2 weeks after first chemo treatment

anjelic00
anjelic00 Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
It is exactly 2 weeks after my first chemo tretment, I was told my hair will fall out after two weeks and today it sure did. this coming Monday will be my second treatment. can any tell me if eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair is also affected by chemo?
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Comments

  • susanleeann
    susanleeann Member Posts: 58
    i am new as well
    won't have my first chemo for another week but my doc has already told me i will lose my hair. my hairdresser will miss me for a while. she added that i won't need my lip, chin and eyebrows waxed either. then it hit me, i won't have to shave my legs this summer. now that part i am looking forward too, lol.
  • anjelic00
    anjelic00 Member Posts: 7

    i am new as well
    won't have my first chemo for another week but my doc has already told me i will lose my hair. my hairdresser will miss me for a while. she added that i won't need my lip, chin and eyebrows waxed either. then it hit me, i won't have to shave my legs this summer. now that part i am looking forward too, lol.

    @ Susanleeann
    Thanks, good to know... I read on this site it might also affect fingernails...hmmmm
  • WJGardner_Dec2009
    WJGardner_Dec2009 Member Posts: 50

    i am new as well
    won't have my first chemo for another week but my doc has already told me i will lose my hair. my hairdresser will miss me for a while. she added that i won't need my lip, chin and eyebrows waxed either. then it hit me, i won't have to shave my legs this summer. now that part i am looking forward too, lol.

    Hair loss
    That was my thought also. Had to also quit getting my nails done also, other than a trim. Never thought about my legs not needing to be shaved. Works for me. Wanda
  • Chrispea
    Chrispea Member Posts: 123 Member
    Yes, they fall out, but they
    Yes, they fall out, but they don't fall out until way later, at least mine did, maybe close to the third one. What chemo are you getting? Are you doing A/C then Taxotere? I had 4 AC and then switched to Taxotere for 4 and my hair started to grow back on the Taxotere. And I've noticed that I am getting my eyelashes back.

    I bought one of those eyebrow stencils and it really helped. I did notice that I have some tiny stubbles, so my eyebrows are starting to grow back now.

    I also learned how to put false eyelashes on. I only wear them if I go out to dinner, and holidays, like at Christmas I wore them.

    I cried like a baby when my hair fell out. I was in major denial and wouldn't look at myself. I'd run past mirrors, put make up on with the towel on my head, didn't let anyone see me like that... but eventually it "grew" on me and I became more comfortable with myself. My hair started to grow back before I got a true bald photo, so I'd better hurry up and get one here.

    Good luck to you.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair,
    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair, and pretty much anywhere you have it ( and I mean anywhere!) you won't! If you have not cut and then shaved your head with clippers, I sadly urge you to do so..hard and sad as it is for almost 100% of us. You cannot with any extra TLC stop your hair from coming out, it is an internal reaction to the chemotherapy. Aside from hair coming out everywhere; on your pillow, in the shower, all over the kitchen and dining room table, your scalp can become extremely tender. YOu know the feeling when you have left a too tight ponytail in way too long? That feeling! Cutting your hair off will almost instantly relieve that pressure.

    I wish my Dr had told me EVERYTHING about the whole losing hair thing; it would have been less frightening and scary.

    And, don't forget to drink lots and lots of water~ you need to keep hydrated and flush the chemo from your system.

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • WJGardner_Dec2009
    WJGardner_Dec2009 Member Posts: 50
    Hair loss
    Yep, just had a third treatment (making it 3 weeks) my hair started falling out just after two weeks. No other hair loss yet though. Was kind of hoping it wouldn't but o'well.
  • WJGardner_Dec2009
    WJGardner_Dec2009 Member Posts: 50
    Chrispea said:

    Yes, they fall out, but they
    Yes, they fall out, but they don't fall out until way later, at least mine did, maybe close to the third one. What chemo are you getting? Are you doing A/C then Taxotere? I had 4 AC and then switched to Taxotere for 4 and my hair started to grow back on the Taxotere. And I've noticed that I am getting my eyelashes back.

    I bought one of those eyebrow stencils and it really helped. I did notice that I have some tiny stubbles, so my eyebrows are starting to grow back now.

    I also learned how to put false eyelashes on. I only wear them if I go out to dinner, and holidays, like at Christmas I wore them.

    I cried like a baby when my hair fell out. I was in major denial and wouldn't look at myself. I'd run past mirrors, put make up on with the towel on my head, didn't let anyone see me like that... but eventually it "grew" on me and I became more comfortable with myself. My hair started to grow back before I got a true bald photo, so I'd better hurry up and get one here.

    Good luck to you.

    false eyelashes
    i have never been able put on false eyelashes. But maybe with no eyelashes it will be easier. Haven't lost those yet. Just starting to lose my hair. Wanda
  • WJGardner_Dec2009
    WJGardner_Dec2009 Member Posts: 50
    chenheart said:

    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair,
    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair, and pretty much anywhere you have it ( and I mean anywhere!) you won't! If you have not cut and then shaved your head with clippers, I sadly urge you to do so..hard and sad as it is for almost 100% of us. You cannot with any extra TLC stop your hair from coming out, it is an internal reaction to the chemotherapy. Aside from hair coming out everywhere; on your pillow, in the shower, all over the kitchen and dining room table, your scalp can become extremely tender. YOu know the feeling when you have left a too tight ponytail in way too long? That feeling! Cutting your hair off will almost instantly relieve that pressure.

    I wish my Dr had told me EVERYTHING about the whole losing hair thing; it would have been less frightening and scary.

    And, don't forget to drink lots and lots of water~ you need to keep hydrated and flush the chemo from your system.

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Drinking Water
    Yes, drinking plenty of water is a must. I feel that is why I am handling the treatments so well right now, other than the hair loss. So far I have had no ill side effects. So tiredness but that I think because i have been getting to bed late. I do need more sleep than before. Wanda
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    Lost my hair
    Just about the same time - 2 weeks after my 1st chemo. I was prepared (had it cut short before my chemo started) and my hubby buzzed it when it started to fall out in handfuls. Like Chen said, it really felt much better after getting it buzzed. At the suggestion of others on this board, I the used a lint roller to pick up the little short hairs that continue to fall out.

    I just finished my 4th and final round of T/C and so far haven't lost eyebrows or lashes, but lost most of my hair everywhere else. Still a few stragglers, though.

    My nails got a little funky and hurt a bit, but otherwise they've been OK.

    Hope this information helps. At least you know you're not alone. There is always someone here to help and support you.

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    Welcome, Anjelic00. Yes, I,
    Welcome, Anjelic00. Yes, I, too, lost ALL my hair. It was wonderful, once I got used to the "bald" part, of not having to shave underarms or legs. I was on Cytoxan/Taxotere and did not lose my eyebrows and eyelashes until I was about a month out from finishing chemo. They seemed to fall out quickly but also grew back quickly. I finished chemo on 10/15/09 and am now shaving my legs but the hair does not seem to be as thick or grow as fast as pre-chemo. Good luck to you.
  • jesse1313
    jesse1313 Member Posts: 3 Member
    hair loss
    I could be cute and say "sorry for your loss", but most of us go through it, and we learn to deal with it. Two weeks to the day from my first chemo, my 11 year old was home recovering from surgery when she watched my hair begin to brush out. It continued this way for about 9 days before I had to shave my head (Just this weekend in fact, after 2nd round of chemo.) I did have to start wearing a scarf by the 4th day. I am told by chemo mates that the eyebrows/eyelashes take longer, as these are not fast growing cells, and not everyone will loose them all. ACS has a wonderful class in most areas that I will be attending, called "Feel Good, Look Good". It is about two hours (u can bring a friend), and in addition to being shown how to apply makeup for those of us folicley (sp) challeneged, they provide a host of cosmetics to help us out. Just remember this: when you start to loose your hair, it is a good sign that the chemo is doing and going exactly where it needs to, to attack the cancer. My daughter reminded me of this when my hair loss began. I sign my emails now "Hairless in Minneapolis". My motto is that I can't change it, I'm at least going to have some fun with it! May God bless you through your journey!
  • jesse1313
    jesse1313 Member Posts: 3 Member
    hair loss
    Oh, I forget how your scalp will hurt for awhile. The pony tail pulled-to-tight is the best description. And wearing anything on your head for a few days makes it worse, as it tends to force the hair to lay in an unnatural growing position. If you can hang at the house, or under a baseball cap - no scarf like I did - I think your scalp will be much better for it. My hubby shaved me this weekend and the scalp doesn't hurt at all anymore. (It really only hurt if I touched it, or pulled out more hair. It didn't bother me constantly.)
  • Chrispea
    Chrispea Member Posts: 123 Member

    false eyelashes
    i have never been able put on false eyelashes. But maybe with no eyelashes it will be easier. Haven't lost those yet. Just starting to lose my hair. Wanda

    Yeah, it's actually easier
    Yeah, it's actually easier without eyelashes. I bought them when I had eyelashes to practice, I would get this double look, but once they fell out, the false ones actually would go on pretty easy.

    You can reuse them too. I probably used them 8-10 times. Put your eyeliner on first, and eyeshadow.

    Also, I cut them to fit my eye length, and trimmed some on the corners because they are wicked long!

    I would also use my eyelash curler on them after the glue dried, and I even put mascara on them. I figured they're cheap enough... and like I said, I re-used them. I don't wear them to the supermarket! LOL! But I do swipe on some eyeliner everyday, except when I'm sick from chemo, and I just don't care on those days. ;)
  • Chrispea
    Chrispea Member Posts: 123 Member
    jesse1313 said:

    hair loss
    Oh, I forget how your scalp will hurt for awhile. The pony tail pulled-to-tight is the best description. And wearing anything on your head for a few days makes it worse, as it tends to force the hair to lay in an unnatural growing position. If you can hang at the house, or under a baseball cap - no scarf like I did - I think your scalp will be much better for it. My hubby shaved me this weekend and the scalp doesn't hurt at all anymore. (It really only hurt if I touched it, or pulled out more hair. It didn't bother me constantly.)

    Yeah, my scalp hurt and then
    Yeah, my scalp hurt and then about a week later, day 16 after first chemo, my hair started falling out. I was in the hospital at the time for a fever and sinus infection, so I couldn't do much about it, but I wanted to go home so bad so I could cut my hair.

    The wig people told me not to cut it shorter than an inch so it wouldn't be itchy under my wig.

    The bad thing about that is that when it fell out into my chemo cap, it looked like my black cat had been lying on it! So much hair.

    Oh well, it came out pretty fast.

    But, on the other hand, once your treatments are done, your hair actually grows back pretty fast.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    My hair was guite long -
    My hair was guite long - almost to my waist before I started chemo but cut it much shorter (but not short) just before. I noticed it starting to come out a bit at day 12, day 14 hunks were coming out and day 16 Son used the clippers on the few hairs that were left (those very few hairs that didn't fall out never did - just remained as stubble but other areas [where you might shave or wax] all came out completely). While I was on A/C, I did not loose all my brows nor many of my lashes but as soon as I started Taxol those few came out almost immediately. 5 weeks after last Taxol some of brows are starting back
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    Rague said:

    My hair was guite long -
    My hair was guite long - almost to my waist before I started chemo but cut it much shorter (but not short) just before. I noticed it starting to come out a bit at day 12, day 14 hunks were coming out and day 16 Son used the clippers on the few hairs that were left (those very few hairs that didn't fall out never did - just remained as stubble but other areas [where you might shave or wax] all came out completely). While I was on A/C, I did not loose all my brows nor many of my lashes but as soon as I started Taxol those few came out almost immediately. 5 weeks after last Taxol some of brows are starting back

    Lost my hair day 13...
    Had it buzzed and felt like I had earned a "Badge of Courage". The rest of "everywhere" came out a little slower. Loved the Brazilian thing going on....but when the hair started growing back that is much faster than on my head! Didn't lose the eyebrows or lashes til after my 4th and final chemo. About 4 or 5 weeks after. That's when I lost it and cried like a baby. But we girls are lucky and eyeliner covers up the lack of lashes. I also wear glasses and that helped to I think. They are growing back slowly and are cute little stubbles. My last chemo was 12-11 by the way. When my hair first started growing back my scalp itched like crazy and my wig was unbearable for a couple of weeks. Now that I have longer stubble it's ok.

    I can't belive how fast I got used to the whole no hair thing but I still cover up when someone comes over or I am out in public. I do not have a great looking head.

    It's good that there are several of you going thru this at the same time, it helped me when I was going thru it and could read what the "chemo chicks" were feeling and could compare notes on rashes, dry skin etc.

    Everyone here is great and so willing to help in any way they can, lots of great knowlege and love here.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    Skeezie said:

    Lost my hair day 13...
    Had it buzzed and felt like I had earned a "Badge of Courage". The rest of "everywhere" came out a little slower. Loved the Brazilian thing going on....but when the hair started growing back that is much faster than on my head! Didn't lose the eyebrows or lashes til after my 4th and final chemo. About 4 or 5 weeks after. That's when I lost it and cried like a baby. But we girls are lucky and eyeliner covers up the lack of lashes. I also wear glasses and that helped to I think. They are growing back slowly and are cute little stubbles. My last chemo was 12-11 by the way. When my hair first started growing back my scalp itched like crazy and my wig was unbearable for a couple of weeks. Now that I have longer stubble it's ok.

    I can't belive how fast I got used to the whole no hair thing but I still cover up when someone comes over or I am out in public. I do not have a great looking head.

    It's good that there are several of you going thru this at the same time, it helped me when I was going thru it and could read what the "chemo chicks" were feeling and could compare notes on rashes, dry skin etc.

    Everyone here is great and so willing to help in any way they can, lots of great knowlege and love here.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    P.S. One more thing..
    When I was bald I noticed my head "stuck" on my pillow case and I would wake up with my ear bent forward and that really hurt, I was advised by some wonderful person on this board to get satin pillow cases. I did (on sale at JC Penny) and they are perfect. My head slides and no more ear bending.

    Last nite I tried my regualr pillow case and I have enough hair that I didn't stick, but woke up with my ear bent so still using the satin for a while. :-)
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    Skeezie said:

    Lost my hair day 13...
    Had it buzzed and felt like I had earned a "Badge of Courage". The rest of "everywhere" came out a little slower. Loved the Brazilian thing going on....but when the hair started growing back that is much faster than on my head! Didn't lose the eyebrows or lashes til after my 4th and final chemo. About 4 or 5 weeks after. That's when I lost it and cried like a baby. But we girls are lucky and eyeliner covers up the lack of lashes. I also wear glasses and that helped to I think. They are growing back slowly and are cute little stubbles. My last chemo was 12-11 by the way. When my hair first started growing back my scalp itched like crazy and my wig was unbearable for a couple of weeks. Now that I have longer stubble it's ok.

    I can't belive how fast I got used to the whole no hair thing but I still cover up when someone comes over or I am out in public. I do not have a great looking head.

    It's good that there are several of you going thru this at the same time, it helped me when I was going thru it and could read what the "chemo chicks" were feeling and could compare notes on rashes, dry skin etc.

    Everyone here is great and so willing to help in any way they can, lots of great knowlege and love here.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    Brows - thought for those starting chemo
    A thought for those starting chemo - even if you haven't lost your brows yet - start learning to draw them in NOW while they are still there. I went to a Look Good Feel Better class before anything started falling out. The booklet they gave point spots to use when drawing on brows - those points did not line up with my natural brows. I started drawing while brows were still there (and as they left) and got the 'feel' of the originals.

    I started Taxol 5 weeks after the last A/C so maybe it was the ongoing effect of A/C that made the brows and lashes come out at that time and not yet the Taxol.
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    chenheart said:

    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair,
    Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair, and pretty much anywhere you have it ( and I mean anywhere!) you won't! If you have not cut and then shaved your head with clippers, I sadly urge you to do so..hard and sad as it is for almost 100% of us. You cannot with any extra TLC stop your hair from coming out, it is an internal reaction to the chemotherapy. Aside from hair coming out everywhere; on your pillow, in the shower, all over the kitchen and dining room table, your scalp can become extremely tender. YOu know the feeling when you have left a too tight ponytail in way too long? That feeling! Cutting your hair off will almost instantly relieve that pressure.

    I wish my Dr had told me EVERYTHING about the whole losing hair thing; it would have been less frightening and scary.

    And, don't forget to drink lots and lots of water~ you need to keep hydrated and flush the chemo from your system.

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    wetting your hair before chemo
    Chenheart....
    This may sound crazy but a co-worker told me her father would wet his hair before chemo and never lost any of his hair. I am thinking about trying that before mine starts on 3/15....has anyone ever tried it?
    Lorrie Balentine
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393

    Drinking Water
    Yes, drinking plenty of water is a must. I feel that is why I am handling the treatments so well right now, other than the hair loss. So far I have had no ill side effects. So tiredness but that I think because i have been getting to bed late. I do need more sleep than before. Wanda

    How much water do you drink a day
    WJ Garner,
    How much water do you drink a day?

    Lorrie Balentine