Hair loss

jcruz

jbug2 said:

Thinned hair coming back

I had chemo the first week of Dec., 2012 and the first week of Jan., 2013, concurrent with radiation.  Radiation ended in January 18, my hair still didn't look to bad when radiation ended.  However, by end of March my shoulder length hair was getting pretty thin and stringy looking, however, I had about an inch of fuzzy WHITE growth near the scalp ... I ended up getting the shoulder length blonde hair cut back to nearly equal length of my new WHITE growth.  It doesn't look bad if I use a 3/4" barrel curling iron to curl the ends under occasionally. 

Oh, the WHITE pixie haircut is still a shock to see when I am washing my hands and glance up at the mirror, sort of like a stranger staring at me.  I am beginning to get a lot of black hair woven into the white.

I did purchase a wig, also wore lots of hats and scarves.  My balder areas near my old side part and the back of my head are pretty much covered with new fuzzy growth, so I can blend (curl) my hair and it doesn't look to bad.  However some of the new growth also seems to be falling out, now.    I grieved the loss of my hair PLENTY!!!

 

grieving hair loss

I grieved my total hair loss plenty also.  My hair has grown in curlier and grayer than before.  I am startled by my appearance sometimes because I think I just don't look like me.  It's hard for me to take compliments on how beautiful my new hair looks because I can't accept that it looks so different.  It's a struggle for me.

jbug2

jcruz said:

grieving hair loss

I grieved my total hair loss plenty also.  My hair has grown in curlier and grayer than before.  I am startled by my appearance sometimes because I think I just don't look like me.  It's hard for me to take compliments on how beautiful my new hair looks because I can't accept that it looks so different.  It's a struggle for me.

coping with hair loss

It's hard for me to accept compliments on this new silver-white pixie cut, too!  I need to like it, myself!!!  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GROW AN INCH OF HAIR?

My cut was supposed to look like Kellie Pickler's current haircut ... but it's taking abnormally long to just grow an inch.  I am pretty sure my hair used to grow faster than this. 

LaCh

jbug2 said:

coping with hair loss

It's hard for me to accept compliments on this new silver-white pixie cut, too!  I need to like it, myself!!!  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GROW AN INCH OF HAIR?

My cut was supposed to look like Kellie Pickler's current haircut ... but it's taking abnormally long to just grow an inch.  I am pretty sure my hair used to grow faster than this. 

hair

My hair continues to fall like autumn leaves. Pretty soon I'll look like a bare winter tree but I don't really care. It's an irritation, nothing more.  I don't care all that much what I look like.  It's just hair. That's just my opinion, my feelings about myself, please no over enthusiastic criticism about it.

mp327

LaCh said:

hair

My hair continues to fall like autumn leaves. Pretty soon I'll look like a bare winter tree but I don't really care. It's an irritation, nothing more.  I don't care all that much what I look like.  It's just hair. That's just my opinion, my feelings about myself, please no over enthusiastic criticism about it.

Hair loss

I was determined not to let any hair loss bother me.  I must admit that when I first noticed fallout, I felt a bit of sadness.  However, I knew that any hair loss would only be temporary.  I was much more worried and concerned about the permanent effects of the cancer and/or treatment.  When I went out in public, I wore a pink ballcap, the color of which had no significance to me, other than I had puchased that cap in Key West on a memorable vacation.  When people saw me, I'm sure they assumed I was going through treatment for breast cancer.  I attended my husband's office Christmas party capless and just let it all hang out (or more appropriately, not hang out!).  I looked like I had the mange, but I didn't care.  All who were there knew I had had chemo and radiation and they didn't care.  My hair has always been very thin and hard to manage, so getting a very short cut helped make it look better when it finally began to grow back.  I have kept it short ever since.

sephie

LaCh said:

hair

My hair continues to fall like autumn leaves. Pretty soon I'll look like a bare winter tree but I don't really care. It's an irritation, nothing more.  I don't care all that much what I look like.  It's just hair. That's just my opinion, my feelings about myself, please no over enthusiastic criticism about it.

did not care about hair loss

my hair was thin to start off with but it did come out a lot...BUT there was no pain when it came out so i did not care... i hurt so much on the booty and in the arm where picc line was located that i really was grateful that the hair loss did not hurt.... i still have bald spot but it is the easiest side effect to deal with for me.....sephie

islandgirlculebra

sephie said:

did not care about hair loss

my hair was thin to start off with but it did come out a lot...BUT there was no pain when it came out so i did not care... i hurt so much on the booty and in the arm where picc line was located that i really was grateful that the hair loss did not hurt.... i still have bald spot but it is the easiest side effect to deal with for me.....sephie

Hair Loss

It's amazing how your perspective changes regarding hair loss as you go through this whole process. I was devastated at first at the thought of it. It was a big relief not to go completely bald like some chemo patients do. The bald spots were ugly; I gradually got my hair cut shorter, then covered up with a wig for a few months. But it was hot in the summer; I wanted to go to the beach; so then I would wear hats. Then I got tired of the hats and just went natural. It was amazing how people really did not stare and after a while it just didn't bother me anymore. I was so glad to be feeling better and getting out of the house, I just wasn't as self-conscious as I thought I would be......And this new short haircut has no maintenance, which is nice.... Just my thoughts, for whatever they are worth.....

Lorikat

jbug2 said:

coping with hair loss

It's hard for me to accept compliments on this new silver-white pixie cut, too!  I need to like it, myself!!!  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GROW AN INCH OF HAIR?

My cut was supposed to look like Kellie Pickler's current haircut ... but it's taking abnormally long to just grow an inch.  I am pretty sure my hair used to grow faster than this. 

I tried to get Kellie

I tried to get Kellie Picklers haircut too!  BUT I didn't get the little pixie face to go with it, LOL!  My hair didn't all fall out but thinned severely...  I was always blond but now am DARK blonde with god given white highlights!  I just don't look...

eihtak

Hair ????

My hair has always been thick and naturally wavy. The years before treatment I wore it not quite shoulder length and it had been getting greyer every day! I lost a lot of it but never all. It got so thin that I could put it in a pony tail and double those little brace rubber bands, so probably should have shaved it off. I never gave it much thought and for some reason was more concerned with the PAIN I was in. (lol) Its been two years now and it is thicker, curlier and less grey than ever. Although I wear it quite short, it grows faaaast! It may be that I'm healthier all around, (nutrition, exercise, etc.) and thus my hair is healthy too. Its funny how it even matters to us, what if from birth we all, men and women just cut/shaved our heads??????????

jcruz

a lovely essay on living without hair

This is written by a woman who has ovarian cancer and whose essays I have really appreciated reading.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/living-with-cancer-living-without-hair/

2tuff4you

Hair

My hair thinned out to and 5 weeks after treatment I can feel where new hair is coming in Have faith it will come back

jena58

Just had to jump in here! My

Just had to jump in here! My hair fell out in handfuls in the shower but I didn't loose ti all, it just really thinned out. I used to have a mass of long red curls and during treatment the curls didn't curl anymore. It looked yuck! I lost eye lashed, under arm hair, pubic hair and leg hair. Once I was we'll enough to go to my hairdresser I got her to cut it all off short because it was just looking unhealthy and horrible. my hair is much healthier now, though I've kept it's short. My eye lashes grew back. My under arms, legs and pubic hair are still really thin. I consider this to be the one and only up side of treatment After effects!!!!! Don't have to shave my legs or under arms everyday and don't have to worry about bikini line spider legs in summer, woo hoo

Eliz3

jena58 said:

Just had to jump in here! My

Just had to jump in here! My hair fell out in handfuls in the shower but I didn't loose ti all, it just really thinned out. I used to have a mass of long red curls and during treatment the curls didn't curl anymore. It looked yuck! I lost eye lashed, under arm hair, pubic hair and leg hair. Once I was we'll enough to go to my hairdresser I got her to cut it all off short because it was just looking unhealthy and horrible. my hair is much healthier now, though I've kept it's short. My eye lashes grew back. My under arms, legs and pubic hair are still really thin. I consider this to be the one and only up side of treatment After effects!!!!! Don't have to shave my legs or under arms everyday and don't have to worry about bikini line spider legs in summer, woo hoo

No hair loss?

My sister has beautiful shiny brown hair, just getting an odd white one, but very healthy hair at 57.  The Oncologist told her, at the first meeting, that she would not lose her hair, or he doesn't expect that she will lose her hair!  I can't figure this out, how could he guarantee that?  She apparently does not have the second round of chemo you all mention, can't figure that either.

You all seem to be coping, each in your own way, with the loss...and keeping your sense of humour along the way.

 

Thinking about you all.

 

 

LisaMMiles

Marynb said:

Lisa
For me, I never lost hair on my head, but am now sporting the Telly Savalis look down below. You are probably too young to remember him......bald as a bean.

Marynb

Ha Ha I am older than you think. I do remember him. I lost no hair off my head but 1 month out of treatment, still no hair below? Not missing it though lol

 

jbug2

Lorikat said:

I tried to get Kellie

I tried to get Kellie Picklers haircut too!  BUT I didn't get the little pixie face to go with it, LOL!  My hair didn't all fall out but thinned severely...  I was always blond but now am DARK blonde with god given white highlights!  I just don't look...

Growing the hair back

I went back to get my hair trimmed to night, it's been 5 weeks.  My husband now has more hair than I do, for the first time in the 24 years that I've known him!  All the long thin strands are off, and the bald spot in the back is filled in with about an inch of length.  My beautician (my niece) says that our hair grows about 1/2 inch a month ... slightly faster in the summer.  So much for my Kellie Pickler haircut, it just looks like a boy haircut now.  One good thing, I won't have to cope with thick hot, shoulder length hair this summer.  Also, no color touchups, I get so many complements on my natural color, I'll stick with that.  My hair is just dreadfully short now, but VERY THICK at the roots, that's nice! Amazingly, it only took a few months for the bald spots to fill in with thick hair, short, but hey, it's hair!

 

mp327

jbug2 said:

Growing the hair back

I went back to get my hair trimmed to night, it's been 5 weeks.  My husband now has more hair than I do, for the first time in the 24 years that I've known him!  All the long thin strands are off, and the bald spot in the back is filled in with about an inch of length.  My beautician (my niece) says that our hair grows about 1/2 inch a month ... slightly faster in the summer.  So much for my Kellie Pickler haircut, it just looks like a boy haircut now.  One good thing, I won't have to cope with thick hot, shoulder length hair this summer.  Also, no color touchups, I get so many complements on my natural color, I'll stick with that.  My hair is just dreadfully short now, but VERY THICK at the roots, that's nice! Amazingly, it only took a few months for the bald spots to fill in with thick hair, short, but hey, it's hair!

 

jbug2

I have said since having had cancer and losing some of my hair during treatment that there is NO such thing as a bad hair day as long as I have hair!  I bet you will like your new short cut and that it looks very nice.  I have had short hair ever since my treatment ended and I will never go back to a longer style, as I like the no muss, no fuss of a short cut.

LaCh

Eliz3 said:

No hair loss?

My sister has beautiful shiny brown hair, just getting an odd white one, but very healthy hair at 57.  The Oncologist told her, at the first meeting, that she would not lose her hair, or he doesn't expect that she will lose her hair!  I can't figure this out, how could he guarantee that?  She apparently does not have the second round of chemo you all mention, can't figure that either.

You all seem to be coping, each in your own way, with the loss...and keeping your sense of humour along the way.

 

Thinking about you all.

 

 

my current take on hair

I don't care about my hair,

Whether it's gone or whether it's there,

Life's too short to think of that,

I have no hair? I wear a hat.

Beyond all that I just don't care,

If I do or don't have hair.

mp327

LaCh said:

my current take on hair

I don't care about my hair,

Whether it's gone or whether it's there,

Life's too short to think of that,

I have no hair? I wear a hat.

Beyond all that I just don't care,

If I do or don't have hair.

LaCh

I love that!  While I do kinda like having hair, when I finished up my treatment and had a really bad case of mange, I couldn't have cared less how my hair looked.  I was just so thankful to be done with treatment and the hell I'd been through.  I think a person realizes that lots of things are overrated in life once you get a cancer diagnosis and go through what we've been through.  Our hair does not define us.  If it did, I would be gray, thin and limp with no body, which doesn't sound too good!    I hope you are doing well.

LaCh

mp327 said:

LaCh

I love that!  While I do kinda like having hair, when I finished up my treatment and had a really bad case of mange, I couldn't have cared less how my hair looked.  I was just so thankful to be done with treatment and the hell I'd been through.  I think a person realizes that lots of things are overrated in life once you get a cancer diagnosis and go through what we've been through.  Our hair does not define us.  If it did, I would be gray, thin and limp with no body, which doesn't sound too good!    I hope you are doing well.

I am

doing well, thanks, yes, but just as my hair loss doesn't define me, neither does the fact that I had cancer. I rarely think about it, and define myself as a cancer survivor  about as much as I define myself as a flu survivor. It happened, it's over and I don't give it a whole lot of thought, not as an accomplishment that I got through it, not that I was couragous or cowardly, weak or strong, good or bad, up or down, whatever or whatever else....  I really don't think about it much at all.  It was. It isn't any more. If I have a problem, I solve it, if I have thin hair, well, I can't see my own hair when I'm walking through Central Park, and my hair and cancer are about the farthest things from my mind when I'm walking through the Ramble with my dog or hanging out at Bethesda Fountain. It's just.... over.  On to the next thing. This is why I don't hang out on this website nearly as much as I used to. The past is past, at least to my mind. But that's just me.  Please no over-enthusiastic criticism; it's just my take.  Everybody's different.

sandysp

LaCh said:

I am

doing well, thanks, yes, but just as my hair loss doesn't define me, neither does the fact that I had cancer. I rarely think about it, and define myself as a cancer survivor  about as much as I define myself as a flu survivor. It happened, it's over and I don't give it a whole lot of thought, not as an accomplishment that I got through it, not that I was couragous or cowardly, weak or strong, good or bad, up or down, whatever or whatever else....  I really don't think about it much at all.  It was. It isn't any more. If I have a problem, I solve it, if I have thin hair, well, I can't see my own hair when I'm walking through Central Park, and my hair and cancer are about the farthest things from my mind when I'm walking through the Ramble with my dog or hanging out at Bethesda Fountain. It's just.... over.  On to the next thing. This is why I don't hang out on this website nearly as much as I used to. The past is past, at least to my mind. But that's just me.  Please no over-enthusiastic criticism; it's just my take.  Everybody's different.

I love my new hair

My hair is now long, thick and curly for the first time in my life. I lost most of my old hair right after my first chemo treatment and went through several phases of hair. I cut mine really short and died it bright red!

I come back on the site because others helped me along the way and I know something I say may be of help to someone going through physical and emotional pain.

Like you, there are times when I take a break.

My rule of thumb is "do what brings you life!"

(An Oncologist told me that twenty years ago when I was facing a different challenge).

All the best,

Sandy

LaCh

sandysp said:

I love my new hair

My hair is now long, thick and curly for the first time in my life. I lost most of my old hair right after my first chemo treatment and went through several phases of hair. I cut mine really short and died it bright red!

I come back on the site because others helped me along the way and I know something I say may be of help to someone going through physical and emotional pain.

Like you, there are times when I take a break.

My rule of thumb is "do what brings you life!"

(An Oncologist told me that twenty years ago when I was facing a different challenge).

All the best,

Sandy

thanks sandysp

I just never think "I had cancer," when and if someone asks me to describe myself. It's not a part of who I am, it's a condition that I had. I equate it with the flu or a cold but with higher stakes.  I give it as much weight in self-identification as I do to my asthma.  It's not that I want to forget about it particularly, it's just that it takes more effort to get it to stick in my head than it does to let it slip out of my head.  It's more like, "Oh, yeah, that's right, I had cancer once...  hey, you want to go to the park?" As for helping others, I find that my views, my delivery and my words aren't always helpful, often create strife or discontent, and I'm not sure if I can add anything constructive to the dialogue anyway. In any case, there are plenty of other people here who can and do; one more (me) isn't necessary.  That said, I think that after a year (Sloan Kettering's criteria) I may see about volunteering there in a one-on-one capacity, not so much to help others, since I think there are plenty of people out there who "help" but because it might be a gratifying experience for me.