Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
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Welcome to BCO as an active member KillerFunbags. We have unknown numbers of lurkers (readers not yet joined) as many people just need the information, but don't want to join for a range of personal reasons. That is fine, as we are still providing a valuable service as an educational resource for them and that is one of BCOs primary focuses.
You will be able to obtain valuable feedback on
your own concerns now you are a member of the community. You will find
excellent responses to questions and sisters with similar problems and
interests that you can chat with in the safety of this forum.You will find lots of information on our main Breastcancer.org site by using the SEARCH function - see these searches made for you, EGG FREEZING. and COLD CAPS
You are welcome to contact the Moderators for any
questions or assistance and we'll help as best we can.All the best,
The Mods0 -
KillerFunBags-I froze my eggs. Feel free to contact me with any questions. I was able to get all the medications for free through the Livestrong foundation ($4,000 worth)
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KillerFunbags- I usually get highlights every 6-8 weeks, so I knew my hair would not look good after not coloring for 6 months, so I did color my hair to my natural color 3 weeks before I started chemo. In my unprofessional opinion, I think you would be fine to color your hair now!
-I used Penguin Cold Caps, but not through Chemo Cold Caps. My mom and sisters did all of the cap changing and they learned the process pretty easily. I had 8 caps and 100 lbs was enough, so it seems like 80 lbs would be enough for 5/6 caps. I also was given the dry ice for free when they found out what I was using it for, so call around to a few distributors.
-I didn't freeze my eggs, but I did get Zoladex injections during chemo. It basically shuts down the ovaries, lessening the effects of chemo. I got my period back 2 months after my last infusion. There have been a few studies recently showing the effectiveness of this type of injection. Let me know if you have any questions (I'm 28, by the way)
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Thank you Daye and FL_sunshine!
Did anyone try doing shellac manicures? Reading this forum, It seems like Taxotere is pretty tough on nails and I wasn't sure if this would help keep them strong?
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hi killerfunbags ( Love the name by the way
) there's a great nail protocol I followed during chemo and my nails thrived....day of chemo you wear dark polish, because Taxotere reacts with light. Then next day remove it and put on a coat of Sally Hansens Hard as Nails. Add another coat each day for a week, then remove and repeat. When you get to next chemo, start again with the dark polish. From what I read, the company that makes Taxotere used to even give small bottles of the polish. (LOL gift with purchase)I also iced my fingers and toes to prevent neuropathy. I wore latex gloves covered by dollar store knit gloves and kept my hands in baggies of ice. For my toes I wore socks and put ziploc bags of ice under them and folded over the top. Honestly colder than the caps, just pulled out of the ice for a minute when it got too cold. I have lots of chemo tips, if you're interested just send me a PM. I'm not sure exactly what worked but I had a pretty easy time.
I used Latisse for my brows and lashes but not until after chemo because my eyes watered a lot and then got very dry. I never lost them, they just thinned and grew back quickly after I was done.
As for coloring, I'd be afraid of doing it so soon before chemo...I'd say if you do it be sure to use something very gentle on the hair so it's not weakened too much when you start treatment. I used Penguin, but I know we had some Elastogel ladies not too long ago, hoping they will weigh in.
Good luck, let us know how we can help!
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Hi Ladies,
I am trying to come up with an Origami Owl locket that reflects this battle I have fought and the cold caps. They don't have a penguin charm.....
What would you pick to put in your locket?
www.twocutehoots.origamiowl.com
Let me know your thoughts!
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A lock of my hair!
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Hi Cappers,
I've been MIA with PT and surgery plans. Anyhoo, 6 mos. PFC and I am back to using a real hair brush and washing my hair like a normal person. My hair is growing back in but it is still 2 different lengths. I have shoulder length hair and little curls all around my face and neck. My husband thinks it is cute. I'm not so sure.
I want to share this with you. The link will only be good for a short time. I went skydiving and my ponytail holder flew off. It's funny because my thin hair was blowing in the wind. I got a bit upset when I realized what had happened but I was having too much fun to really care. And the reality is that I could never have gone skydiving with a wig!
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I am going for my 2nd CT tomorrow. Cold capping too. Lost so much hair days 19-21. It's starting to subside. I am also fasting. Anyone else besides Daniella fasting and uses cold caps?
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WarriorWoman - I couldn't get any pictures to come up when I clicked on the link. Maybe because I'm on my work computer and something is blocked. Skydiving - whoo, you are brave!
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Warrior, what fun! It was great to see you laughing and your hair looks perfectly normal. You might think it's really thin but anyone watching the video wouldn't give your hair a second thought.
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warrior - LOVE this :-)))))))
You (and your hair) look amazing. Didn't look at all thin to me - I saw a seriously awesome woman kicking butt.
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I was able to watch it on my iPad - WOW! I would not do that...but it was fun to watch. And you looked great!
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Warrior Women - I really enjoyed that video! you are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing...I needed that today:)
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warrior woman- you look awesome! Your hair looks beautiful ❤️ Such a inspiration
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Wow, I've been MIA but I'm so glad I checked in!
@warriorwoman: wtg! I'm thrilled I got to see this.
@hope49: absolutely beautfiul
@SueBe: I'm doing the fasting too, I truly believe it helps with the side effects but I'm running an experiment. I didn't fast last week, I'm comparing last week's worst day for SEs (day 3 after chemo) with this week's day 3 SE's this Saturday to measure the difference.
@Daniella: It's going by quickly isn't it? You have 3 down!
I've been suffering from chemo brain. I just almost sprayed shaving gel in the bathroom instead of air freshner.
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"I've been suffering from chemo brain. I just almost sprayed shaving gel in the bathroom instead of air freshener."
Hahahahahahha! Sounds like me still, almost two years later.
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Warrior Woman - LOVED your video…there was just so much joy, and although I'm way to scared of high open spaces to ever try this, I felt like I was living the experience with you - they did a fantastic job on the video. Where is the camera???
Hope all the cappers have a lovely weekend, free of SE and major shedding
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Hope - You're hair looks amazing. I'm still in the skinny pony tail stage. My instructor used a GoPro camera for the video. They won't allow me to use my own until my 10th jump. It was basically a selfie.
Thanks for the cheers everyone. I'm afraid of heights too but I have been needing to get my mojo back and this sure helped.
I'm going through a lot of crap still with my treatment. If I can help anyone here please message me.
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11 wks pfc and I have some spiky new eyelashes coming in, still looking sparse but I never last them all.
My eyebrows are more than half grown in and just a little powder fills them in.
I am finally noticing some filler hairs coming through up top and my hair started to get a little bit more body as a result. Still thin quite a lot but the new hairs are almost an inch long where they have grown in. Sideburns are grayed which is a bit disappointing but im still happy to have hair there. My temples are quite white but they had bern graying before all this.
Starting to feel better about my hair prospects.
I forget who asked but wearing hats doesnt seem to affect my hair. My shedding is very low now, at close-to normal levels. My hair is pretty thin up front and I havent colored yet -- oh, and I didnt tell my coworkers I was having cancer treatment, so I am wearing hats to keep myself happy about my appearance.
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Dear Cappers,
I am one week out from my second treatment , THP. Counting days, this is day 26 as seen in photo. Shedding, but hair looks ok. It is hard to imagine shedding at this rate through 4 more treatments spaced three weeks apart. That being said, I am thrilled to no longer have to regularly pluck whiskers from my chin area. My skin, troubled by acne all my life, actually looks good to me. My steroids are not adding pimples to the mix, fortunately. So, my positive is no whiskers!
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jeniferE - Your hair looks great. It's full and, most importantly, it's on your head! Just try to remember that we all have about 100,000 hairs on our heads, some have a lot more. Shedding should just be your oldest hairs giving up. They will go into their normal dormancy, then regrow.
From Web MD:
Hair Growth Cycle
Hair on the scalp grows about .3 to .4 mm/day or about 6 inches per year. Unlike other mammals, human hair growth and shedding is random and not seasonal or cyclical. At any given time, a random number of hairs will be in one of three stages of growth and shedding: anagen, catagen, and telogen.
- Anagen
Anagen is the active phase of the hair. The cells in the root of the hair are dividing rapidly. A new hair is formed and pushes the club hair (a hair that has stopped growing or is no longer in the anagen phase) up the follicle and eventually out.
During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm every 28 days. Scalp hair stays in this active phase of growth for two to six years.
Some people have difficulty growing their hair beyond a certain length because they have a short active phase of growth. On the other hand, people with very long hair have a long active phase of growth. The hair on the arms, legs, eyelashes, and eyebrows have a very short active growth phase of about 30 to 45 days, explaining why they are so much shorter than scalp hair.
- Catagen
The catagen phase is a transitional stage and about 3% of all hairs are in this phase at any time. This phase lasts for about two to three weeks. Growth stops and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair. This is the formation of what is known as a club hair.
- Telogen
Telogen is the resting phase and usually accounts for 6% to 8% of all hairs. This phase lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm, and leg. During this phase, the hair follicle is completely at rest and the club hair is completely formed. Pulling out a hair in this phase will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root. About 25 to 100 telogen hairs are shed normally each day.
0 - Anagen
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Hope49 - thank you for sharing the pictures. You are such inspiration!
Warrior Women - You look awesome! I am afraid of height. I admire your courage!
jeniferE - your hairs looks great! Thank you for sharing the picture.
Hortense - thank you for sharing the article from Webmd.
I'm at Day 18. Shedding more but not too bad. I'm trying to focus on what I have than what I've lost. I played hockey last night, was so bummed that I didn't have much energy to play.... I wore a soft hairnet and bandanna under my helmet to minimize the damage as PCC doesn't recommend wearing a hat (or helmet) and getting hair wet, sweaty and hot. But I really needed to get out and play for my mental health. Although I couldn't play well, I felt good playing with my wonderful teammates who helped me keep going and are okay to have me in the team....
I'm preparing for my next chemo for next Wed, trying to stay healthy. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
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Is there anyone in the Philadelphia area willing and able to help a new capper this Tuesday at her first infusion? I just had someone contact me today with questions, she already has her caps and was planning on changing the caps herself. She didn't realize how diffcult that would be (if not impossible). She is able to pay. I am traveling for business or would do it myself.
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JC - I have to save all my time off from work for my own treatments. Hopefully she can do as many here have and delay the start of treatment for a week or two to get her helper(s) in place.
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jc -tell her to contact the Rapunzel Project They have a list of volunteers for many areas.
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hi ladies! I am 6 weeks PFC and just had my surgery last tuesday! Thank God I'm feeling okay
! I was just wondering I have a very small sensitive spot on my scalp that kinda hurts/stings when I touch it is that considered frost bite? If so- does anyone know what I can use to make it feel better?0 -
Dlove - See your physician for an antibiotic ointment.
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thanks warrior woman❤️ will do.
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When I had frostbite in two spots it was quite sensitive, then the skin got hard, like a crust and eventually lifted off taking the hairs with it. I also had some sensitive spots on the top of my head that never peeled or did anything. However, if I moved the hair gently, it felt funny, almost as if it hurt, so I made a point of not touching it. The sensitivity went away.
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