Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
Comments
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Hopfull2, hang in there. You are 75% done. The third treatment was my worst but once I made through through three days...I was much better...and wash day was okay...just before think...one more time! Only thing keeping me going.... my 4th treatment is on the 29th...as much as I am dreading it...I am focused on end game...
Thanks Meow0369...You are right...the protocol is still 12 weeks...
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IL311, I'm only half way. I gave 6 treatments in total not 4. So that sucks. My MO told me this last week that he's doing 6 cuz he wants to be aggressive on me. Even my nurse told me today that 6 is going to be hard on my body. Today when I took off my nail polish I noticed my finger nails look a little dark at the end of my nails. So it's starting.
Well I wish you and all the other ladies good days ahead. Let's all enjoy the holidays the best way we can sick or not right. Have a good night ladies.
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Finished my 4th and last treatment today, Woo Hoo. This is a picture before my treatment. Bald spot didn't seem to get any larger between treatments 2 & 3 and hopefully it holds true after this one too. I can easily cover it with Topix and a hair clip. Now the roots are another issue.
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Question now that I can say I'm 1 day PFC, what can I use to help remove the film that I feel on my scalp, don't want to do anything that will increase the seeding but it feels pretty yucky. I'm currently using Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Stem Cell Natural Shampoo and Conditioner and do believe it helps with the shading, but not with the film on my scalp. Any help would be appreicated. Thanks
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kshorten, CONGRATS on being done! I had a similar bald spot. I think once you start washing your hair your scalp may adjust on its own. Mine did.
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question for the group:
I'm 2.5 weeks PFC (yay! I'm so glad I can finally say that!!!!!) but significantshedding continues. Every time I touch my hair, I get a few strands in my hands. Also, it knots up the second I finish combing it out! When will this slow down? I feel like I look way worse than when I was actually doing chemo.
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Myraclaire: My post chemo shedding stopped after approximately 4 months, 16 1/2 weeks to be exact.
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Hopfull2 and IL31--Shed has slowed down during this 3rd week after round 2 and my 3rd round is Wednesday. Did you guys have another big shed around 3rd treatment like you did the 2nd? Wondering what to expect. 1st big shed was 19 days after 1st chemo and I'm approaching 19 days after 2nd one.
Those of you who have finished, like Myraclaire, kshorten and heidi, congrats! Did you just have continuous shedding after the 1st big shed or did you have a big one after each round?
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hi Pamela. So today was wash day after 3rd treatment and my shed was normal. Hardly shed at at all. So I'm relieved. Hoping the rest of the week is the same. This 3rd treatment was a little more intense though. Harder on my body.im on the neupogen shots and my body so achy even with the Claritin. I can feel the difference. Good luck to your treatment this coming week.
Merry Christmas everyone.
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Pamela,
I had a major shed around day 21 and continued to shed (some days more than others) for pretty much the entire chemo. Unlike almost everyone here, I did not shed more on wash days. In fact, there was never even any hair in the sink when I was done. I followed my regimen meticulously-one capful of Organix Vitamin B shampoo in a sink full of cool water. No massaging or scrubbing my scalp. A tiny dot of leave in conditioner after and I didn't comb it out till it was dry (so I could grip the roots and comb the ends).
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I had my first neupogen shot ever a week ago and although it wasn't as bad as 'flu-like' my side effect was awful headaches in the middle of the night but it seems to have subsided now. Today is day 14 since post chemo so we shall see how it goes toward the end of the week. One more chemo to go! Was so happy to have hair this Christmas season! Good luck to all trying to save our hair! Maybe a lot of folks out there don't get how important it is to us facing this but those of us here do!
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I was just like Myraclaire. I started losing hair at day 21 and it stayed pretty consistent throughout treatment. I always dreaded wash days but they were never worse in terms of hair loss, I was just always afraid they would be. I think I kept steadily losing hair until about 2 months PFC. It started to abruptly slow down then over about 2 weeks just stopped. What a relief it was! I realized then I wasn't going to lose it all and all that effort was worth it.
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wishing you all a very merry Xmas and may 2017 bring us all good health and great times
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Hi Everyone ~ I'm new to the board. Wanted to get your thoughts/advice. I'll be starting chemo (taxol) in the new few weeks, once every week for 12 weeks. When that's done, I'll do a Adriamycin/Cytoxan combo, once every three weeks x 4. Was thinking of trying a cap but realized that two back-to-back bouts of chemo may be a losing battle. What do you think based on your experiences? Thanks so much.
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oops - I'll try this again!
Hi Everyone ~ I'm new to the board. Wanted to get your thoughts/advice. I'll be starting chemo (taxol) in the new few weeks, once every week for 12 weeks. When that's done, I'll do a Adriamycin/Cytoxan combo, once every three weeks x 4. Was thinking of trying a cap but realized that two back-to-back bouts of chemo may be a losing battle. What do you think based on your experiences? Thanks so much.
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So sounds like just shedding after the first big shed. Is that what you are finding Hopfull and IL311? Just had my 3rd infusion today. I was pretty happy that my shedding has slowed to a crawl the past 5 days. Dread thinking it'll start back up!
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Pamela, more than half of my shedding happened in a big shed around 19 days after my first infusion. Maybe most of what was going to jump ship just went for it right then. Not knowing whether to expect more of the same, i bought several nice but inexpensive hats that i then never wore. Thankful i didn't need them.
For anyone curious to see what regrowth looks like 9 weeks PFC, have a look at what i discovered on xmas day. If i brush my hair flat, about 15mm worth of regrowth pokes through. I haven't been using Toppik the last few weeks even. Hoping when this 'do grows out a bit more i'll get some great 80's volume!
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That's encouraging! You must be so excited to see progress. Thanks for sharing!
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hi Pamela. Hope your doing well with today's chemo. I found this chemo do be much tougher on my body. But back then feeling normal now. Tomm will be 1week post 3rd chemo and my shedding is normal. Nothing scary like after 2nd infusion. Hoping it stays this way. My hair is a disaster but glad to have hair and feel somewhat normal.
Lanne2389, I say go for it. But it is a lot of work. Idk if I would have done it if I had a longer chemo regimen. But since mine is 6 cycles figured it's doable. Good luck.
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Lanne, the cold caps work really well with weekly taxol. You should end up after 12 weeks with most if not all of your hair. The AC is harder on the hair and you will definitely shed a lot on that chemo. (I only had taxol/herceptin myself). Many do use cold caps with your chemo regimen, with varying degrees of success. hopefully some who had AC/T will chime in
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Lanne I did Taxotere Herceptin and Perjeta for ( 4x3) weeks and then AC. I kept about 90% of my hair during the THP phase . I lost most of it during the AC phase ( 50% and more ) and had to resort to a wig after my last chemo, however this is also because I had a Viral 2 weeks after chemo ( lost 90% at this stage) . I think some others have had more success keeping 50% of their hair and some more but AC is a tough regime.
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Tunegrrl your hair looks great! And so happy for you that you have hair growing back. I so wish I wouldn't have developed a bald spot after my 2nd infusion. If it wasn't for that I would have done really well with my hair loss. Going to be interesting to see what it looks like when it grows back in.
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Lanne2389
I did AC + T protocol with great success. I am 4 months PFC. I was very happy with my results. Yes, I lost about 30-40% volume but no one would know. I would encourage you to do it. Zinny and Angiel both did the same protocol with success as well. Log into our accounts and look at the posts. It may help give you the encouragement you need. I think Wildflower also posts a link for success stories. See if you can find that thread.
You can do it. Good luck,
ILoveArt
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So sad. Due to bad reaction and drug -induced ITP, my chemo protocol is being changed from TCHP to AC +T and I'm no longer being given the option to use the Dignicap. I was in a free trial, and since the hair retention results aren't as good with AC+T, and they only want good results-I'm out. Bye bye hair. Wish all of you the best of luck, though, and I'll be "rooting" for you -haha!
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so sorry bareclaws. only consolation i can give it that hair comes back so quickly and it turned out i love my short hair. like you i had long hair so that was a surprise. good luck. hope your platelets are climbing out of the danger zone.
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Hi All, made it through my 4th and final chemo yesterday. Woohoo and had even had radiation planning.
Everyone at the hospital was so surprised and happy that I had full head of hair! I think I turned some of the judgey nurses into believers!!!!
For those wondering.... Between infusion 3 and 4 shedding slowed compared to 1 and 2. Based on these boards, I feel like I should expect some additional shedding the next few but all in all I am so so so happy with results!!!! I would say I lost a total of 15-20 % of my hair...all over but have xtra thinning around part. No one swears they can notice...
Wishing everyone happy and healthy new year!
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Hello!
Lanne2389 - I am on the same protocol but backwards. I did 4 rounds of AC and kept 70% of my hair. I have a lot of hair and always did Brazilian Blowouts to decrease volume. No one can notice any change except for my dark roots. I just started my Taxol treatment on 12/11. I feel I have more shedding with the Taxol more then with the AC. I am doing dose dense Taxol so 4 sessions every 2 weeks. I am using Penguin and they have said the Taxol should be easier on my hair but I am shedding a lot. I use a Apple Cider shampoo and Coluor conditioner on the ends, then a dry oil on the very ends after my hair is dry. I am scared now because if I continue to shed as I am I won't have much left after the next 3 sessions and PFC shedding. Also I must add that I have conducted "risky hair behavior" LOL... I have blown my ends dry on a warm setting careful to not let the airstream hit my scalp. I hope that helps with your decision. With AC they have to keep the caps on for 5 hours after treatment stops and 3 hours after does dense Taxol, but if you go every week I was told 2 hours. I would do it, for sure! I have heard lots of success stories with this protocol. Good luck!
Bareclaws - I am so sorry about your change. Sending you the best in 2017.
Tunegrrl - wow that growth looks great. Must be nice to see, congrats!
Wishing everyone a New Year filled with good news and lots of hair!!!0 -
Hi all,
I'm new here and hoping to find some answers/support re: Cold Caps. I'm set to begin my first round of chemo on January 12th, and want to make sure I do everything possible to set myself up for success. I have two 3-year-olds, so maintaining normalcy is my biggest priority. And also that I have/had a really good head of hair up until this. Are there treatments/regimens you would suggest to get my hair and scalp in the best shape possible beforehand? Clarifying shampoos? Any advice would be much appreciated.
I hope it's ok to horn in on this group, because I have ovarian cancer, not breast cancer, but this forum has been the most comprehensive for tips and advice. Also, my mom just had a bilateral mastectomy for BC last month, so I'm also a caregiver (some year, huh?). Re: my chemo regimen, not sure if it's translatable, but I will be doing Day 1,2,8 Taxol, IP Cisplatin, IP Taxol for 6 rounds. AM I crazy for thinking this may actually work?
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Oh bear claws, I'm so sorry!! I feel like you've gone through so much in such a little time. This has got to be disheartening. My prayers are with you!!
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IL311--Hurray for you!! I am so envious that you are done. This 3rd round is just mentally harder but I keep saying "one more to go" and pray it's forever!! Thanks for the update on the hair. My shedding really slowed down the past week and a half and I was wondering what I'm in for after the 3rd round. My wash yesterday produced maybe a handful which I can stomach, as long as it's from all over. I do have a spot on 1 side that is definitely thinner than the other but my hair covers it thank goodness. Between having hair and putting on some false eyelashes over Christmas, I felt I looked "normal".
I'm day 4 post round 3 and can't wait to get through the next week to feel normal again. I was just beginning to taste the difference between sweet and salty and I'm back to no taste at all again, yet somehow know I have a metallic taste in my mouth now and then. The fatigue is ridiculous in my legs. Anyone else experiencing so much fatigue in their legs? Even climbing up steps has me winded!
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