Hair Hair Hair - Another question
Comments
-
I stopped taking biotin because I was concerned it encouraged hair growth in the wrong places as well as on my head (upper lip, chin, legs). I have plenty of hair where I don't want it, and I certainly don't want to add to it. I asked the naturopath who kind of laughed at me, but how can a vitamin know which hair to grow?
0 -
I really need to increase my biotin. I am only taking 2000 units per day! Thanks Jancie.
Jancie, as a fellow horse person, I have photos that we took from the surgery observation room. If you would like the photobucket link, let me know. Lisa
0 -
jancie: how far out of chemo are you? I am four weeks and have absolutely nothing growing!
0 -
RN_onco I noticed your occupation (Radiation) Do you ever have women complain about shortness of breath several months after radiation? I had supraclavicular radiation. Could there be damage to my lungs?
0 -
Lisa: I'm another one who has been taking biotin (10,000 mcg) ever since my last tx a year ago. Not sure if it helped my hair grow, but I have the STRONGEST nails! It hasn't helped my other body hair grow -- still very sparse on legs, armpits and nether regions.
However, I'm also on Femara, which can cause hair thinning, and I have a bald spot on the crown of my head, so my pharmacist recommended a product from France called Chronostim. I've used it for a week, so in 3 weeks I'll let you know if it's working! It's specifically for hormone depletion hair loss and studies have shown it works for about 80% of those who use it. By the way, I checked out Nioxin but the insert says it is not to be used for chemo-induced hair loss.
Hugs to all, and a heaping helping of patience! I know exactly what you're all going through!
Linda
0 -
Before I try to post a picture of my hair 6 weeks PFC - I am going to try to post a picture of my horse and see if this works
Dx 12/30/2008, IDC, 4cm, Stage IIa, Grade 1, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-0 -
Jancie, he looks like he's doing riderless dressage! Beautiful animal.
0 -
This took so long - I don't have time to post more pictures as I have to leave now or I will be late for my appointment - will come back this afternoon and post pictures.
0 -
Jancie~ Your princess is stunning. I hope her front foot gets better soon.
0 -
Jancie, beautiful horse and the scenary in the background is just stunning.
0 -
I just love my mare!! I went out there today and again she is still a little bit off on her right front leg so the vet is coming out on Tuesday.
Ok, let's hope I didn't forget how to post pictures - here is one of me at 6 weeks PFC. If it doesn't work I promise to keep editing my post until I get the picture in it. I did it - or at least it looks like the picture made it in the post. You can see that some of my hair is long enough to where it is laying down flat.
" mce_src="
Dx 12/30/2008, IDC, 4cm, Stage IIa, Grade 1, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-0 -
Nodapearl - don't have the answer to that one - can only believe that if hair wasn't there before in a particular area then you won't be getting hair now. Either you have the hair follicles existing or you don't. I finally had to shave my legs but I still don't have hair in my armpits nor in my southern region. So the bioxin doesn't seem to be hitting those areas.
Lisa - thanks for the offer but I can't stand to watch horse surgeries yet I am constantly watching discovery health cable channel shows that have trauma surgeries on them, etc. I don't mind human blood but I can't stand to see an animal bleeding. I couldn't watch my mare have colic surgery and she had it twice (that is the mom to the horse that I posted a picture of).
Magnola - My last chemo was May 27th - better if you do the math on that one. I had 4 rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxin followed by 4 rounds of Taxol - dose dense on all chemo. My hair actually started growing a little bit before I completed Taxol but after Taxol my eyelashes and eyebrows disappeared into thin air.
0 -
Okay Jancie how did you take a picture of the back of me......lol..... Actually you may have more than me
It looks great! I am using the mane and tail also but I have not started taking the biotin yet. 0 -
Too funny Jaimieh! I was the one that always looked like you because I was too stupid to figure out how to post pictures and had my hubby come in here today and help me.
You need to start on the Biotin - 10,000 mcg per day! We were at the same length and color the last time you posted a picture and then my hair started coming in really fast and also gray which is why I can see it better now. You can get Biotin in many of the larger grocery stores, just look at the dosage of the pills and figure out from there how many to take. Biotin does not interfere with chemo according to my oncologist who is the chief oncologist at Intermountain Health Care. It also shouldn't interfere with Tamoxifen either.
0 -
Janice - My eyebrows and eyelashes are almost non-existent, will have my 4th and last DD Taxol on July 20th. How long before they started coming back in? I have peach fuzz on my head, but I think that losing the lashes and brows might be worse than the hair. Prayers to all of you for making it through. HUGS, Dawn
0 -
Dawn - I wish I had the answer to that. I lost my eyebrows 4 weeks ago and they are not coming back in yet. Same with my eyelashes. I have heard that Latisse works well but I haven't tried it nor will I as I have very sensitive eyes.
0 -
Linda, where do you get the Chronostim from? I have hair coming in, but at 12 weeks, it doesn't seem like it's making much of an improvement, and the hair at the crown of my head is very thin. Started taking Femara 10 days ago and think I'm going to be on the slow, thin hair growth train. Going to get some Mane & Tail today at the store, and I hope to have an updated photo today also. I know the Biotin is working like crazy on my nails, and it seems to have helped the lashes and brows come in really well, but the hair on my head . . . I'm starting to worry that the severe folliculitis I had for 3 weeks may have permanently damaged some of my follicles.
0 -
Okay, I think I've managed to get the photos, front and back of where I am . . .
" mce_src="" alt="" border="" hspace="" vspace="" width="" height="" align="" />
" mce_src="" alt="" border="" hspace="" vspace="" width="" height="" align="" />I don't know why Photobucket inserts two photos - sorry about the double vision!! Anyway, this is 12 weeks PFC. anyone else looking like this, or am I on the slow train? also, can't wait for the growth to fill in on the back, I didn't know I have a bunch of red birth marks, looks like I got punched in the head or something!
0 -
Jancie, (sorry I spelled your name wrong before)
Thanks for the response, I heard about the Latisse and a friend of mine tried Revitalash. I'm kind of paranoid to try those as I think I'll just let nature take its course and try to be patient. Hope you see some growth soon!.
Chelev, you look great! I can't wait for my peach fuzz to get some color!
HUGS, Dawn
0 -
Chelev, that's about as much hair as I had 3 months after last chemo. Femara, IMO, seems to slow down the rate of growth, and I'm thinking that round patch on top of your head is probably related to the folliculits.
I live in the Niagara region in Ontario, Canada, so can't tell you where you could get chronostim! However, I'm sure if you go online, you'll find it. It's made by Ducray Pharmaceuticals in France.
But I would wait a few more months to judge the growth, and would also recommend seeing your dermatologist and asking him/her about the practicality of using chronostim.
By the way, I use Mane & Tail shampoo -- great stuff, I love it!
0 -
Fair greetings my fellow frustrated follical fighters. Well chelev and everyone else it seems that I am behind everyone. GRRRRRRR. I kind of lost it yesterday. I have 4 more rads to go and am doing well. My skin is holding up I just have a itchy rash that I am treating with success. It is just this stupid hair thing. I want it back NOW like a spoiled child. I guess it is a sign of the journey. I want to move passed it. I want it to match how I feel. (which is so much better). I want to feel the wind in my hair. You can still see the scalp so I can not pull off not wearing something. My DH said the sweetest thing to me though. He said that soon I will be ready for some great photo ops. I loved that. I use to model and am now 55 years old and to hear that means he still thinks I am pretty. I tell you its hard to feel that way right now. I have started to loose some weight but still feel fat and bald. Thanks for the vent. I ask my onc about the slow grow and she said it is from the taxotere and to be patient. Right. Maybe next month things will get better. I found out I do not have to take hormone repacement so that will help speed things up. However I am still on herceptin and will be till December so be it. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
0 -
Rayhope: I'm not sure if I will be off it or not. My onc was surprised my surgeon put me on it already. He said they usually wait until rads are done. My surgeon thinks I will have a better response to the Arimidex than the chemo. Ticked me off to hear that...why not skip chemo and just put me on that from the start!!!
I am upping my Biotin to 10,000 per day. Getting mane and tail shampoo. Holding off on Nioxin for a bit. Not sure about lashes and eyebrows, can't afford the Latisse.
Thanks for the info ladies. Getting ready for surgery on Tuesday...send good vibes to the docs to get it all out the first time!
Hugs all around,
Chris
0 -
Just feel like venting... I am so tired of this waiting on my hair and trying to be patient. I am tired of the weight and tired of my lashes falling out! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I am taking 5,000 of biotin. I was told to take it because I lost my toenails (another thing I am tired of waiting on). I am also using Nioxin and Latisse. My lashes grew in long and thick and just feel out again and I am 5+ months post chemo.
My hair is growing but at a slow pace and it is SOOO curly. I have no idea how to style it and am still wearing my wig. I must REALLY be insecure about it because the temps here in Houston have hit 100+.
Thanks for listening!
0 -
Christlc - Vent away!!!! It will make you feel better. I see that you are HER+, the herceptin will slow down your hair growth. Why don't you make an appt. with your stylist for some tips. Maybe he/she can help.
Getting a "hair cut" last week was the best thing I ever did. It has really stimulated my hair growth. I have had more growth since last Wednesday than I would normally have in 3 weeks. I also increased my biotin, but I just did that Sat., so that has not had time to kick in yet. I am 22 weeks PFC today and I finally feel good about my hair growth. It dang sure took long enough.
Have a great day ladies.
0 -
GOOD pics!!!This is not easy at all!!! I am now loosing my brows more each day and it has been a month and three days since my last tx! The peach fuzz is appearing on my head more and more and some patches in the back. FEEL for all of you and those with hair..keep us inspired!!!Feels like eons until hair comes.. grrrrr!!!
0 -
Cristi...KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!!!! Hope just venitng helps as sometimes you want to explode in frustration.. the curly hair.. you sure it is not a possible look for you? Just wash and let it be. The humidity in TX does not help, i am sure. Hang in there.. i have nothing but some peach fuzz and some dark color.. it does not look appealing AT ALL!! Here for you too.0
-
I have the white peach fuzz at 4 weeks PFC. I went camping this past weekend and didn't have a mirror that was private, so I didn't "check" my hair growth! Came home and took a shower, couldn't believe how much the color has changed. I actually have a shadow starting on my head! That was just from Thur. to Sunday. I hope it grows quickly....like we all have hoped!
CristiC: Are you paying for the Latisse? If you don't mind me asking, how expensive is it? Can you use it on eyebrows too or just lashes? And...we all need to vent. That is what these threads are for. I have never joined a local support group because I have always felt me needs were met here!
Chris
0 -
Thanks to all for the support!
ChrisC: Yes, I am paying for the Latisse. It is $120 for a month's supply but it seems to last longer than a month. It says to just put it on top lashes and doesn't say anything about brows. I dont see why it would hurt just running the brush over the brows though.
0 -
Chris - I got Latisse from my PS. He said to use whatever was left on the brush and put it on the brows. I made the Latisse last longer too, even with putting it on my brows.
0 -
I have actually put my nioxin follicle booster on my brows from time to time. My brows are still with me... which is not the case with my lashes!
0
