hair loss

[rinaina]

Well my fellow her2 forum members....my first chemo tx with A/C was May 25 and now I find 12 days later, actually last night, so 11 days later, when I brushed my hair, much larger amounts of hair fell out and if I keep brushing it keeps coming so I stopped. This morning the same thing happened so I guess this is the beginning of the end of my beautiful mane! No tingling yet, just larger amount of hair coming out when I comb or brush. I use a wide toothed comb or pick when freshening up my doo but guess for now I will just touch it up with my fingers. My wig team, Brian and Jeff, who I visited last night to make a final selection, good timing, advised me to not wash it much now and just lightly pull it back with a scrunchy if it keeps falling out with a comb. I am picking up my wig next Monday so it will be interesting to see how much more falls out by then. Guess I won't need my hair salon appointment this Friday, but then again, maybe I will have them wash it and either style it one more time or maybe a short haircut depending on how it is by Friday. Was anyone else this early with hairloss following A/C?

[Cathya]

Rinainia;

Yes, never made it to my second chemo before I was bald.....lol. Lucky you that it's summer now so you might really enjoy it!! Mine came back curly

Cathy

[tousled1]

When I had my A/C my doctor told me I'd lose my hair in 2 weeks. And she was right! I had my first A/C Dec 12 and was bald at Christmas. I have a wig but have only worn it 2 times. I much prefer to just slip a hat on. I finished chemo 3 weeks ago and now I have a little "peach fuzz" on my head. Guess I'll have hair agin in a few months.

[cherylynnie]

I was prepared to loose my hair in two weeks but didn't until after my second treatment (dense dose). My mom and daughter cut it and then my husband clipped it real close to my scalp. I am almost 3 months from finishing chemo and I just started without the wig over the memorial weekend. I have had people say- oh you got a summer hair cut - duuh. The first person that said that knew I had cancer, so I kind of went on the attack. I don't know if she thought she was being cute or what but I said, " NO, I have cancer and this is all the hair I have!" I am sure she realized she put her foot not just in her mouth but way down her throat.

I had treatment today and the nurses had to touch it. They said it felt like baby hair. They are wonderful and I am lucky to have such good nurses. Besides they keep me supplied with ativan :)

But losing my hair was one of the most difficult things for me. I sulked for two days.

Hang in there, you will get through it!

[mts]

Mine began to fall out on the 14th day. I couldn't wash it unless large clumps fell out... I just took a brush and flipped my hair over and brushed and brushed until all the loose hair came out. I then went to get it cut SHORT. By the 20th day I was completely bald. I wore scarves under my hats. The wig was sooo itchy and everytime I laughed, the sides would roll up.

As soon as I was off A/C the hair began to grow back while on Taxol.

I did not mind the baldness as much as I minded the eyebrows and lashes falling out. I did not realize how much we rely on nose hair until they fell too!

Hang in there! This is temporary!

Maria

[MCS]

I started just like you. Exactly 14 days, did not make it to second ac. I finally got the hair shaver and did it. the clumps were so big in the shower that it took a long time to clean it.

but all i said to myself was the meds are working !

just used hats and scarves. the person with the wig ( me) was not really me!

XOXO

Maria

[rinaina]

thanks everyone for responding back to my hair loss post. it is so hard to remember what everyone wrote when I go back and reply like this, but I am amazed at how many of you gave up wearing a wig because it was too hot or too uncomfortable or too itchy or too whatever. at this point i can't imagine going bald but I wish i could cause i know with chicago's humidity and hot flashed i will be dripping with sweat. i don't even know if I could go with just a hat or scarf at this point but never say never. had to get a special mouth rinse today for some ulcers on my tongue cause it hurt too much to eat so you rinse with it 15 min before eating and numbs things up really well.

[astrid]

I also lost my hair after 14 days. My chemo was high dose taxol. I did not mind losing my hair as much as the loss of my eyelashes. I kept most of my eyelashes through my 6 rounds of taxol and when I was done and I thought the hair loss was over, the eyelashes all came out. I discovered false eyelashes. They are great. I had really long eyelashes so the false ones I found look like my own. I am now 1 1/2 months out of chemo and I have short eyelashes and enough really short hair to almost go out in public without a bandanna. I also got a wig and I wore it three times. I loved bandannas, scarves and the news boy hats. Hey, remember that most hospitals have an American Cancer Society office where you can get free hats and wigs. I loved the flannel hats the church groups sewed and donated to the Cancer society. I returned most of the borrowed hats and some hats that I bought on ebay. You can also get cheaper NEW wigs on ebay.

[rinaina]

yes the no eyelash and brow look is not the most attractive. could you tell me which brand fake eyelashes you used? last time i wore those was 33 years ago at my wedding!!!! not even sure i have the small motor ability you need to put them on as I have shaky hands due to a famile tremur.

[astrid]

I use salon perfect number 53. I bought them at Wal-Mart for $2.80. A starter kit with glue is only $4.00 and the glue is plenty for lots of applications. One set of lashes will last about a week to 10 days if you do not get them wet. Water makes them droop. I tried Revlon and other more expense brands but they are too thick and long to look and feel natural. You really do not need steady hands. If you normally use eyeliner, but that on first and then you have a guide to line up the lash. But the glue on one lash and then place it on eye and then you can position it in place. The instructions say to wait 30 seconds for the glue to get tacky, but then you can not push it around and most of the times you can not get it exactly right on the first try. The glue will get tacky while you are positioning it. Believe me after three days of application you will be an expert. Most people have to look twice when I tell them the lashes are not mine. It is now easier to put on eyelashes then to put on mascara. Do not apply mascara to the false eyelashes

[rinaina]

thank you astrid for sharing the eyelash info with me. i am going to go to walmart and pick up a starter kit along with a few extra sets of lashes and start practicing. i do not wear liner everyday but certainly can start now that i will be saving time on not wearing mascara. Thanks for helping.

[CPA]

My wife finished adjuvant chemo in 4/06. Our relatives were told that her hair has started to return and she is feeling well.

I was asked if her hair was returning its "natural" color (red) or if it had changed as a result of the chemo. I did not have the heart to tell that she had been coloring her hair for a decade and her "natural" color is almost completely gray.

Anyway, good luck. Always look for the little things to help you get through the tough times.

[Esther]

A quick trick for days when you don't want to mess with fake eyelashes is to use liquid eyeliner. It fools the eye into thinking there is something there. I want out to eat with people who did not notice the eyelashes were missing.