Cancer Survivors Network

Finished chemo 12-09 and hair is anywhere from just breaking thru to half inch except for those hairs that never came out that are about 2 inches. What a hoot. But I've got sideburns that show a little under a hat! Whoo Hoo! Anyway, like you Traci, I plan on having fun with this new do, when it's get long enough. I love getting out of the shower and puting on make-up and just plopping a hat or wig if going out or going bare if I'm staying home. I don't ever want to go back to the blow dryer, curling iron etc. again. Planning on a soft spike type hair do but first am going to try some of those products you mentioned and go wild!

I thought the hair would all start to grow in at once, was really surprised that it comes in spotty. It gives me something to look forward to everyday, see where the new hair is...I really need to get a life huh?

Thanks for the fun post.

Judy :-)

But you aren't used to "doing" a short hair style so that makes it even worse! Get yourself some cool hats, scarves and a nice wig for dress-up type of functions and it will help get you thru this ordeal. And it actually does come to an end and then you'll be playing with all the fun stuff until your hair grows back long again. Don't forget, while it's growing back, we can play the quiz of what color? Curly or Not? What's so fun is that chemo is over and hair coming back is a real tangible sign that we are going to become ourselves again...maybe a little changed, but at least our hair will be there!

Good luck tomorrow with your first chemo and keep us posted on how you're doing. The first one is the scary one but really it will be ok...

Hugs, Judy :-)

P.S. Don't we all wish we could have a party at Traci's house?

If I could invite all of you to my 1-year cancerversary party in May, I would! I'm now having a terrible time, however, deciding between pink spikes or a bejeweled tiara for the occasion! :-)

Susan, if you've always had longer hair, then I know short hair is a shock, but PLEASE know you did the right thing, cutting it shorter ahead of time. Even with short hair, it's such a mess when it starts to fall out (hair in my food!), and I personally believe it's important that WE take control of our hair loss, and do it as much as possible on OUR terms, not on cancer's terms!

Lorrie, yes, my hair actually did start to grow again around my 3rd round in September, just very slowly. I just stood in front of the bathroom mirror with a ruler on my head (the THINGS I DO for you ladies!), and it's about 2 or 2 1/2 inches now.

As for my energy...well, I have enough energy to stand in my bathroom and play with hair products, if that tells you anything. My oncologist says it will be 6 months to a year before I really have my energy back. I'm now okay getting through a full workday, and I'm even taking a lunchtime yoga class once a week, but I'm not able to do anything after work or in the evenings, and I run out of steam by about 6 or 7 every evening.

But it's so important to remember that everyone reacts differently. Some of the women on this board, some of whom are mphfpth years older than me (MyTurnNow, I'm talking to you), did the exact same chemo cocktail I did, and and didn't have anywhere near the same fatigue issues. I know they did it just to make me look bad...

...but hey, I have great hair!

:-) Traci

Hi Traci,
I guess it just grows back very slowly then. I guess I should cut my hair shorter then sometime this week since you say that will help some. Hey! maybe you should take a picture of yourself with your new hairstyle and post it on your profile picture so we can get some pointers on how to style our hair when it comes in!
Love,
Lorrie

I'm sitting here at my desk this morning reading this thread and dying from laughter. Traci, you are certainly an entertainer. I wish we lived closer so I could come over and play with your hair products. I am a pretty conservative individual when it comes to hair color. LOL!! I do have one question though.....what is "mphfpth"? I'm just making sure you're not calling me names. Ha-ha.

So I just got back from the gym -- while I was checking in at the front desk, the (very, very) young woman working there, who I don't know, said to me out of the blue, "You know, a lot of people can't do hair short like that, but you really rock it."

I'm telling ya, it's all about the hair products -- magic goo in a bottle!

Traci

Two and a half inches is a lot! If I go by that (and I know we're all different), then by May I should be able to be pink spiked and bare headed! Yay!

One more question and then I'll shut up (for now), when exactly do you count your cancerversary? The day you found the lump? Day of biopsy? Dx? Any day I choose? I think I'll have a party too.

Girls, one of the hardest things is the hair coming out, it's just not fair. But it does end and when it does, the hair grows back and you have a feeling of really accomplishing something. And I'm telling you, it's fun checking in that mirror every day. Even shaved the dreaded legs... Try and keep that in mind when you look in the mirror and can't believe it's you without hair looking back. I lost my hair in Oct and I still surprise myself sometimes (that I'm almost like a hairless cat).

Hugs, Judy, semi-hairless cat :-)

There are definitely no "rules" about your cancerversary date -- everyone has different ideas about what's meaningful to them (and of course, there's nothing to say you have to honor any particular "cancerversary" at all).

The date I feel my life changed forever is the day my doctor told me I had cancer -- May 4, 2009. To me, it's meaningful to celebrate making it through the past year since then -- the theme of my party is "It's Been a Yere, and I'm Still Here!"

Some women instead celebrate the date of their surgery, because they feel that's the date the cancer left their body. I've also heard of others who celebrate the date they finished treatment. It's definitely all about what feels right to you -- whether you choose pink spikes, or a bejeweled tiara, or...?

:-) Traci

Hi Traci

You and I have the same cancerversary date and had similar treatments, at least until the end of the chemo (end of Sept). I didn't have radiation as you did, but had a double mast. instead (December).

My only complaint to my surgeon back in January was that I didn't have my 'pep' back. She said that I'd need to wait until at least May to get my energy back. So you if you are feeling wiped out at the end of the day, you are not alone!!

For those of you in treatment, hang in there! Things DO get better and we get on with our lives and play with our short hair, and plan cancerversary celebrations!

Be well~ jane

I can't believe we were diagnosed on the same date -- it gives me chills to think that you were getting the frightening, life-changing news the same day I was.

It makes me sad to think -- if you and I just randomly ended up on the same message board, how many other women must there have been who got the news that same day?

Traci

Traci, you are a hoot! Enjoy that new hair. I check myself out in the mirror every day now too thinking I'm seeing little sprouts on my head. I've been t******** the hair that remained behind so I don't have any really long strands. I have to confess, though, that my mother always cut my hair super short when I was a kid - and didn't do that great of a job of it either. I was always self conscious. When I got on my own, I grew my hair shoulder length and have had more medium length hairstyles ever since. Maybe now I'll get over my short hair dislike and actually try some hair products to give myself a whole new look. Why not have fun with all of this? It's a new day - a new normal - a new life!!!
Beth

We have a Sally's too. Sounds like fun! Thanks for the idea.

Hey cousin Traci I cAnt wait till I can goo some real hair. I agree with Laurissa post some photos of the new do's.

I'll look forward to hearing all about your celebration party. If I lived closer, I'd attend with bells on my toes. It's so exciting to hear about the celebrations.

Traci I do the same w/my hair i always wondered what I'd look like w/the spike look,well i found out,everyone always tells me they love my haircut,lol,then I say Thanks & im just thankful 2 have hair again=)...The more my hair grows the curlier it gets & its jet black,I was a dirty blonde my whole life until now=) My daughters have walked the Relay 4 Life & rocked the pink tips last year in honor of me last summer,something most parents would not allow but I was proud of them even if pep criticized me or them we knew what it stood 4,so maybe this year I will walk more than 1 hour & rock some black hair w/pink tips=)

Traci I do the same w/my hair i always wondered what I'd look like w/the spike look,well i found out,everyone always tells me they love my haircut,lol,then I say Thanks & im just thankful 2 have hair again=)...The more my hair grows the curlier it gets & its jet black,I was a dirty blonde my whole life until now=) My daughters have walked the Relay 4 Life & rocked the pink tips last year in honor of me last summer,something most parents would not allow but I was proud of them even if pep criticized me or them we knew what it stood 4,so maybe this year I will walk more than 1 hour & rock some black hair w/pink tips=)

Darling, my hair is light brown -- even though the pink tips look cool, you'd be able to rock them so much better than me with your black hair! DO IT, girl!

And, if you're seriously saying that people criticized your daughters for doing something fun and harmless to honor you while walking the Relay for Life last year -- please give me their addresses, so I can go to their houses and SLAP them! I hope someday, when someone THEY love is diagnosed with cancer, they'll take some time out from judging and criticizing other people to realize what's really important in life.

Hmph.

Traci

I wish I had the guts to walk around with out my hat. I still can't bring myself to uncover. My hair is about an inch long now. I think its coming in straight. Well it's straight now. It's white and gray. That I will color soon. Traci, your amazing.

Kat, I just read your bio and we're in the same age group. I, too, was hesitant to shed my scarves and ball caps. I never wore anything at home and plenty of family and friends had seen me "naked". It was finally 3 months out from chemo and my hair was about one inch long, it was also salt and pepper (more salt than pepper)and I went by my hairdresser's salon to ask about color. We made an appointment for the next week and once the color was done, I shed the covers. The first time was the worst for me. But, I got many, many comments on how good my hair looked and how good I looked in short hair. I'm not sure about the truth in all that but it did give me the confidence I needed. That was around 6 weeks ago and I have to say I love the freedom. When you are ready, take the plunge, you'll be glad you did. Good luck!!

Traci, I just got my laugh for the day. You girls seem to be having so much fun with your hair. It must be great to have hair back after losing it all. So far I haven't had chemo so maybe I won't experience hair loss the same way, but I've had hair loss in the past due to meds I was on and know what its like to wear a wig. I think you would be a big hit anywhere with pink spiked hair and I look forward to seeing your pink fringed pics. Enjoy this time with your hair and continue to share with the rest of us.

After being bald it is rather exciting to see what the stuff looks like when it starts to grow back. As mine grew back I guess I got a big spoiled (LAZY!) because I loved not having to blow it dry ... use the curling iron etc. I didn't even need a comb or brush. I loved the low-maintenance of it all and made the decision to keep the VERY short "do." My hairdresser loves it because I used to be so concerned about her cutting it too short ... now I just tell her cut it as short as she wants and the shorter the better as far as I'm concerned. My hair is gray and I'm going for the look of Jamie Lee Curtis in those Activa commercials. :-)

hugs.
teena