When did your hair loss start?

ccincin
ccincin Member Posts: 82
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I'm on day 8 after first a/c and wondering when it's going to happen. I swear mine is growing along with my fingernails??? Did it go slowly or clump out? The anxiety is getting to me!!!
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Comments

  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #2
    hair loss gradual...
    we are all a bit different, also depends on your cocktail. I had TAC and my hair started to fall out in about 4 weeks....just gradual.......but I decided to take charge and rather than vacuum the pillow each day, I got out my husband's sheers and buzzed my head one day!
    I don't remember when the hair loss on legs was, but that was welcome treat not to have to shave :-) One thing for sure is the hair will grow back. I completed chemo in Sept and I have a fuzzy head now! Just remember, whatever it is, it is....and you are on your way to beating the beast....so welcome the hair loss knowing the journey will end soon. Good luck with your treatment. Hugs
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #3
    Mine started about day 15.
    Mine started about day 15. It started with an itchy scalp, then tingling in the scalp. There was some pain and redness when the hair actually came out. Someone said the pain was because the hair follicles were trying to hold on to the hair.

    Three to four days after the hair started falling out, I too gave myself a buzz. I didn't like the 'mange' look I had going. But I still haven't lost all my hair, I still have stubble. My eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned, but I still have some.

    I also had 3 haircuts before I started chemo. Just to take control.

    As cavediver said, it does depend on your mix...mine is TAC as well. Good luck!

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    Mine started about day 15.
    Mine started about day 15. It started with an itchy scalp, then tingling in the scalp. There was some pain and redness when the hair actually came out. Someone said the pain was because the hair follicles were trying to hold on to the hair.

    Three to four days after the hair started falling out, I too gave myself a buzz. I didn't like the 'mange' look I had going. But I still haven't lost all my hair, I still have stubble. My eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned, but I still have some.

    I also had 3 haircuts before I started chemo. Just to take control.

    As cavediver said, it does depend on your mix...mine is TAC as well. Good luck!

    Hugs,

    Linda

    I had AC and taxol. it took
    I had AC and taxol. it took 14 days or so to start. then I buzzed it. so I didnt go for the gradual loss. to me that would have been slow and painful. I finished jan 21st, and went naked June 18. hair is short and curly after two trims. Hugs!
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #5
    Hi ccincin,
    Mine started coming out in strands (not clumps) between the 2nd and 3rd treatment. I got my hair cut really short when that started happening. I finally ended up buzzing it. However, I never lost it completely and was never completely bald. A few thin spots though. After I finished my chemo I had my last buzz, just so that my hair would hopefully, grown evenly. There are a few pictures on my expressions page that show how short I buzzed my head. Hugs, Jean
  • chriskaput
    chriskaput Member Posts: 109
    #6
    hair loss
    my hair started to fall out the day after I received my 2nd ac treatment. I had my husband give me a buzz cut because my long hair was coming out in clumps and it would have been harder for me to see that come out. I never completely lost my hair. I always had some fuzz up there. I bought a wig before it all came out to match my hair color.
    Wishing you the best, you will be ok : ) take care
  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    #7
    get ready!
    Get ready, it should start on or about 16th. day after 1st. chemo so if it's your 8th day today maybe next week-end. You'll run your fingers through and the hair will just cling to your fingers. I kept checking after the first chemo but nothing until the 15th day then look- out here it comes!! It was such a strange feeling to see it all coming out before my eyes. I mean of course I expected this but to see it happen was a wierd feeling. So then my husband shaved it for me and I was just fine with it after the initial mirror shock. I use johnson baby shampoo on my scalp every night in the shower. Never had any problem with itch or rash. I usually wear a bandana or baseball cap when I go out.
    Relax you will be bald like the rest of us soon enough. :)
    Annette
  • ccincin
    ccincin Member Posts: 82
    #8
    Annette 11 said:

    get ready!
    Get ready, it should start on or about 16th. day after 1st. chemo so if it's your 8th day today maybe next week-end. You'll run your fingers through and the hair will just cling to your fingers. I kept checking after the first chemo but nothing until the 15th day then look- out here it comes!! It was such a strange feeling to see it all coming out before my eyes. I mean of course I expected this but to see it happen was a wierd feeling. So then my husband shaved it for me and I was just fine with it after the initial mirror shock. I use johnson baby shampoo on my scalp every night in the shower. Never had any problem with itch or rash. I usually wear a bandana or baseball cap when I go out.
    Relax you will be bald like the rest of us soon enough. :)
    Annette

    Lol!
    I will be proud to be bald with you ladies!! Not that I want to but who else could you do this with? ;)
  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    #9
    Mine started falling out on
    Mine started falling out on day 14 I was in Wal-mart. Talking to hubby on phone and it started falling out in clumps. I was stuffing it in my pockets. It got stuck on my glasses & pulled them off with it. So I paid for my stuff and left a trail of hair to my truck hahahahahaha. I then went home and shaved it off. I didn't mind losing it. But I didn't want to loss it for days or weeks. I use to complain about my hair I hated it. Now I will never complain about it again. It is starting to come back in now. I am about 6 weeks out from chemo.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #10
    smalldoggroomer said:

    Mine started falling out on
    Mine started falling out on day 14 I was in Wal-mart. Talking to hubby on phone and it started falling out in clumps. I was stuffing it in my pockets. It got stuck on my glasses & pulled them off with it. So I paid for my stuff and left a trail of hair to my truck hahahahahaha. I then went home and shaved it off. I didn't mind losing it. But I didn't want to loss it for days or weeks. I use to complain about my hair I hated it. Now I will never complain about it again. It is starting to come back in now. I am about 6 weeks out from chemo.

    I had ACT also and it
    I had ACT also and it started to come out in strands everywhere so I buzzed it. Helped with the scalp sensitivity too.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #11
    Lighthouse_7 said:

    I had ACT also and it
    I had ACT also and it started to come out in strands everywhere so I buzzed it. Helped with the scalp sensitivity too.
    Hugs,
    Wanda

    Day 13 here
    I was on TC and mine started coming out on day 13 after 1st treatment. It started coming out in strands first. I had it buzzed day 14. I just did not want it to be falling out all over. Best wishes to you God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #12
    hI!
    My Oncologist told me by the 2nd treatment (which were 3 weeks apart) that I would lose my hair and she was right on the money.

    It comes out in small clumps. My scalp was also very sensitive.

    Just know everyone's different.


    Blessings and hugs to you,

    Sylvia
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #13
    Mine started around day 14
    Mine started around day 14 or 15 after my 1st chemo. The anxiety was getting to me as well & I was constantly tugging to see if any hair was coming out yet. It started coming out in small clumps when I would run my fingers through my hair, it was like that for a couple of days, then it was like I was shedding - always have hairs on the back of my shirt & shoulders, leave some on the couch where I was sitting, on my pillow, and TONS in the shower drain. I too had my husband shave my head when it got to the point that it was extremely thinned out - i dont think I could have handled seeing it keep falling out. For me, honestly, it was more traumatic losing my hair than my boobs. I'm almost 5 weeks past my last chemo and my hair is growing back fast. I officially have what my husband calls "5 o'clock shadow head". I was on 4 rounds of AC and 2 rounds of Taxotere & my hair actually started growing back when I finished with AC & was on Taxotere. Yes, it stinks & is no fun, but know that we're here for you when that happens :)
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • Jean T. Szabo
    Jean T. Szabo Member Posts: 193
    #14
    Hair Loss
    14 days after first treatment. It came out in hadnfuls. Got a "buzz", made it easier to accept. There are some beauty shops that will do it for free for BC patients.
  • TxRn64
    TxRn64 Member Posts: 26
    #15
    Jean T. Szabo said:

    Hair Loss
    14 days after first treatment. It came out in hadnfuls. Got a "buzz", made it easier to accept. There are some beauty shops that will do it for free for BC patients.

    Hair Loss
    Mine started slowly falling out on day 17 then everyday it gradually came out more and more. Then it started coming out in clumps. I just finished my 3rd cycle of TCH and it stopped falling out a few weeks ago. I have bald spots but still have a good portion of my hair. I haven't shaved it because I want to see what it's going to do on it's on. I'm my own little resaarch project....I'm just curious. You get use to it after a few days. It's not as bad as I imagined. I'm actually having fun with the wig thing!
  • webbwife50
    webbwife50 Member Posts: 394
    #16
    Buzz
    I buzzed too, sorry, I just thought it would be too much to see it fall out. God bless...alison
  • kya911
    kya911 Member Posts: 157
    #17
    webbwife50 said:

    Buzz
    I buzzed too, sorry, I just thought it would be too much to see it fall out. God bless...alison

    16 Days
    Mine started 16 days after first treatment.
    Coming out in strands.
    I hate to lose it but it was great throwing a hat on and going to the store.
    No more bad hair days.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BALD IS BEAUTIFUL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #18
    I want to say mine fell out
    I want to say mine fell out on day 16 of my first initial chemo treatment. I had a buzz cut and sported a wig for several months. Wig was free through a nonprofit program. Mine grew during the chemo process too. It started out straight. Now I sport curly locks. Plenty of folks have complimented my new 'do. I've gotten used to it and am so glad to be done with the wig. Good luck to you!
    BL
  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    #19
    smalldoggroomer said:

    Mine started falling out on
    Mine started falling out on day 14 I was in Wal-mart. Talking to hubby on phone and it started falling out in clumps. I was stuffing it in my pockets. It got stuck on my glasses & pulled them off with it. So I paid for my stuff and left a trail of hair to my truck hahahahahaha. I then went home and shaved it off. I didn't mind losing it. But I didn't want to loss it for days or weeks. I use to complain about my hair I hated it. Now I will never complain about it again. It is starting to come back in now. I am about 6 weeks out from chemo.

    LOL
    Falling out in walmart! That is so funny and what a sight to see. I always complained about my wavy/curly hair also and that I always had to blow dry it to straighen it...Na, I don't think I will do that anymore.
  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    #20
    Annette 11 said:

    LOL
    Falling out in walmart! That is so funny and what a sight to see. I always complained about my wavy/curly hair also and that I always had to blow dry it to straighen it...Na, I don't think I will do that anymore.

    OOPS!

    OOPS!
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #21
    Bella Luna said:

    I want to say mine fell out
    I want to say mine fell out on day 16 of my first initial chemo treatment. I had a buzz cut and sported a wig for several months. Wig was free through a nonprofit program. Mine grew during the chemo process too. It started out straight. Now I sport curly locks. Plenty of folks have complimented my new 'do. I've gotten used to it and am so glad to be done with the wig. Good luck to you!
    BL

    Day 13, first chemo cycle
    Taxotere and Cytoxin. I was sitting on the sofa in a black top that I had just changed into. Looked down to see a lot of hair on the top. Went upstairs to the mirror and ran my hand through my hair and got more. It was obvious that this was the real deal. Because I had read on this list about looking like a mangie dog or buzzing my head, I called my girlfriend and said "come over in the morning and buzz cut my hair". She did and the rest of the loss was not traumatic at all because it was just the little whiskers.

    Now 2 plus months after my last chemo, I'm finally sporting some peach fuzz. That started about 2 1/2 weeks ago.

    I figure I will experience a total of about 8 months (until March) of insufficient hair before I'm comfortable without covering up in public.

    Suzanne

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