Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
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I went in for my 5th Taxol today; my first treatment was four weeks ago. The PA whom I saw admitted that she was skeptical at the beginning and now she was impressed with my hair (which is unwashed and not styled now). I asked if I should be bald by now without the caps, and she confirmed.
My chemo nurse also also had some positive comments.
I have to admit, all of it felt good.
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Alibeths, I don't know which SE are taxol and which are carbo. But I haven't had too much trouble. There are bad days when the flu-like symptoms appear. I've had days when exhaustion was profound. But all in all I've found the SE to be quite manageable and never more than a few days at most at a time. (The capping is frankly the worst part. But again, that's one day every three weeks stacked up against still having hair, which … I can't even express how much easier that has made this.) My best advice is to keep moving, get out, get fresh air, go for walks, and rest when you need to. Say no when you need to. Take care of yourself. (And drink tons of water.)
(PS Hey Kimmy … soak up the sun for me!)
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Great pix pch!!! You have a full head of hair!
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I'm considering throwing in the towel. I don't think I can watch more hair fall out, and I have no idea how to hide this huge bald spot. And the dandruff is driving me crazy. Tonight is the first time I've cried over the hair loss.
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wpmoon, I'm sorry, I know it's easy to get discouraged. To me the rest of your scalp looks very well covered on this photo.
I know some ladies use Toppik hair fibers. I haven't used it and I don't know how it works exactly. Maybe some of them will chime in, or you could do a search for it on these boards, before you throw in the towel? How about a wide headband?
Sending hugs your way.
BB
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wpmoon: Try Toppik before you throw in the towel. Part your hair differently. And use apple cider vinegar mixed in with your shampoo every time you shampoo for the dry scalp. Do that for a week and see how you feel. (You can get Toppik through Amazon Prime or if you have an Ulta store nearby, it's there too.)
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I am about to give up on the cold caps, i have tons of breakage, and several bald spots to the top of my head, as well as it is getting very thin on top. I have now lost 3/4's of my hair, and the shedding has not slowed down at all, at this rate i literally will not have any hair left on my head. I finished the AC 3 weeks ago and about to start my weekly taxol.... I am a cold cap failure!!!
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tripper is it really bad? Maybe you can try the toppik? It's gotta be so discouraging. Maybe you are Boeing to hard on yourself ? Are you comfortable posting a picture
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wpmoon - I agree with pch....try changing your part to the opposites side and then use toppix. Or maybe combing from the front to the back and securing with a lose braid or French braid? I do the apple cider vinegar too and it helps. Try it for another week and see before you throw in the towel. I honestly think it isn't that bad....the rest of your hair is holding up well.
Pch - you look great! Beautiful dog too
Tripper - I am so sorry to hear this. Could using a headband or a silk scarf help? I've heard that our hair could start filling back in during the Taxol portion of treatment. Maybe it's worth waiting another week or 2 to see if you start to get new growth?
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Last chemo today!!!!!!! Scared to discuss the back pain I've had through the 3rd treatment. Prayers would be appreciated. I'm terrified to end up with a bone scan. I should be celebrating today!
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To those that are considering quitting - I fully understand if you do. It is a personal decision and all of this work to keep hair is hard. One thing I want to point out is that once you are finished with chemo and hair starts growing in, the bald spots will not be visible. You will still have some length to your hair vs. starting to grow all hair from a bald head. Just something to think about as it will take less time to get back to a normal looking head of hair when you have some to start with vs. starting from nothing. I had long hair and finally decided to cut it a lot shorter several months after chemo because it was thin and scraggly. I didn't really want shorter hair, but it was better than no hair. When I got it cut and styled it looked great and I felt really good.There were a few gals on here that ended up wearing a wig for a while, but once hair started growing, they were back to no wig in a much shorter time. It is all personal choice and we support whatever you choose. Best of luck!
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Wpmoon and Tripper - Encouraging you to hang in there. I had to part my hair in a different spot and sprinkle Toppik on the balding/thinning areas, and it looks much better. Toppik works wonders. Others could not tell when looking at my hair. Please try it before giving up. I know it's difficult.
U4iachic - Congrats and sending prayers your way! Tomorrow is my last chemo, so I'm right behind you. Any advice on final questions to ask? Thanks.
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Makingway, you can also use short bungee cords to hold the caps in place.
WPmoon, try the apple cider vinegar rinse on your scalp. It really helped the flaking. I also added it to my shampoo for awhile. The Toppik works great for me. I just put it on and it covers the thinning area and doesn't flake off. It usuallystays on until my next shampoo.
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What shampoo do you guys use and how often? Also, did anyone color their hair PRIOR to starting chemo?
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Alibeths, I did color my hair and get a trim shortly before starting chemo. I know it's not recommended, but it didn't seem to affect my hair. I have lots of gray to cover, and I wanted to look good as long as possible. But I had the weekly taxol and herceptin regimen which is easier on the hair than TC or ACT. I used Onesta shampoo during chemo, and still do.
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Thanks!
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i also colored my hair back to original dark brown. No problems either. I did it 3 weeks before first chemo. I use Dermaorganic shampoo. ... didn't like conditioner though. I'm using Maple Holistics Silk 18. Love it
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I use a cocktail of Living Proof [no frizz], Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and a little tepid water. Then I mix it all up in a squeeze bottle and apply. That way I don't have to start my shower with cool water on my head. Living Proof is sulfate-free, silicone-free and oil-free. Max Green Alchemy is practically vegan (may be vegan), but it does have lots of essential oils that may be a problem for estrogen sensitive folks (according to Daniella D.), so check the ingredient list. My hair still feels clean and good on day two, I've had minimal scalp problems, and my hair is shiny. Both shampoos are a little spendy, but we use so little that they last a long time. I also use Daniella D.'s Caviar CC cream 10-in-1, which is also a little spendy, but a little goes a long way and it also conditions your hair and makes it shiny. I have long hair, so I mostly use it on the long part and just pat it on the top layer of my hair to keep the conditioner away from my scalp. Keep in mind that all of these products are slightly off the reservation. So I would get familiar with my shedding pattern before moving ahead and don't experiment with anything new on a chemo week. I have two more treatments, so who knows what the future holds, but my hair's been hanging in there so far. (Another thing is that if you have long hair, you can use the products away from your scalp to keep the longer parts in good shape and use the prescribed shampoo with apple cider vinegar on your scalp.) If you have any reservations whatever, just stick with the prescribed shampoos and gut it out.
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Anyone else weepy after their last chemo? I have been crying since yesterday. Glad to get it done, but terrified they have missed something.......
I am shedding again. My pattern is every 18-20 days I have a good shed. So I should have one more. My Hair is thin and definitely balding on top, however, I can use toppik and it seems to do well! I will post pics in a few days when I wash. You will see how thin. I will post an after with Toppik.
Just curious, anyone else here node positive. I haven't seen it a lot on the tag lines.
Thanks
M
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Congrats, U4iachic on finishing your treatments. From here on it should just get easier. That is my hope and wish for everybody.
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yes u4iachic. I walked and cried, and walk and cried for two miles. Very slowly. I needed to get it out it was a big deal to be done, and only people on the boards understood. It's actually taken a few weeks to get over it.
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I too cried. Not sure what it was all about. I can share that after chemo and rads, when everyone else was ready to return to normal and celebrating, I was she'll shocked over the events over the last year. I was done with active and. Coming to terms with what it meant and how to move forward. What I wanted to take from it all. I actually went away for three days by myself to reflect. Best money spent! Happy healing to all of you.
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This i thinkk as a result of frostbite0 -
st almost 3/4 volume and am worry i will lose the rest with just daily shed...
i have loat about 3/4 of my hair now i really dont know what to do... Does toppix dry hair out.... Un on weekly taxol now, just took the first dose... Uugh0 -
Toppik does not dry hair out in my experience. It just covers whatever hair it lands on and hides the bald spots. I actually think you have great coverage otherwise. (My hair has thinned as well. I have a couple of pretty wide spots in the part. But the Toppik covers them.) It's totally up to you, but with a little Toppik and a trim (the trim we all long for), I think you'd be in decent shape if you choose to stick it out. I have lost eyebrows and eyelashes after four treatments. That's something to consider. Having hair makes that very tough transition easier for me.
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most of the hair in the bald spot appeared to be broken off hair, i think from frostibte from the caps. the gorgeous part is from thinning... I do use topix, do you use it with the topix hair spray to keep it in place... When I use the toppix people really don't notice.... i think the biggest problem is when i grab a ponyatail and i have to use a holder wrap it 4-5 times, when i used to only wrap it 2 times ..... major rummage... we did cold cap today... since all my docs said I will regrow hair on Toxol, we cold capped like we were suppose to, changed the pre chemo to 30 minutes, I mean shit i only have 1/4th the hair i used to have when i got my insttuctions. had to cover the bald spot to prevent any further frostbit i used my dads bandanna folded over. cap thebp was brough down to -24 as opposed to -34 again i have very very very think long hair, and finally we only did the caps post chemo for 2 hours... Paxman says actually only 1 hour post infusion...we will see how next week looks.... And what does the shed cycle look like post Taxol? The AC shed pas put me into tears. I don't honestly know i can handle more AC type sheds i will literally have no hair left on may head.... i did start taking Biotin and Mvi, with the blessing of the doc of course... any other ideas thoughts to help keeping me going....
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Taxol is significantly gentler. And I've read on the threads that the low-dose weekly taxol is gentler than my high-dose every three week regimen. If it makes you feel any better, my pony tail is quite a bit thinner as well. I can only tell you my concerns, and those are about growing the hair out and feeling like I look normal to and have some privacy out there in the world. The AC is tough from what I've read and hopefully those women will chime in. We mostly do this to feel more normal and to avoid a lengthy growing out period. I can live with my smaller pony tail and the Toppik fibers that I sprinkle (I haven't tried the spray). And some days just stink and you cry and feel crappy and you just need to weigh that against the whole experience. This is a tough row to hoe. It just is. And you need to do whatever you can to maintain your sanity and well-being during this time. Courage sister.
PS The shed cycle has been every twenty days. Running your hand through your hair and having well-spaced shedding. Mine was not significant. All in I've lost 20-30% of my hair I think. None of the sheds with taxol made me cry. I was a little nervous like everyone but certainly not in tears.
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Kazzy, thank you. I just completely flipped out the last several days. I think I've been holding onto this ride for dear life and just am moving from one crisis to the next with my body. The stress is just unbelievable. I guess after radiation I will cry more. Then with every test or scare after that, more crying........I'm still telling myself one day at a time since I just finished tx 4 yesterday. I'm going to assume the body pains etc...will be around for a while until I get my new normal.....
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