why hair white

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ohilly
ohilly Member Posts: 441
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Those of you who have followed my obsession with my hair coming back will be happy to hear it is growing in (YEA!). So far I have peach fuzz, but I can tell there is more covering my head. My question to you is: why is the hair white, and does it stay this way? A few little hairs on one temple are dark, but the rest of it seems to be white. This doesn't upset me that much because I figure I can always dye it later, but am just curious if anyone knows why, and if later on the hair comes back its natural color. By the way, think of me on Sept. 18 when I will have a second, preventive mastectomy on my right breast (I had cancer in the left one and had the mastectomy; now, after finding out I am BRCA 1) I will have the other breast removed. Thanks! Ohilly

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  • tan39
    tan39 Member Posts: 49
    #2
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    interesting to know
    hi chilly
    i won't be any help to you, but mine is the same,dark at the front and fuzzy and white everywhere else, so i will be interested in the replies to.
    good luck and big hug to you for the 18th. tan x
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #3
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    Your white hair
    Hi O'Hilly: YEAAAAAAA!!!!! Your hair is coming in. How great is that, we told you it would come in. Some grow fast and others a little slower, but it does all come in eventually. My hair came in 75% white and the rest salt & pepper. My oncologist told me that I could dye it about 1 month after my last infusion, so I waited until my hair was about 2 inches long then dyed it. Wait until it grows in some more and you will be able to tell exactly how much white hairs you will have. After the peach fuzz, I wound up having curly hair as it grew in. My curls looked like Eileen's, but eventually as my hair grew and I proceeded to cut it the tight curls all left me. I know have wavy hair, which I do like since I had stick straight hair prior to chemo. It is more easier to manage for me since I keep my hair short. I did find that the whites were a little more stubborn to take the color. I wound up having my hair colored professionally a few times until the color evened out and now I use Nutrisse Garnier which does a pretty good job. O'hilly you are in my prayers and I am wishing you the best on the 18th. Just look up in the OR and you will see all of our spirits there whispering encouraging thoughts. Hugs, Lili
  • dancingfan
    dancingfan Member Posts: 19
    #4
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    Why hair white
    Dear Ohilly,
    It has been three months since my final Chemo treatment and my hair is growing in too. I kind of look like Peter Pan! I have about a quarter inch of hair growing all over my head. I go out without my wig every so often. Some people think I had my hair cut to look this way! I don't care what color it is.... just give me hair and keep it growing! Like you said Ohilly..... you can always dye it later. I am sorry to hear that you have to have a second surgery. I will pray that your surgery goes well and you have a good recovery. I had the BRCA 1 and 2 test done. They told me that my genes are ok. My daughter was much relieved to get the good news. Soon your ordeal will be over and you will be getting good news too. God Bless.... dancingfan
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #5
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    Congrats on the hair!
    Ohilly, I am glad that your hair is returning. I know how emotional the whole hair thing can be. Mine came back very white during the peach fuzz stage and eventually began growing in brown which is my natural color. I am not sure why this happens or why straight hair often grows in curly either. Someone said the chemo damages the hair follicle. But anyway, congrats on your new seedlings! Eil
  • ninjamom
    ninjamom Member Posts: 142
    #6
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    WHY HAIR WHITE
    Hi Ohilly

    Congrats on the hair. My last treatment was in July and my hair is also coming back, like you mostly white but I'm starting to get a hint of dark here and there :)

    Will keep you in my prayes, specially on the 18th.

    Patty
  • kit45
    kit45 Member Posts: 89
    #7
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    white hair
    I will be thinking of you on the 18th. I'm so happy for you hair. Who cares what color right now, at least its yours and its on the way!! Please post after your surgery. Love, Kit
  • suzanne56
    suzanne56 Member Posts: 18
    #8
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    white hair
    When my hair came back in it was totally gray and curly. I had auburn, straight hair. The doctor said the chemo can change the color especially at my age, which is 52. After a couple haircuts and color it's back to normal. I didn't even bother with a wig, just wore bandanas and toboggans in the winter. I figured if it scared someone enough to know I was fighting breast cancer, it might make them get a mammogram. That would make it worth the pain. I still walk around with just one breast (no fake one) to make women think, and hopefully act! My cancer was in 2006.
    Good luck on your surgery. Your a strong woman.
  • Joycelouise
    Joycelouise Member Posts: 482
    #9
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    suzanne56 said:

    white hair
    When my hair came back in it was totally gray and curly. I had auburn, straight hair. The doctor said the chemo can change the color especially at my age, which is 52. After a couple haircuts and color it's back to normal. I didn't even bother with a wig, just wore bandanas and toboggans in the winter. I figured if it scared someone enough to know I was fighting breast cancer, it might make them get a mammogram. That would make it worth the pain. I still walk around with just one breast (no fake one) to make women think, and hopefully act! My cancer was in 2006.
    Good luck on your surgery. Your a strong woman.

    Suzanne,
    I enjoyed reading
    Suzanne,
    I enjoyed reading your post and your provacative attitudes. I look forward to hearing more from you on the board. Maybe tomorrow I will walk out with out my prostheses. Although I was not endowed with much of a difference between here and gone - doubt anyone would notice and run to the mammogram! congrats on the years. love, Joyce
  • suzanne56
    suzanne56 Member Posts: 18
    #10
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    Joycelouise said:

    Suzanne,
    I enjoyed reading
    Suzanne,
    I enjoyed reading your post and your provacative attitudes. I look forward to hearing more from you on the board. Maybe tomorrow I will walk out with out my prostheses. Although I was not endowed with much of a difference between here and gone - doubt anyone would notice and run to the mammogram! congrats on the years. love, Joyce

    prostheses
    You have to develope an attitude after the fear of losing your husband or other, of what other people think and most of all how you feel. I hope you get your protheses and are happy with it. Around here there wasn't a choice. They cost money, and my job fired me and I lost my insurance, so I had no choice in the matter. I just made the best of a bad situation. Don't get me wrong, I held my arm up over my chest or my purse until my husband told me enough times to stop, it didn't bother him so why should it matter. He is my rock.
    It's all comes down to what makes you feel good and happy. Good luck to you and God be with you.
    Love Suzanne

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