post frontline chemo update

Cucu me
Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member

One month after my "last" chemo NO single hair yet, anywhere......

Otherwise no change with the Neuropathy, not better not worse, headaches are less,

overall fine.

Keeping myself busy and distracted, so not to think about recurrence.

Comments

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    Cucu

    Anytime you can write "overall fine" it's a good sign.  And I'm happy to hear the headaches are less.  Are you still drinking the carrot juice for that?

    I will be curious to hear when your hair starts coming back in.  I have a friend who has only been out of chemo about 2 weeks and she tells me that she is beginning to see new hair already.  That seems awful soon to me.  I've heard at least 4 weeks.  Is that optimistic?  And does it vary depending on the type of chemo?

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    Hair

    Are you sick of hearing "Everyone is different"?!!  Well, it's true.  I am 5 + years out of chemo and have hair down to my waist, but very little on the top.  It started 10 DAYS after chemo stoped, with the stubble, but unbelievably thin.  Eye brows are there in spots and thin and what I miss the most is, I have NO eyelashes at all, not one and it's been five years.  I hope your's comes back, but don't be surprised if they don't.  On the up-side, I also have no under arm hair, pubic hair, or hair on my legs....Now if I could stop the stiff, white hair on my chin......! Best, Debra(Jo)

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    Editgrl said:

    Cucu

    Anytime you can write "overall fine" it's a good sign.  And I'm happy to hear the headaches are less.  Are you still drinking the carrot juice for that?

    I will be curious to hear when your hair starts coming back in.  I have a friend who has only been out of chemo about 2 weeks and she tells me that she is beginning to see new hair already.  That seems awful soon to me.  I've heard at least 4 weeks.  Is that optimistic?  And does it vary depending on the type of chemo?

    Editgrl,

    yes I'm drinking carrot juice daily, recently I decreased the quantity to about 100ml.

    My guess is that it helped when my blood counts were good or so-so, when they were extremely low it did not help.

    Then nothing helped, but the transfusion.

    For the hair, sure i'll keep you updated.

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    debrajo said:

    Hair

    Are you sick of hearing "Everyone is different"?!!  Well, it's true.  I am 5 + years out of chemo and have hair down to my waist, but very little on the top.  It started 10 DAYS after chemo stoped, with the stubble, but unbelievably thin.  Eye brows are there in spots and thin and what I miss the most is, I have NO eyelashes at all, not one and it's been five years.  I hope your's comes back, but don't be surprised if they don't.  On the up-side, I also have no under arm hair, pubic hair, or hair on my legs....Now if I could stop the stiff, white hair on my chin......! Best, Debra(Jo)

    Debrajo,

    omg, I was not freaking out about when exactly will have my hair back, but after your post I'm getting scared...

    What if I never get my hair, eye brows and eye lashes back?

     

    Thinking how to continue my posting positively I just realized, that my problem is to be alive, not the hair.

    Sorry it's hard to stay optimistic.

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    Cucu me said:

    Debrajo,

    omg, I was not freaking out about when exactly will have my hair back, but after your post I'm getting scared...

    What if I never get my hair, eye brows and eye lashes back?

     

    Thinking how to continue my posting positively I just realized, that my problem is to be alive, not the hair.

    Sorry it's hard to stay optimistic.

    hair

    Didn't mean to scare you!  Really, as my mother says"keep your eye on the prize"  getting rid of cancer!  Lots of products to help you look great.  Besutifyl wigs, hair pieces, learning to draw on eye brows, false eyelashes, ect!  It's all good, if you are alive and strong.  Don't apoligise to ME about being less than optomistic...I am the original "Debbie Downer, the black hole, the down and outer! Who cares if the world thinks I'm ugly as sin.....NED still loves me and for that I am HAPPY!  LOL! Best, Debra(Jo)

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    Editgrl said:

    Cucu

    Anytime you can write "overall fine" it's a good sign.  And I'm happy to hear the headaches are less.  Are you still drinking the carrot juice for that?

    I will be curious to hear when your hair starts coming back in.  I have a friend who has only been out of chemo about 2 weeks and she tells me that she is beginning to see new hair already.  That seems awful soon to me.  I've heard at least 4 weeks.  Is that optimistic?  And does it vary depending on the type of chemo?

    Hair

    I lost my hair 4 times now.  The 4th is just starting.  The other three times all st arted to come back at about 3 weeks with very fine fuzz.  I used to have thick, long red hair, straight as a pole.  Each time my hair came back in darker with a little blond sprinkled inbetween.  It was also soft and very curly, kind of ringlets.  My eyebrows and lashes also returned fairly quickly.  never got hair back any oher place.  Be patient it should return. Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    Lou Ann M said:

    Hair

    I lost my hair 4 times now.  The 4th is just starting.  The other three times all st arted to come back at about 3 weeks with very fine fuzz.  I used to have thick, long red hair, straight as a pole.  Each time my hair came back in darker with a little blond sprinkled inbetween.  It was also soft and very curly, kind of ringlets.  My eyebrows and lashes also returned fairly quickly.  never got hair back any oher place.  Be patient it should return. Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

    Thank you

    Lou Ann, very nice.

    I'll be patient and exactly I want only hair, brows and lashes no "the other places"

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    debrajo said:

    hair

    Didn't mean to scare you!  Really, as my mother says"keep your eye on the prize"  getting rid of cancer!  Lots of products to help you look great.  Besutifyl wigs, hair pieces, learning to draw on eye brows, false eyelashes, ect!  It's all good, if you are alive and strong.  Don't apoligise to ME about being less than optomistic...I am the original "Debbie Downer, the black hole, the down and outer! Who cares if the world thinks I'm ugly as sin.....NED still loves me and for that I am HAPPY!  LOL! Best, Debra(Jo)

    Debrajo,

    you are helpful as always and I love how you said it "Keep eyes on the prize"

    and also for being downer and outer. We are all like that and I think that's normal.

    We have more things to balance than the other people that's it, but we are capable of doing it,

    plus to enjoy and live in ful. Right?!?

  • survivingsu
    survivingsu Member Posts: 134 Member
    Cucu me said:

    Debrajo,

    you are helpful as always and I love how you said it "Keep eyes on the prize"

    and also for being downer and outer. We are all like that and I think that's normal.

    We have more things to balance than the other people that's it, but we are capable of doing it,

    plus to enjoy and live in ful. Right?!?

    Eyes on the prize - for sure!

    I like the eyes on the prize suggestion too.  I have found there are some things that just take a long time to improve after treatment.  This is what I have found in my experiences so far (no special order):

    1.  It took almost 2 years after treatment to feel back to normal with gastro/intestinal stuff

    2.  My hair came back about the same, but it is thinner on the top - that might just be regular aging and hereditary rather than cancer treatment, who knows.  As a side, my stupid wirey chin hairs remained through it all, even when I was completely bald twice, and had no eyelashes and half eyebrows!  I have my eyelashes and brows back, and unfortunately the chin hairs are as strong as ever.  I believe chin hairs will survive forever like cockroaches and rats...and taxes.  :0)

    3.  I had more aches and pains at first after treatment, especially knees and hips.  As I did more walking there were less aches, but it takes a long time and is rather subtle.

    4.  The same for tendons.

    5.  I'm convinced chemo really did a number on my teeth!  I had bad teeth to start with, since childhood.  I neglected them in later years, focusing on caring for my parents and then dealing with my own cancer.  Now I have to catch up, and after treatment I've found a sudden increase in dental issues.

    6.  My energy level was horrible after treatment, until they checked my thyroid and got that balanced.  Now, I feel like my usual self.

    7.  Trying to lose weight sucks rocks - probably due to a combination of heredity, age, and maybe the treatment.  I feel better, am good at walking better than I have in years, but the pounds remain

    8.  It's been 6 years since treatment now.  Some of it is just a blur.  I have found my outlook improves over time.  When I was newly finished with treatment I felt bad that my body had the cancer in the first place, almost ashamed for being the first in my family dealing with cancer, then I gradually changed my view and look at it more like - that I was lucky to survive and live in an age/location where treatment was possible.  I also have guilty feelings from time to time, not understanding why I survive and many really good people have not. 

    Sorry to ramble a bit, but I really wanted to let you know things change over time,

    All my best,

    Susan

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member

    Eyes on the prize - for sure!

    I like the eyes on the prize suggestion too.  I have found there are some things that just take a long time to improve after treatment.  This is what I have found in my experiences so far (no special order):

    1.  It took almost 2 years after treatment to feel back to normal with gastro/intestinal stuff

    2.  My hair came back about the same, but it is thinner on the top - that might just be regular aging and hereditary rather than cancer treatment, who knows.  As a side, my stupid wirey chin hairs remained through it all, even when I was completely bald twice, and had no eyelashes and half eyebrows!  I have my eyelashes and brows back, and unfortunately the chin hairs are as strong as ever.  I believe chin hairs will survive forever like cockroaches and rats...and taxes.  :0)

    3.  I had more aches and pains at first after treatment, especially knees and hips.  As I did more walking there were less aches, but it takes a long time and is rather subtle.

    4.  The same for tendons.

    5.  I'm convinced chemo really did a number on my teeth!  I had bad teeth to start with, since childhood.  I neglected them in later years, focusing on caring for my parents and then dealing with my own cancer.  Now I have to catch up, and after treatment I've found a sudden increase in dental issues.

    6.  My energy level was horrible after treatment, until they checked my thyroid and got that balanced.  Now, I feel like my usual self.

    7.  Trying to lose weight sucks rocks - probably due to a combination of heredity, age, and maybe the treatment.  I feel better, am good at walking better than I have in years, but the pounds remain

    8.  It's been 6 years since treatment now.  Some of it is just a blur.  I have found my outlook improves over time.  When I was newly finished with treatment I felt bad that my body had the cancer in the first place, almost ashamed for being the first in my family dealing with cancer, then I gradually changed my view and look at it more like - that I was lucky to survive and live in an age/location where treatment was possible.  I also have guilty feelings from time to time, not understanding why I survive and many really good people have not. 

    Sorry to ramble a bit, but I really wanted to let you know things change over time,

    All my best,

    Susan

    Half Eyebrows

    I have learned that having half eyebrows is often caused by hypothyroidism.  People who haven't had chemo but have had thyroid disease often have half eyebrows, too.  Chemo caused me to lose all my hair everywhere, and when it came back in, I only got half my eyebrows back.  I think I have a little less eyebrow hair than I did with the hypothyroidism alone.  The hair on my head came in fuzzy and wavier, plus a different color (more gray) about a month after chemo ended.  Now, it's straight and mostly brown.  I have blonde highlights in most of the places where I should have gray.  The gray I do have is underneath the other hair on one side only so it doesn't show much, which is nice. 

     

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    hair's growing

    Sisters,

    few days alerady and 5weeks after chemo#6 my hair started to grow, but still can not say color, structure, bald spots....

    Nowhere else yet...

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    Cucu me said:

    hair's growing

    Sisters,

    few days alerady and 5weeks after chemo#6 my hair started to grow, but still can not say color, structure, bald spots....

    Nowhere else yet...

    Wonderful hair

    That is truely exciting  It will get color as it grows longer.  Each time mine came back it started out almost transparent.  The 1st time it ended up almosy blond (I was a redhead) and very curly.  The next 2 times it was a little darker, but still curly. My hair had always been absolutely straight, so I thought the curls were extra special..  I had a lady from church tell me I was so lucky I didn't have to pay for my hairdo. LOL.  I miss my long thick red hair, but have exceped that that part of my life is gone.  Right now, my husband says my bald head is sexy. (He doesn't always tell the truth)

    Don't  worry about other areas, eye lashes and brows do come back, just a little slower,  Some ares don't come back  Yay! No shaving!

    Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

  • molimoli
    molimoli Member Posts: 514
    Can't add anything to the subject

    But  feel this overwhelming need to remind you all that I am praying ,wishing and hoping that your treatments will be successful and the NED blessings will be granted and stay for many , many years to come.

    I am sending comforting vibes. and hugging too, my sisters . Moli

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    Lou Ann M said:

    Wonderful hair

    That is truely exciting  It will get color as it grows longer.  Each time mine came back it started out almost transparent.  The 1st time it ended up almosy blond (I was a redhead) and very curly.  The next 2 times it was a little darker, but still curly. My hair had always been absolutely straight, so I thought the curls were extra special..  I had a lady from church tell me I was so lucky I didn't have to pay for my hairdo. LOL.  I miss my long thick red hair, but have exceped that that part of my life is gone.  Right now, my husband says my bald head is sexy. (He doesn't always tell the truth)

    Don't  worry about other areas, eye lashes and brows do come back, just a little slower,  Some ares don't come back  Yay! No shaving!

    Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

    Thank you

    Lou Ann , you are very nice and you made me smile.

    Your husband is nice guy too.

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    molimoli said:

    Can't add anything to the subject

    But  feel this overwhelming need to remind you all that I am praying ,wishing and hoping that your treatments will be successful and the NED blessings will be granted and stay for many , many years to come.

    I am sending comforting vibes. and hugging too, my sisters . Moli

    the eye brows started to grow too

    I don't see even with glasses,but my husband said the eye lashes showed too.

    Month and half after the chemo ended.