loss of eyebrows, eyelashes and other hair...

Mitzi333
Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member
Please shed some light on the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes during chemo treatments. I'm on day 16 after my first chemo infusion and know any day now, it's time for my wigs. Just wondering what your experiences has been with the loss of other hair. Does it all come out at the same time? Should I expect the loss of my eyebrows and lashes for the during of chemo? I hear so much about hair loss, wigs and scrafs, but not much about what to do about the loss of other hair. I know we're all different, but it's GREAT to hear your experiences and to gather info. I love this CSN resource!!!


Thanks Much!!!
Mitzi ;D
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Comments

  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    Hi Mitzi,
    I lost my leg,

    Hi Mitzi,
    I lost my leg, underarm, and "down there" hair right around the time I lost the hair on my head. I didn't mind losing the hair in those places one bit! I lost my eyelashes also, but they took quite a while to all fall out. My eyebrows thinned out a bit but I didn't lose much. It seemed that when my hair was growing back in after chemo, that my lashes took longer to grow back. They sell a lash treatment called "Latisse" that you can get at plastic surgeon's offices -I think it's about $75 and my PS told me that it really does work -i just didnt have that kind of money to shell out for it.
    Best of luck to you, and lots of hugs. I know what a crappy time that is :(
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    Hair Loss
    Hi Mitzi,

    I am sure you will get widely varying responses to your post. We are all very different when it comes to hair loss. I had 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere following my mastectomy. No radiation or hormone pills as I am triple negative.

    Just before chemo started I had my hair cut short in anticipation of it falling out. I figured it would be easier going from short hair to no hair than going from longer hair to bald. On exactly Day 10 following my 1st chemo infusion I absent mindedly ran my fingers through my hair and came away with a handful of hair. It took about 2 weeks before it started looking ridiculous. At that point I had my husband shave off what remained. It was serving no purpose. This is when I started wearing head coverings. I got a great wig at my local American Cancer Society office. It was VERY hard on me emotionally. I cried a lot. I couldn't look in the mirror for weeks without tearing up. Eventually I got used to it. Sure makes shampooing easier. Bald heads are, however, cold.

    I also lost all my eyebrows and eyelashes. That took a while longer. 2 or 3 lashes on the bottom of one eye seemed to hold on for a while. That was a strange look. If you are good at it, you can use eyebrow pencil and draw some on.

    The hair on my legs and underarms disappeared, too. I had absolutely no problem with that. I have never had such smooth skin. It was actually fascinating. It has been 7 months since my last chemo treatment and that has not come back in as it was before. I do have to shave my legs - just not as often. My pubic hair did not completely fall out but I would say 90% of it did. That was another strange look. I haven't looked like that since I was 12 years old. Most of it has come back now.

    I hope hearing about my experience has been of some help to you. Good luck. Most of us have had to deal with this issue to some extent or another.
  • Findingout
    Findingout Member Posts: 132

    Hair Loss
    Hi Mitzi,

    I am sure you will get widely varying responses to your post. We are all very different when it comes to hair loss. I had 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere following my mastectomy. No radiation or hormone pills as I am triple negative.

    Just before chemo started I had my hair cut short in anticipation of it falling out. I figured it would be easier going from short hair to no hair than going from longer hair to bald. On exactly Day 10 following my 1st chemo infusion I absent mindedly ran my fingers through my hair and came away with a handful of hair. It took about 2 weeks before it started looking ridiculous. At that point I had my husband shave off what remained. It was serving no purpose. This is when I started wearing head coverings. I got a great wig at my local American Cancer Society office. It was VERY hard on me emotionally. I cried a lot. I couldn't look in the mirror for weeks without tearing up. Eventually I got used to it. Sure makes shampooing easier. Bald heads are, however, cold.

    I also lost all my eyebrows and eyelashes. That took a while longer. 2 or 3 lashes on the bottom of one eye seemed to hold on for a while. That was a strange look. If you are good at it, you can use eyebrow pencil and draw some on.

    The hair on my legs and underarms disappeared, too. I had absolutely no problem with that. I have never had such smooth skin. It was actually fascinating. It has been 7 months since my last chemo treatment and that has not come back in as it was before. I do have to shave my legs - just not as often. My pubic hair did not completely fall out but I would say 90% of it did. That was another strange look. I haven't looked like that since I was 12 years old. Most of it has come back now.

    I hope hearing about my experience has been of some help to you. Good luck. Most of us have had to deal with this issue to some extent or another.

    Hi Mitzi,It's me.. I was
    Hi Mitzi,
    It's me.. I was wondering the same thing. Seems like my eyelashes are either breaking off or thinning, but it's because I keep getting irritating 'things' in my eyes rather than actually seeing the lashes themselves.

    I'm going to a Feel Good Look Better class in a few weeks at the local ACS. I just signed up after I heard about it. They show how to look more 'normal' if and when we lose our lashes and brows. I also was told they show things like, How to make a head turban out of a t-shirt.

    I figure, there's enough to deal with without having to walk around brow-less!! I wonder how much hair I'll still have on my head in the morning...

    xo
    LynD
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    ACS Look Good/Feel Better
    my eyelashes and eyebrows did not disappear as quickly as the head, leg, and arm hair. I lost all lashes, and 3/4 of the brows. I never wore makeup before, but I went to a ACS Look Good/Feel Better seminar at my Oncologist office. They are great! You get a bag full of cosmetics with a cosmetic specialist that shows you how to apply it correctly. So I ended up putting on eyebrows, shadow, and eyeliner. It became more of a challenge when my lymphedema kicked in and I had to use my left hand to apply (I am right handed). But it worked. The good news is....it grows back! Unfortunately the leg hair came back first! I was getting Sooooo used to not shaving the legs :-) Good Luck! Hugs
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    Nose hair lost too
    I lost most of my eyebrows and all of my lower lashes. The leg hair, pubic hair and underarm hair was also gone. One of the most frustrating was losing all of my nose hair...I had a running nose for almost all of chemo (18 weeks) and sneezing was always a mess with no hair to stop it. Everything is growing back now 8.5 weeks out of chemo. The first to grow back was my mustache hair (wouldn't you know it!). My skin was really smooth and clear--but that too is changing back to pre-chemo not perfectly clear skin. My hair is now between 1/2 & 3/4 inch and coming in thick so I no longer cover my head. Quite a shock to see how much "salt" in my salt and pepper hair having dyed my hair for 40 years. I'm going to leave it natural and see what happens.
    Good luck,
    JoAnn
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    Loss
    Hi,
    I started losing my hair on about day 14. I went ahead and had my head shaved. That was hard but once done I got used to it quickly. I lost all my hair except eyebrows and lashes. I must say it was nice not to have to shave. Eveything is coming back but my arms and legs are thinning,I think due to tamoxfien. Not having hair on your head in the summer is nice but the winter not so much.

    Janie
  • janelle2011
    janelle2011 Member Posts: 21
    Hey there! Great question!
    Hey there! Great question! I'm on day 12 and still have my hair! Now being proactive, I donated my hair last weekend
    thinking it would be gone by now....LOL

    But, this morning, I think my nose hairs came out with my morning congestion! Then, I noticed one of my eyebrows a little thinner...
    nothing else as of right now! :o)

    I'm already sporting the wig and cap at home....I just wish my hair would go away now!

    I did signup for the class too....in anticipation of the eyebrow loss!

    Good luck!!
  • midnight10
    midnight10 Member Posts: 74
    Hair
    Lost all my hair but the hair on my arms, eyelashes and eyebrows after two chemo treatments. Then about a week after I was done with chemo I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows! That was very traumatic. Interestingly, they grew back first along with the hair on my legs!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    AMomNETN said:

    Loss
    Hi,
    I started losing my hair on about day 14. I went ahead and had my head shaved. That was hard but once done I got used to it quickly. I lost all my hair except eyebrows and lashes. I must say it was nice not to have to shave. Eveything is coming back but my arms and legs are thinning,I think due to tamoxfien. Not having hair on your head in the summer is nice but the winter not so much.

    Janie

    hair
    My eyes were really itchy and teary. It took me awhile to realize the eyelashes were coming out ... but slowly. They never totally disappeared ... but it seemed like all the "longer" ones were gone and all that was left was a bunch of little stubby lashes. It took quite awhile before I had eyelashes long enough to use mascara.

    hugs.
    teena
  • Mitzi333
    Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member

    Hair
    Lost all my hair but the hair on my arms, eyelashes and eyebrows after two chemo treatments. Then about a week after I was done with chemo I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows! That was very traumatic. Interestingly, they grew back first along with the hair on my legs!

    Thanks Ladies...
    Thanks Ladies for the Great info. I signed up for the Look Good, Feel Good class this am. I'm looking forward to it. So far, I've experienced very little hair loss. I got my hair cut real short last week. I'm sure after my second chemo treatment on Thurs the hair will begin falling out... ;0( I have my wigs ready for the hair loss, but was not prepared on how to proceed without lashes or eyebrows. Didn't even think about the hair in the nose, on the arms, legs, etc. Geez... This is REALLY a journey we're traveling. I'm buckeling up for the ride.

    Big Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    cavediver said:

    ACS Look Good/Feel Better
    my eyelashes and eyebrows did not disappear as quickly as the head, leg, and arm hair. I lost all lashes, and 3/4 of the brows. I never wore makeup before, but I went to a ACS Look Good/Feel Better seminar at my Oncologist office. They are great! You get a bag full of cosmetics with a cosmetic specialist that shows you how to apply it correctly. So I ended up putting on eyebrows, shadow, and eyeliner. It became more of a challenge when my lymphedema kicked in and I had to use my left hand to apply (I am right handed). But it worked. The good news is....it grows back! Unfortunately the leg hair came back first! I was getting Sooooo used to not shaving the legs :-) Good Luck! Hugs

    Thanks you for the info, I
    Thanks you for the info, I signed up this morning for Thursday evening. I am really looking forward to learning how to put on makeup without looking like it is painted on! I have the pink Irish skin and I feel so washed out without makeup!
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    Mitzi333 said:

    Thanks Ladies...
    Thanks Ladies for the Great info. I signed up for the Look Good, Feel Good class this am. I'm looking forward to it. So far, I've experienced very little hair loss. I got my hair cut real short last week. I'm sure after my second chemo treatment on Thurs the hair will begin falling out... ;0( I have my wigs ready for the hair loss, but was not prepared on how to proceed without lashes or eyebrows. Didn't even think about the hair in the nose, on the arms, legs, etc. Geez... This is REALLY a journey we're traveling. I'm buckeling up for the ride.

    Big Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)

    My eyelashes and eyebrows
    My eyelashes and eyebrows were the last to go. They thinned initially, but I actually did not lose them all until AFTER my last chemo (about a month after last infusion). Then they left completely! It is a really odd look. It's been almost 6 months since my last chemo and they're coming back, but very slowly. Initially I just applied eyeliner and drew on my eyebrows, but after 2 months I got really tired of no eyelashes. I learned to apply false eyelashes and I've got to say that I really like them, and they look quite natural. In fact, I may continue to wear them on special occasions.

    All my other hair fell out at the same time, starting about 2 weeks after first chemo. It's all coming back - slowly.

    Suzanne
  • Mitzi333
    Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member

    My eyelashes and eyebrows
    My eyelashes and eyebrows were the last to go. They thinned initially, but I actually did not lose them all until AFTER my last chemo (about a month after last infusion). Then they left completely! It is a really odd look. It's been almost 6 months since my last chemo and they're coming back, but very slowly. Initially I just applied eyeliner and drew on my eyebrows, but after 2 months I got really tired of no eyelashes. I learned to apply false eyelashes and I've got to say that I really like them, and they look quite natural. In fact, I may continue to wear them on special occasions.

    All my other hair fell out at the same time, starting about 2 weeks after first chemo. It's all coming back - slowly.

    Suzanne

    Thanks Suzanne...
    It's interesting that you lost your lashes and brows a month "After" your last chemo infusion. Thought the hair was to begin to grow back "After". Hmmm... Oh well...Guess I'll learn to apply the lashes and brows during the class. Thanks Much for your response. ;0)
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    Hi Mitzi
    I did 4 rounds Ac 12 rounds Taxol. Lost hair in chunks on day 14. I had my son shave my head. Then I cried like a baby. I lost my lashes & brows after I was done with treatment. Then they grew back and I lost them again. I found if you wear eye liner you don't notice it as much. I drew in my brows. I had a wig, but I wore scarfs & hats more. I bought them at www.headcovers.com I also had problem with my nails at one point and I did rub tea tree oil on them , however it did not help much I lost 2 toe nail and finger nail kinda weak and turned white. This does not happen to everyone. Some of us do not lose all our hair. So you wait and see what is. Everything does get back to normal at some point. The good thing is you don't have to shave for a while LOL. Hugs
    Kathy ~
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    joannstar said:

    Nose hair lost too
    I lost most of my eyebrows and all of my lower lashes. The leg hair, pubic hair and underarm hair was also gone. One of the most frustrating was losing all of my nose hair...I had a running nose for almost all of chemo (18 weeks) and sneezing was always a mess with no hair to stop it. Everything is growing back now 8.5 weeks out of chemo. The first to grow back was my mustache hair (wouldn't you know it!). My skin was really smooth and clear--but that too is changing back to pre-chemo not perfectly clear skin. My hair is now between 1/2 & 3/4 inch and coming in thick so I no longer cover my head. Quite a shock to see how much "salt" in my salt and pepper hair having dyed my hair for 40 years. I'm going to leave it natural and see what happens.
    Good luck,
    JoAnn

    i completely forgot about
    i completely forgot about losing all my nose hair too! THAT was a surprise! I also had a runny nose the entire time -but it was quick to grow back.
    *hugs*
  • SylviaD
    SylviaD Member Posts: 17
    It will grow back
    I began losing my hair 15 days after my first chemo. I went through 16 rounds. I lost my underarm hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, the hair on my legs and I shaved my head. I figured after everything it will all grow back. I got some eyebrows back, not fully yet. I think I have about 5 to 8 eyelashes on each eye. And now I have extremely short hair. But you know what, it will all come back. I never did wigs, I am a hat person. I am comfortable with myself to know a little makeup and a good hat works for me. I wish you the best and just know that you are beautiful no matter what.

    PS, Just think you don't have to shave your legs, great.
  • BMS
    BMS Member Posts: 127
    SylviaD said:

    It will grow back
    I began losing my hair 15 days after my first chemo. I went through 16 rounds. I lost my underarm hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, the hair on my legs and I shaved my head. I figured after everything it will all grow back. I got some eyebrows back, not fully yet. I think I have about 5 to 8 eyelashes on each eye. And now I have extremely short hair. But you know what, it will all come back. I never did wigs, I am a hat person. I am comfortable with myself to know a little makeup and a good hat works for me. I wish you the best and just know that you are beautiful no matter what.

    PS, Just think you don't have to shave your legs, great.

    It was day 14
    On day 14, just as my onc said, the hair started to fall out. I had it buzzed off. I lost all of the leg, underarm, and pubic hair, too. My eyelashes never fell out but eyebrows thinned, so I penciled them in. I have 3 weekly Taxol treatments left but my hair (as you can see in the picture) is growing back now.
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    BMS said:

    It was day 14
    On day 14, just as my onc said, the hair started to fall out. I had it buzzed off. I lost all of the leg, underarm, and pubic hair, too. My eyelashes never fell out but eyebrows thinned, so I penciled them in. I have 3 weekly Taxol treatments left but my hair (as you can see in the picture) is growing back now.

    About day 14
    That I started losing handfuls of hair so my husband shaved it. Lost nose, arm, underarm, leg and the hair down there,too. I didn't lose my eyelashes until AFTER chemo...thought I was going to be the lucky one, but NO! Never totally lost my eyebrows but they did thin some. Kicker was losing my eyelashes not once but twice! UGH! They are back but not as think as they were...however, the hair on my head is twice and thick and curly as it was before!! Legs, too, darn it!

    Good luck!
  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    hair loss
    Hi, Mitzi,
    Funny you should ask. My 1st chemo (Taxotere and Cytoxan) was 1 March; and my eye brows, eye lashes, "other hair" , and head hair are all falling out at the same rate: rapidly. I was told it wouldn't occur until the second round. Anyway, in my own experience, it all comes off at the same time. At least, in the future, I can convince my husband that the hair on the floor is his! haha

    I don't have past experience to share, but my current experience is that it has started all over my body at the same time.

    Best of wellness to you,
    Katmy
  • ElizabethB
    ElizabethB Member Posts: 89

    Hair Loss
    Hi Mitzi,

    I am sure you will get widely varying responses to your post. We are all very different when it comes to hair loss. I had 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere following my mastectomy. No radiation or hormone pills as I am triple negative.

    Just before chemo started I had my hair cut short in anticipation of it falling out. I figured it would be easier going from short hair to no hair than going from longer hair to bald. On exactly Day 10 following my 1st chemo infusion I absent mindedly ran my fingers through my hair and came away with a handful of hair. It took about 2 weeks before it started looking ridiculous. At that point I had my husband shave off what remained. It was serving no purpose. This is when I started wearing head coverings. I got a great wig at my local American Cancer Society office. It was VERY hard on me emotionally. I cried a lot. I couldn't look in the mirror for weeks without tearing up. Eventually I got used to it. Sure makes shampooing easier. Bald heads are, however, cold.

    I also lost all my eyebrows and eyelashes. That took a while longer. 2 or 3 lashes on the bottom of one eye seemed to hold on for a while. That was a strange look. If you are good at it, you can use eyebrow pencil and draw some on.

    The hair on my legs and underarms disappeared, too. I had absolutely no problem with that. I have never had such smooth skin. It was actually fascinating. It has been 7 months since my last chemo treatment and that has not come back in as it was before. I do have to shave my legs - just not as often. My pubic hair did not completely fall out but I would say 90% of it did. That was another strange look. I haven't looked like that since I was 12 years old. Most of it has come back now.

    I hope hearing about my experience has been of some help to you. Good luck. Most of us have had to deal with this issue to some extent or another.

    wow jessies mom
    you so made my day i haven't laugh so hard in a while I will be starting my Chemo on 4 /4 you have such a good outlook on what has happened to you thank you so much it makes everything seem a little bit better God bless you and take care