Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
Comments
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It took mine about 3 weeks.
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Debby - Frank told me to add just 2 drops of apple vinager (I think I added like 5 drops to a cap of shampoo). How many did you add?
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I bought a wonderful human hair extension and they colored and styled exactly to match my hair (insurance paid, because it is a cranial prosthesis). I was concerned the clips might also pull the last 3 "strands" of delicate hair that have "survive" but since it clips at the top of my scalp (like a toupee) it really doesn't pull any of my hair.
Today a I had my 2nd Taxol (10 to go). I am still wearing the PCC... still painful (not as bas with all the painkillers I took!). I am shedding everyday, but for some reason my scalp is holding most of the short hair (2cm to 5cm). I assume this hair is the "newest hair" I had before chemo, then the strongest or some of my hair just broke in the process because I have never cut my hair that short Who knows....
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Lmflynn: I am curious if your hair came in the same color before chemo? Also, many woman claim their hair comes in thicker than before. Did you experience this?
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@soccer girl...my hair is coming in basically the same ... A little darker and actually the hair around my ears has a slight curl...especially in humidity....pre chemo and all my life I've had straight, thin hair....the hair isn't thicker as in per strand, but it feels thicker..think because so many are on the same "cycle" all growing at one time
Weirdest thing for me is noticing my leg hairs and underarm hairs are so much thinner and more sparse..can't help but wonder without the caps if that is how my head hair would look like.....0 -
My leg hair is thicker...I swear! I wish it had gotten sparser and thinner.....It seems way more prickly than it did before chemo.
I can only hope my hair comes back thicker than before...that would be nice. I do think that the hair will be growing at the same cycle and not as staggered as before chemo so hopefully it will feel thicker.
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Maria: from the majority of earlier posts, it seems that most woman have thicker hair after. It is only a matter time before you will join that club. The leg hair is a sign that your hair will soon follow suit. Even women who haven't used the caps claim thay have thicker and better hair after chemo. I can't wait to join the thick hair club too!
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Today was a good day...hardly any shedding other than combing gently this morning
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Hi just to write about my Paxman experience. The cap fits well and tight on my head and although it's very cold, I found that bearable. In fact, I see ice flakes on my hair every time after the cap is removed. My shedding is also minimal and now that I am 3 weeks PFC I have noticed some new growth.
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Hi ladies - Today is not a good day, I lost a relative from breast cancer, she was 35 years old with 2 small kids (9 & 2). I am very sad, my heart is aching, I am scared. BC sucks!! I am sorry to dampen your days with my sad news but just had to share this with someone.
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Oh snoopy I am so sorry for your loss.
Boo to this horrible disease.On a happier note and talking about the leg hair....mine is coming in like crazy and it has pretty much stopped growing prior to bc and now I have to shave every few days. I haven't seen any underarm hair under either arm yet and wondering about that but my arm hair is growing like crazy. I took the scissors to this scraney little ponytail this morning and will try to keep it trimmed until the rest of the hair gets longer.
MARIA: HOORAY!!!!!
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Snoopy....I am so very sorry. I had a friend's mom just diagnosed last week too - we don't know stage yet. BC is a wicked, sneaky, disgusting disease.....I keep praying every night they will find a cure.
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Snoopy....hugs to you
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Snoopy~
I am so sorry.
We have some friends who lost their mom to BC.
The kids made crafts for her on her birthday and took them to her grave.
It still makes me cry to think about it.
My heart goes out to your family.
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Snoopy- I am sorry for your friend.
Ladys, I already have a lot of lashes more than before treatment. But they still need to grow a little bit more. Does anybody know when can we use mascara?
Tiki0 -
Tiki: I've been using organic mascara...not the best in the world but it works; however, for the most part, I haven't gone back to mascara - I got used to not wearing it and hubby doesn't notice the difference.
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Arlene- thanks for the information. I will try a health food store tomorrow. Or maybe Ulta might have it.
Tiki0 -
Tiki I used mascara all through chemo. At first I was using Physician's Formula Organic Wear. It was not the best but it did the job. It came off super easy so it was perfect during chemo because I was afraid lashes would fall out. After my lashes eventually fell out and grew back in, I went to Ulta and got some mascara from Tarte. It is alumimum free and does not have any of the bad stuff in it. It works much better. Your lashes will grow quick...mine did! Now they are super long.
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Ladies, I wanted to share some basic hair information I found online in my reading. I had been frustrated with continued shedding months after completing chemo and wondered why I was still shedding. In my case, I think the continued shedding also had something to do with having my exchange surgery....surgery is trauma to the body that can cause hair loss. I did want to share some general info on how the hair grows. This talks about the growth cycle of hair. I am having TONS of new growth so it makes sense that I was shedding a lot recently as new hair was coming in the old hair had to go!
http://www.hairlosshelp.com/hair_loss_research/causes_hair_shedding.cfm
I was also left anemic after completing chemo. Anemia is an iron deficiency and it can also cause hair loss:
http://www.hairlosslibrary.com/hair_loss_iron.html
I am now back on iron and vitamin C to boost my levels.
Another thing I read is magnesium deficiencies can cause hair loss...well before chemo I was low in magnesium so I am back on magnesium now:
http://www.hairlossproductreviews.net/magnesium-review-for-hair-loss/
I am in no way telling people to take certain supplements, I am just sharing my findings because I was anemic and low on magnesium which could have contributed to some of my shedding. I will never know for sure. As far as shedding now, it seems to have really minimized finally.....I completed chemo the first week of May so I shed way longer than most of you gals. I still have full coverage and it is thin by my standards but no one would know. I do continue to put in 1 set of hair extensions and it looks pretty much like my pre-chemo hair. I used a hair dryer lightly yesterday...it was the first time since February I have used a hair dryer!!! I have tons of new growth....it looks like I have a small set of bangs growing in at my hairline and down through my temples. It is comingin super thick there and is about 1 1/2 inches long. My sideburn area is about 1 1/2 inches long too. I have lots of hair that stands up near my part line that is the same length...I am forever trying so smooth it down. It may stand up at times, but when I see it it makes me happy because it is tons of new hair growing in! Overall I would say I lost about 50% of the thickness of my long hair but I had no real bald spots. It did look like my hairline just receeded all over the front and temples but I don't think anyone noticed it except me. I can really tell now that it is all growing back. Overall, PCC's were a success for me. I did post photos of my hair a few weeks ago on my blog so if you have not seen them and are considering PCC's take a peek. I am finally resuming normal hair styling....wearing my hair straight again like I did pre-chemo instead of airdried, frizzy and wavy which was my PCC protocol hair style. I am very greatful for PCC's. I won't lie, it was an emotional and stressful road watching it shed and worrying it would never stop, but I am glad I did it. I can relax and know that my 5 year old will never have memories of me being bald and looking sick. That brings me peace. No child should have that kind of childhood memory. Thank you Frank and PCC's!!!!! Thank you ladies for supporting me through this. If anyone is reading this that is considering the caps, feel free to PM me. I want to support others choosing PCC's.
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Good information Maria. I kept saying that the new had to push out the old and that is part of the shedding process. I too was very low on magnesium and potatssium during and after chemo and most of us are anemic after chemo so it all makes sense.
As I said earlier, I cut off my horriblly skinny ponytail and kind of wished I had not but no regrets and using the ElastoGels was a blessing and I have them all stored in the event (and God forbid) that I have to go through this again.
I too am going back to more normal routines with my hair. I'm using my regular brush again and I think it too is stimulating the scalp. I'm washing with warm water but rinsing with the cold weather. Still sticking with the organic shampoos however and probably won't ever go back to those with all the nasty stuff in there.
Good information Maria!
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Maria- those are really good news, I am very happy for you!!! How many weeks PFC are you? Thank you for the information about mascara. I haven't used mascara since April, I will buy one today
Arlene- we are almost in the same path. I have a lot growing, I am using my brush only for my bangs. Coloring my grays once or twice a month. Always used curling iron at low temperature. Thank you for the information on mascara. How many weeks PFC are you?
I am on my 13 week PFC. and my shedding is minimal.
TIKI0 -
Tiki: Monday I'll be 17 weeks PFC. Hoping to meet for lunch week after next.
I used my curling iron all during chemo but just on my bangs and very low temp and very carefully.
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Tiki I have stopped counting the weeks....it has been almost 5 mo's since I stopped chemo. I had my last chemo the first week of May.
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I shed like Maria...for 5-6 months....Frank and PCCs say that carnivores do betters than vegetarians which i am.....I think if I remember right mdg is a healthy eater too...I think that may have something to do with it....but in the end I kept most my hair, no one could tell, and it is basically back to normal!!......I'm still so very happy I used the caps...8 months PFC now..
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I am going to try and post a photo with my hair styled straight with my 1 set of hair extensions in this week so you ladies can see the before and after comparison. I can't believe how much I look like me now that I can style my hair again!!!! I would have DH take a photo now but I have no make up on...I don't want to scare anyone
I will get a photo this week and post it. I was thinking of cutting my hair much shorter because it is so thin but with the extension set in, it is just as thick as my pre-chemo hair and no one would ever know. Lmflynn: I am a healthy eater but I do eat ground turkey, chicken, eggs....not much beef. Maybe again the iron found in beef matters......I wish I would have known that maybe I would have eaten more beef but then again chemo made me anemic anyway so it may not have mattered.
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Well Ladies,
today I celebrate my PFC 6 months!! I too use extentions--my "new" hair is coming in like gang busters!! It is of different color and texture--and makes my hair stick out but--it is mine!! Keep strong!! It will work for you all too!!
Lots of Love!
Sharon
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Ladys- I have been vegetarian all my life. I don't drink milk either, just rice milk. I consume organic eggs. During treatment I took liquid iron from vegetables. My iron levels are fine. And by 12 week PFC my shedding was very minimal, less than before chemo. Thats why I decided to get the extensions. My magnesium and potasio is always been good. Never had neuropathy, skin problems, or nail changes. anyways I really had few SE. ( nauseas, dizzy, weak, constipation) but it last 3-5 days.
Tiki0 -
Hi ladies,
I finished my last chemo this past Thursday! I am relieved but feel this has been the hardest one psychologically. It is hard to get motivating to do my work outs. I am making my self do it because I want to get back to playing soccer in the spring and hike the Grand Canyon with my Husband in April.
I find cancer a very lonely disease and I am having trouble with dwelling on the people who let me down. I know that it is not healthy, and I will let it go. I was excluded from a couple of social events with my former soccer team before my last chemo. I am still shocked and crushed. I am sure each one of you have a painful story of finding out who your " real" friends are during cancer treatment.
MDG: Congrats with your new growth! It sounds like your hair is going to be super thick.
Snoopy: I am so sorry for your loss. Your relative was way to young to die from this disease. Did you post earlier that she became pregnant during treatment?
On a positive note, I was successful with the caps and would recommend them to any woman. I am so grateful to have used them and to had the support from the women on this site.
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Hooray for completing chemo Soccergirl. I know it is cliche to say this but those girls weren't your friends anyhow; but also in their defense, so many folks don't know how to deal with those of us who have cancer. I had one person ask me "how long they gave me"....I haven't communicated with her since. This disease is so emotional, almost as much as the physical. Things will return to, as they say, "the new normal".
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Soccergirl- congratulations you finished!!! Take some time to rest. You'll be strong again soon. It took me like 2 weeks afer treatment to get back to my exercises. I don't know why your friends are acting like that, but maybe they think that you need to rest thats why they are not inviting you? I don't know. I know that the week after treatment I cancel all my activities and I was home resting.
Blessings,
Tiki0
