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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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  • shore1
    shore1 Posts: 591
    edited February 2012

    Hi mizmarie, I have been taking 2500 mcg biotin daily for several weeks but im going to double it to 5000 a day. I will try anything for hair.

  • Wendyspet
    Wendyspet Posts: 103
    edited February 2012

    Shore- I have used everything!  And am still using everything: Gromedi, mane and tail filler, biotin, prenatal vitamins.  It STILL took me 6 weeks to get between a 1/4 and 1/2 " of roots after my last hair dye.  I had another color last Feb 23 so will see if speed improves.  But it does feel thicker.

    I don't think any of this stuff is helping, but I've invested too much money to stop now.  If you hair grew fast before chemo, you might not have a problem.

  • shore1
    shore1 Posts: 591
    edited February 2012

    Wendyspet, do you take the pre natal vitamins instead if a regular multi, or do you take both?

  • 3jaysmom
    3jaysmom Posts: 2,604
    edited February 2012
    hi lago.. hope all is well...3jays
  • EmmaC
    EmmaC Posts: 125
    edited February 2012

    I am taking Biosil.....My hair has grown like crazy! I am still on herceptin too.

    Anyone know how to lose this weight? I am still on the tamoxifin

  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Posts: 2,409
    edited February 2012

    I take a pre-natal vitamin, I started it while on chemo to boost my RBC.  My hairdresser (who happens to be pregnant at the moment) thinks that it is helping, but I just think hair growth is genetic unless you have an underlying issue like thyroid problems. 

  • shore1
    shore1 Posts: 591
    edited February 2012

    EmmaC, is biosil something you take instead of biotin or do you take both?

  • EmmaC
    EmmaC Posts: 125
    edited February 2012

     I take just the biosil, I only take half of the dosage though.  

  • mizmarie
    mizmarie Posts: 137
    edited February 2012

    My hair grew fast before chemo, so I was really counting on it coming back quickly.  While it did start growing quickly (less than 3 weeks PFC I had noticeable growth), it hasn't really taken off - I have maybe 1/2 inch at this point, and aside from being thick, it bears no resemblance whatsover to the hair I used to have.  It seems that after everything we've suffered through, the fates would throw us a bone in the hair department.

  • shore1
    shore1 Posts: 591
    edited February 2012

    I started taking biosil today, along with biotin 2500 mg. I also take a a multi and B complex. Im using nioxin system, and massaging olive oil on scalp 2 times a day. Will let you all know how this regimine works for me. The biosil is expensive, but at this point I will try anything - id stand on my head all day if it was said to speed up hair growth :)

  • dechi
    dechi Posts: 110
    edited February 2012

    Can you dye the fuzz?  Mine is coming in quite white and seems almost transparent.

  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Posts: 475
    edited February 2012

    Dechi,

    You will be surprised how fast it will start to come. The white comes after the transparent then the color starts to come quickly. Mine is about 3" long now and I'm about 9mo PFC. I think the Herceptin slowed mine down.

  • lago
    lago Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2012
    MizMarie My hair grows fast but on herceptin it grew a little slower. I noticed after my final herceptin my hair really grew fast again… even my  hair dresser noticed it.
  • eileenohio
    eileenohio Posts: 268
    edited March 2012

    I had my first chemo 2 weeks ago today.. My hair started to break off yesterday,today it is really coming out. I am devasted at the thought of shaving my head. I am going to hold out as long as I can. Oh I hate this so much,tonight I can not stop crying just thinking of no hair for a year,plus 5 more TCH treatments and herceptin for a year..I pray that I have the strength to continue this.

  • mizmarie
    mizmarie Posts: 137
    edited March 2012

    Eileen, the vast majority of ladies on here will tell you that the hair loss is devastating - no other way to put it.  DH buzzed my hair the day after my second TCH, and for weeks I couldn't look in the mirror without crying - tears still well up when I remember that very difficult day.  It is highly unlikely that you will have no hair for a whole year - for most of us, it begins to grow back soon after the last chemo treatment.  It will seem like forever, but time will pass, you will finish chemo, and your hair will grow back.  You can do this!  Sending hugs to you!!!

  • soaplady1950
    soaplady1950 Posts: 55
    edited March 2012

    eileen, i am so sorry , it will go faster than you think i cant believe mine was 3 years ago seems like an eternity when you are going thru it.   many many hugs sent out to you YOU CAN AND WILL DO THIS WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU GO AHEAD AND CRY IT TOO WILL PASS.!!!!!!  SHARON

  • lago
    lago Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2012

    Eileenohio I never shaved my head just cut it short the day it started to fall out. I also wasn't sans hair for a year. I was going without a scarf 13 weeks pfc: my hair linky

    I highly recommend staying away from mirrors when your head isn't covered. I know at home I would sometimes just toss on this cotton navy hat instead of walking around bald. I looked like I was going to mug somebody when I wore it with my black hoodie.

  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Posts: 2,409
    edited March 2012

    Dechi - I dyed my fuzz.  I used a 28-shampoo color and left it on for 20 minutes instead of 10.  It does make it easier to see the new growth as it happens.

    I didn't shave my head, either.  I got a very, very short cut (about 1 1/2" everywhere) and then my DH buzzed it when it started to go.  I used a lint roller to keep the mess under control.  I wore my wig throughout chemo but as soon as my fuzz started back, I went "au naturel."  That was about 13 weeks.  I'm now five months PFC and you can see my hair in my avatar.

  • EmmaC
    EmmaC Posts: 125
    edited March 2012

    Eileen, I send you much love! It is very hard, it was hard for me. I had long hair and I felt it was the only way I looked like a girl. I dont wear make up and I didn't do the wigs. I rocked the bandanas the best I could!  I have two buffs, If you want them I will send them to you. They were my favorite thing to wear. I had TCH too, my hair appeared after the 4th treatment, it was like white peach fuzz.

    Hold your head up!

  • EmmaC
    EmmaC Posts: 125
    edited March 2012

    I dyed my white fuzz with hemp hair dye. It made me feel better!

  • momine
    momine Posts: 2,845
    edited March 2012

    Eileen, I am sorry you are having such a hard time with it. I got a buzz cut at that point, and it felt liberating, like I was still boss of my hair :) That was in July. By September I had my surgery (BMX) and mid-December, I had my last chemo. In two weeks it will be 8 months since I buzzed it off, and it will also be grown out enough that I can call it a pixie and ditch the hats. You treatment will be shorter (I had 8 chemos and a surgery in the middle of it), so it won't be a whole year before you have hair again. Many hugs and good thoughts to you.

  • ttay
    ttay Posts: 83
    edited March 2012

    Good morning, Ladies.

    Has anyone had a Cellophane Treatment on your hair? And if so, how soon after your hair grew back? 

    Thanks. 

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Posts: 1,477
    edited March 2012
    Eileen as you can see many of us undestand what you are going through. Losing your hair is not easy. I could nt shave mine either. I left it alone never did anything. All but some strands at my hiar line fell out and they came in handy cause they made it look like I had hair under a hat. Mine started to break off and then most of it came out in the shower one day. That was a bad day. But you cry and then you pick yourself up and you move on. Try to play with wigs and hats it can be fun. I had three wigs but mostly I wore hats. Look into the Look Good Feel Better program they will give you a big bag of great makeup and lessons how to use it. Just remember no matter what you are going through that it is temporary, the hiar grows back. So far mine is nicer than it was before, much healthier and thicker. I would say I went topless about 6 months after my last chemo. I had coverage before that but I did not like it enough yet. So that means it was 9 months from when I started chemo to going without a hat. There are lots of plaes you can get free wigs, hats and scarfs too. We are here for you to share your journey.
  • marjie
    marjie Posts: 365
    edited March 2012

    dechi - I remember a posting I saw on here ages ago when my hair was white and fluffy.  One of the ladies tried to dye it and the colour took really orange.  Because here hair was still so sparse and stuck straight up she laughed that she looked like a baby orangutan.  It was her post that made me decide to hold off on colouring Tongue out.  Glad your colour took well.

    Eileen - it will be fine...Really!!  I cut my hair short to begin with, but had my DH buzz it when it because a nuisance (around day 14 I think).  I remember a clump of hair fell in my morning coffee ...NOT COOL ...that was the deciding factor for me.  Like Lago says, you won't be a year without hair.  Mine started to reappear while I was still finishing my taxotere, last chemo was Feb 2 of last year and I went topless Easter weekend which was April 23rd.

  • mccrimmon324
    mccrimmon324 Posts: 794
    edited March 2012

    Morning Ladies,

    It's been a while since I posted.  I have my first hair appt for a shaping and permanent color on Saturday, looking forward to it. 

    I have a question, I've noticed the very top front of my head seems a bit thinner than the rest.  I don't think it's anything anyone would notice except me, I'm just over 5 months PFC.  Is this normal?

    For the ladies, just starting out, believe me I thought my hair would never grow back but it does.  You'll be posting your progress on here before you know it!  Good luck to everyone. 

    I'll post a pic of my new do next week!

  • Ossa
    Ossa Posts: 685
    edited March 2012

    mccrimmon..

    Yay for going to a salon again... look forward to pictures

    marije..

    I can so relate to the orangutan comment.. that is exactly what I felt like when I first coloured.. First colour did not take ( only had fluff at the time) Second colour was orange.. third, burnt orange. Now I have managed to get it brown... I am a natural redhead, but does not seem to be able to get it back to red?????? Thinking I should let it grow for a while to see what colour it is coming in as now Undecided

    I found it devastating to loose my hair as well.. It is so "in your face" You can no longer "hide" your cancer.. I found it took my privacy away.. All of a sudden I was a cancer patient for the whole world to see.. As hair started to grow back ( during my second set of 4 chemo) I became obsessed with looking in the mirror.. even used a magnifying mirror to look for new hair growth.. I recommend you not doing that, but rather take a picture a week, much easier to see the new growth.. I have very short hair now, but it is hairSmile, actually got a compliment about my cute "haircut" hahaha, if they only knew... I am wearing a ballcap and large ear rings when I go anywhere.. Have decided I am going to go "topless" on my one year cancerversary  April 7th...

    Hang in there ladies it is doable and we will be here to cheer you on..((((hugs))))

  • Wendyspet
    Wendyspet Posts: 103
    edited March 2012

    Shore - I take a prenatal one day, and a multi the next day.

    Sorry I didn't answer sooner, busy day yesterday and I am finding it easier not to constantly log on this site.  I think I am going to restrict myself to the hair and triple pos threads only.  I'm glad to say its getting easier to move on after BC.

  • Deen
    Deen Posts: 33
    edited March 2012

    Just checking in to say hi to everyone. I started this thread 4 years ago and can't believe that it's still going strong. Glad to see that it's helped so many in the quest for hair and returned sanity!

  • lumpynme
    lumpynme Posts: 497
    edited March 2012

    i am day 4 of AC#2- i would say that my hair started to fall out on the day before AC#2..i still have many lingering strands- i am just keeping my head covered! i wore my wig two days this week when i went out-feels kinda weird but i'm ok i guess...

    i had very long thick hair which was cut short a few weeks back- i think the week before my first tx..so now i am just waiting- i noticed this week how truly thick my hair was! for all that was coming out there was at least that much left..

    i haven't really played with scarves or hats yet- funds have been limited and i guess i just need the push-knowing that i have the wig to fall back on helps! and i haven't gone out much...today i am expecting company and tomorrow have a lunch date with my osn so i guess i need to hop to it!

    my wig came from Crickett's Answer for Cancer- it's a Gabor and i like it! they also sent a gel band which i haven't yet used. my daughter bought me a halo from tlc which will be great with hats..i have a few scarves but am thinking i need a padded cap? not sure...

    since i am still not working i am not getting dressed unless i have dr appt etc so not much need to look gorgeous! i am scheduled for the look good feel better the day after TX #2

    eileen...it IS disheartening but it's gonna grow back!! these gals are all testimony to that!!!!

  • achpurple
    achpurple Posts: 245
    edited March 2012

    Eileen - you can do this - we're all doing this and it does get better.  Do what feels right for you at the time.  You might have one plan, then change your mind in the middle, but do what feels right to you.  You'll see on here that us gals all handle it in different ways.  I actually had planned to wear wigs and bought two (mostly because I thought my youngest DD would freak when I didn't have any hair.)  All of my kids actually liked me better bald and so I went with it. 

     I actually cried more thinking about losing my hair than when I actually lost it.  My hair was already short but I got it cut shorter, then when it started falling out I lasted about 3 days and it was so annoying to have a halo of hair around my shirts within a few minutes, and it was itchy.  After that, I had the hubs shave it off (I might add that he did it begrudgingly because he thought I should just let it fall out) - funny thing is that he is bald!  The kids actually finished my shave and I just felt relief at that point.  Only wore a wig twice, hats mostly for me but it was also Feb last year and it was cold, come spring it was bandanas if it was chilly but if not, I was "au natural".  Most days I actually would forget I was bald because I don't look in a mirror much, hardly ever wear makeup, allergic to most earrings - that's what being married for a million years and six kids does to you.

    Have faith and be strong!  All I ever got were kind reactions if any at all.  I never felt like anybody ever felt sorry for me or anything like that.  My hair is almost back to my old length now, but thicker and curly and much darker.  I tried to always hold my head up and not let it take over, mostly trying to be a good example of strength for my kids.