grew. As it was growing back from chemo she was hesitant to do that but this last cut she had to cut into it again to thin it out as it was growing very thick. I still have a ways to go until I can compare apples to apples. When it gets back to at least chin length I'm hoping I can say it grew back exactly as was before. What I've noticed most from the lack of estrogen is skin changes and just more of an 'older' appearance. I feel like my looks have aged 10 years in 10 months.
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Moth- Bahaha! 10 lashes with my long STRAIGHT red wig. You want straight, take that 🤣! I don’t think anyone I’ve showed my new sprouts to mean any harm. I think they are just shocked and actually quite happy for me that they let out a chuckle or big smile complete with mouth agape. My new hair is just nothing like my “old” hair.
LeesaD- ugh the damn dropping of the estrogen. I feel like 90 in my joints. Of course it’s so likely our reaction to als is much different and plausibly more severe with the ooph. It’s hard to tell on skin issues how much the chemo aged me and how much the lack of estrogen is aging me. Any miracle products you can share? You are looking fabulous!!
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Hello Ladies, I am 6 years out - After chemo my hair came back curly/wavy and I loved it! Currently my hair has lost its shine and no longer has the curls/wavy -I have a lot of hair but lost so much of the body! Has this transition happened to any of you? Thanks for your input.
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leesa, Love your hair!
I’m very grateful that my hair is growing in but I’m at a loss about how to handle my new curly hair. People tell me that it’s silly but it’s hard not looking like my straight haired self. I always wanted more body and I think I would appreciate it, if I didn’t think about chemo every time I look in the mirror. Anyway trying to make the best of it- any websites with good advice for styling short curly hair while it grows out?
Dventi, have you tried spritzing wth argan oil? Using it to tame my curls and my hair is shiny. Not as far out as you, tho.
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My hair started growing inn around April and now I have these weird tight grey and white and black curly curly (think pin curls from the 1950s) and look ridiculous, but at least it hair. My question is the wigs no longer fit right and some of these curls come through the side of the wig. I've tried a wig cap but its just too hot. When did everyone ditch the wigs?
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mudd, I wore my wig until the sideburns and back started to show through. They refused to stay under the cap and were quite apparent.I do miss my wig at times. No styling required. It was a breeze to get ready in the morning.
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Mudd did it look like this?
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