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- - Hair color (https://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=64570)

Does anyone know when it is considered safe/ok to get my hair colored? How long after finishing TCH or should I base it on how long my hair is or some other factor? I know this is such a vain topic and not really important but I am hoping a better hair color for me will make me feel like my old self - or close anyway.

I checked with my nurse about colouring my hair just after having my last chemo. She said it was ok. Hair had started to grow back but I waited till it was about an inch long before I went to Hairdresser and had it coloured. Used a permanent colour and no problems. I was still getting Herceptin and Perjeta.
Unfortunately I am now on Xeloda and was concerned about colouring my hair. So decided to use Naturtint Hair colour ( no bleach, parabens etc.) from health food shop this time. I was surprised at how good it is.
i totally agree with you about wanting to feel like your old self. Between hair colour before dyeing and short hair I wondered who I was looking at!!

Thanks Juls! I agree - who is that looking back at me in the mirror? I started chemo a month after we moved to another state, then my MOm moved in with us (my Dad died 4 days after my first chemo), then I lost my hair. Now my hair is really short (used to be well past my shoulders) and very thin on top. Plus the color is darker and slightly red-ish. My eyebrows are very light and thin and my lashes are short. Thank goodness for makeup. But I am very thankful to be NED.

I colored my hair 5 months after finishing chemo - it wasn't long enough until then and I was still wearing my wig. Made me feel MUCH better since it was very grey :-)

I was told three months after chemo but couldn't look at the grey that long as it made me feel so old so I coloured my hair around six weeks after with no ill effects.

Did some research about hair coloring and cancer when I was first diagnosed (in 2003 - possibly the research was done in 1998 when Mother was diagnosed with NHL as she had been dying her hair for more than 30 years) and found that 'black' hair dye was the only one that could increase the odds of certain cancer. Was wearing a wig at work during the 4 years in between two bouts of breast cancer and treatment. Also collected bunch hats and found they are way more comfortable than wigs. (But most workplace did not 'like' to have a hat lady ... :)

Just checked the database for new studies on the issue:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26986063

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I have yet to color my hair. My hair growth has been so slow and still very thin and patchy that I am afraid to damage what little hair I have. And I am hoping the sun will do it's natural thing to lighten it up for me. I am angry with myself so being so concerned about my hair, or lack there of..... I am grateful to be NED - just wish I could look more like my old, pre BC self. The scars dont bother me but the hair sure does.

I used cold caps but by the time three months post chemo rolled around I was desperate to color. I used Natracare to cover my gray and it worked well. They sell it at natural gricery stores.

It's so sad that we can discuss such topics. Friend of mine has colored her hair in 6 months after hair grew long enough..And now she does very different hairstyles and dyes her hair in various colors. She advises me all the time to change my color too. She even shared with me hers ideas. I heard that ombre is new trend now. http://thehairstyledaily.com/stunnin...for-long-hair/. You can read and choose some hairstyles. I hope it would be useful for you...

I just asked this question last week, but no one responded. I’m currently getting a low dose of chemo, and I colored my hair last week, using a non-toxic dye. I saw my doctor yesterday, and she didn’t say anything when I told her what I did, so I’m assuming it’s okay. My hair is still really short, but so far I haven’t noticed a difference with in how it feels. I was just told not to wash it more than once or twice a week until after I’m done chemo.

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12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my scar. I am told that I have a local recurrence and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM-1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6
11/16 – Second CA-15-30 bloot test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
03/17 – CT Chest scan scheduled to see if there’s improvement to chest and lungs. If results the are good, I get to stop taking Taxol!
05/17 – Second brain MRI scheduled

Did they give you a reason as to why you should wash you hair only once or twice a week?
Since my hair still is very short, does not feel like it used to, and only now picks up a bit of speed growing (last chemo about a year ago, a bit more than three month after last herceptin) I thought I'd better not mess with colours yet.

My hair dresser told me that my hair was still a little bit weak, and that washing it once or twice a week will keep it from breaking and/or falling out. That being said, I’m still getting a low dose of chemo on a regular basis, and my hair is still growing and getting thicker. I’ve even noticed a difference in the length of my bangs since I cut my hair last Wednesday. My hair has always grown fast, but I’m surprised at how fast it’s growing, considering I’m still getting chemo. I mentioned this to my doctor on Tuesday, and she said it’s because I’m only getting a low dose of chemo. I lost my eyelashes before my chemo break in December, and they are growing back now too. I just hope my hair continues to grow, as I don’t want it to fall out after spending money to cut and colour it!

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my scar. I am told that I have a local recurrence and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM-1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6
11/16 – Second CA-15-30 bloot test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
03/17 – CT Chest scan scheduled to see if there’s improvement to chest and lungs. If results the are good, I get to stop taking Taxol!
05/17 – Second brain MRI scheduled