Did you lose all your hair?

Hissy_Fitz
Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I have had 3 carbol/taxol infusions. My hair began to shed 2 weeks into my first treatment. Thus far, I have lost about 2/3 - 3/4 of my hair. Before I started chemo I had it cut really short - Jamie Lee Curtis short - and it has not grown at all. Will the rest fall out as my treatment progresses? I still have eyebrowns and eye lashes, though they aren't as thick as before.

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    bare bare
    I lost all the hair on my whole body, it is the taxol, on carbo alone my hair stays. Maybe you well not lose it all as mine was gone by the second treatment. Hugs Bonnie
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #3
    My hair
    started falling out in gobbs at exacly 2 weeks. I shaved it all off at that point, and continued shaving the stubble in the shower for the smooth head look, until I no longer had to. I don't remember when that was. My eye lashes, eye brows and every hair on my body, including nose hairs all disappeared eventually. I did discover that there is a reason for nose hairs! They stop the drippy nose. And taxol did cause drippy nose syndrom for me.
    Wishing you the best on your carbo/taxol!
    kathleen:)
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #4
    all hair!
    By my second treatment I was wearing a wig. Very sparse hair on my head. I later lost the rest of the hair on my body. It was nice not having to think about shaving my legs for awhile. I finished my treatment mid April and I was shaving my legs by the time the summer months rolled in. I stopped wearing a wig in June with very little regrowth on my head.
  • Mawty
    Mawty Member Posts: 133
    #5
    Hair loss
    I lost all my hair after 7 days, and then I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes and all my other body hair. The worst was the eyelashes. I finished IV chemo in July and still am on an oral chemo for a year, and my hair has grown in very patchy, and I lost my eyelashes again. So I'm still wearing a wig and shaving my hair really short. I think men have it easy. I love taking a shower and just drying my head off with a towel. That's all there is to it!
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #6
    My experience
    I lost shaved my hair after the first dose and started buying wigs and scarfs so I do not know how fast carbo/taxol would have done their job. By the second treatment I had lost all body hair. I took a low dose of taxol for 11 months after receiving 9 full doses of carbo/taxol so my hair did not grow back for almost two years. It has now as well as the eyelashes and eyebrows (those were the first I notices cominb back.
    I have thinned on the 5 doses of carbo this time but not enough to go back to a wig unless I need a hair do for something. In the winter I had to sleep in a cap because my head got really cold. Saundra
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #7
    Mom lost every last bit of hair
    She draws on her eye brows!!
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #8
    Lisa13Q said:

    Mom lost every last bit of hair
    She draws on her eye brows!!

    Losing your hair
    I am 2 weeks into my 1st treatment of carbotaxol and I have just washed my hair and found hair blocking the plug so I guess mine is coming out. I have been advised by my hairdresser that if you get it shaved off rather than letting it fall out in clumps, then when it grows back it will be more even.

    I am OK about losing my hair cos I have a fab wig, but what about eye lashes? Help - has anyone got any tips with make up. I am a bit vain & when you have no hair make up is really important. So please if anyone has found something to help please let me know.

    Thanks Tina xx
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #9
    Tina Brown said:

    Losing your hair
    I am 2 weeks into my 1st treatment of carbotaxol and I have just washed my hair and found hair blocking the plug so I guess mine is coming out. I have been advised by my hairdresser that if you get it shaved off rather than letting it fall out in clumps, then when it grows back it will be more even.

    I am OK about losing my hair cos I have a fab wig, but what about eye lashes? Help - has anyone got any tips with make up. I am a bit vain & when you have no hair make up is really important. So please if anyone has found something to help please let me know.

    Thanks Tina xx

    TINA: eye makeup tips for bald eyes
    Tina, be sure and sign up for the American Cancer Society's free 'Look Good, Feel Better' workshop. They gave you very (VERY!) nice makeup to take home and a let of tips on how to draw on eyebrows and enhance your eyes. I was totally bald all over my body for 7 long months with my initial 6 cycles of carbo/taxol. Now I am on weekly taxol for my recurrance, with 2 infusions thus far, and my hair is still hanging on but looks dull, so it may not be much longer.

    I had trouble with regular kohl pencil eyeliner, so I bought eyeshadow in very dark shades of navy and brown, and I used the side of the little sponge brush that comes with the eye shadow to 'line' under the outer parts of my lash line with the dark shadow. Then I used a pale shiny yellow on my upper lids and right under my brow bone. I used the lightest shade of brown eyebrow pencil I could find, lighter than my natural brows are, but more forgiving of my clumsy drawing-on efforts. I used a light shade of cover-up blended into just the dark circles under my eyes, and a brighter cherry shade of blush and lip color than I ordinarily would have to really brightened up my face. I convinced nyself that bright lipstick, big earrings, and an even bigger SMILE would make up for the bald head. I looked a little goofy, but I don't think I looked SICK when I was all painted up, and that did wonders for my family.
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #10
    Tina Brown said:

    Losing your hair
    I am 2 weeks into my 1st treatment of carbotaxol and I have just washed my hair and found hair blocking the plug so I guess mine is coming out. I have been advised by my hairdresser that if you get it shaved off rather than letting it fall out in clumps, then when it grows back it will be more even.

    I am OK about losing my hair cos I have a fab wig, but what about eye lashes? Help - has anyone got any tips with make up. I am a bit vain & when you have no hair make up is really important. So please if anyone has found something to help please let me know.

    Thanks Tina xx

    trying not to look sick
    Hi Tina, I didn't mind loosing my hair, but loosing eyelashes and eyebrows meant I really looked like a chemo patient and a bit sick. I broke down and got permanent eye brows. (I found a lady who had a special technique that made them really look natural.) I did use the fake eyelashes for going out or special occasions but never really mastered the skill to the point of wanting to take 30 minutes or more to use them everyday. My wig was very short and actually looked very much like my hair style, so I could actually pass for "normal" if I took time and effort.

    Wishing you the best,
    Kathleen:)
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #11
    Tina Brown said:

    Losing your hair
    I am 2 weeks into my 1st treatment of carbotaxol and I have just washed my hair and found hair blocking the plug so I guess mine is coming out. I have been advised by my hairdresser that if you get it shaved off rather than letting it fall out in clumps, then when it grows back it will be more even.

    I am OK about losing my hair cos I have a fab wig, but what about eye lashes? Help - has anyone got any tips with make up. I am a bit vain & when you have no hair make up is really important. So please if anyone has found something to help please let me know.

    Thanks Tina xx

    Painted Lady
    I used more eyeliner than usual. Sometimes I used a slanted brush and dark eye shadow for a thin line. I did try some paste on false eyelashes but without any real ones, I found it to hard to get on straight. I have really blonde eyebrows anyway, so continued to draw them on.
    Most people were kind and said they didn't eve notice behind my glasses. It was great not having to shave my legs to there are pluses. Saundra
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #12
    saundra said:

    Painted Lady
    I used more eyeliner than usual. Sometimes I used a slanted brush and dark eye shadow for a thin line. I did try some paste on false eyelashes but without any real ones, I found it to hard to get on straight. I have really blonde eyebrows anyway, so continued to draw them on.
    Most people were kind and said they didn't eve notice behind my glasses. It was great not having to shave my legs to there are pluses. Saundra

    I have a great wig, too. I
    I have a great wig, too. I opted for human hair, since my insurance paid for it. I chose a color very similar to what my hair was, pre-chemo, and had the wig cut and styled from a photo I took with me to the hairdresser/wig salesperson.

    If you search for my name on Face Book (Carlene Mullins), you can see some pictures. All the Christmas photos were taken with my wig on.

    I have my next treatment on the 28th and I think I will ask my doctor if it's unusual not to lose all one's hair with the carbol/taxol cocktail.

    Not only has my hair ceased to grow, but my fingernails have grown only a tiny bit since the third week of October - so going on two months.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #13
    Tina Brown said:

    Losing your hair
    I am 2 weeks into my 1st treatment of carbotaxol and I have just washed my hair and found hair blocking the plug so I guess mine is coming out. I have been advised by my hairdresser that if you get it shaved off rather than letting it fall out in clumps, then when it grows back it will be more even.

    I am OK about losing my hair cos I have a fab wig, but what about eye lashes? Help - has anyone got any tips with make up. I am a bit vain & when you have no hair make up is really important. So please if anyone has found something to help please let me know.

    Thanks Tina xx

    Tina
    For me, being 41, losing my eyebrows and lashes were a bigger issue then losing my hair. I too thought it was fun to wear wigs for awhile. When I noticed my eyelashes were falling out I stopped wearing mascara unless absolutely necessary. Eyelash extenstions will not work because they have to attach to your natural eyelash. Once they fell out I bought fake lashes. I personally found them a pain to put on but totally necessary. With no lashes or brows I looked like an alien. So, I used fake eyelashes and I used brow shadow for my eyebrows as a pencil looked too severe. I bought eyebrow templates at the drug store to help guide the shape. The fake eyelashes really did look great when they were on. They gave my upper lid a nice eyeliner look too.
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #14
    nancy591 said:

    Tina
    For me, being 41, losing my eyebrows and lashes were a bigger issue then losing my hair. I too thought it was fun to wear wigs for awhile. When I noticed my eyelashes were falling out I stopped wearing mascara unless absolutely necessary. Eyelash extenstions will not work because they have to attach to your natural eyelash. Once they fell out I bought fake lashes. I personally found them a pain to put on but totally necessary. With no lashes or brows I looked like an alien. So, I used fake eyelashes and I used brow shadow for my eyebrows as a pencil looked too severe. I bought eyebrow templates at the drug store to help guide the shape. The fake eyelashes really did look great when they were on. They gave my upper lid a nice eyeliner look too.

    Hair today gone tomorrow !
    Thank-you so much to all of you lovely ladies for replying. All of your tips and advice will be so useful. I did think about getting some fake eye lashes but didn't know if they will stick if I didn't have any eye lashes to stick them to. I love wearing make up so I think I will concentrate on dark eye shadow and liners. I might treat myself & go to a beautician for advise. I live in the Uk & I know my hospital does something called "look good feel better" where they give chemo patients advice & help with beauty so I will search this out. I think they also give you free samples as well :)

    My wig is lovely but think it needs modifying a bit because it looks too perfect if you know what I mean.

    Did any of you have your head shaved before it all fell out? Just wondered how you felt about it. I don't think I can bear it & feel inclined to just wait & let it all fall out on its own.

    Look foward to your replies, much love Tina xx
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #15
    Tina Brown said:

    Hair today gone tomorrow !
    Thank-you so much to all of you lovely ladies for replying. All of your tips and advice will be so useful. I did think about getting some fake eye lashes but didn't know if they will stick if I didn't have any eye lashes to stick them to. I love wearing make up so I think I will concentrate on dark eye shadow and liners. I might treat myself & go to a beautician for advise. I live in the Uk & I know my hospital does something called "look good feel better" where they give chemo patients advice & help with beauty so I will search this out. I think they also give you free samples as well :)

    My wig is lovely but think it needs modifying a bit because it looks too perfect if you know what I mean.

    Did any of you have your head shaved before it all fell out? Just wondered how you felt about it. I don't think I can bear it & feel inclined to just wait & let it all fall out on its own.

    Look foward to your replies, much love Tina xx

    I don't plan to shave my head
    At this point I still have bangs in front a fringe at the back, plus some sideburns that peek out from under my hats. Makes me look less like a cancer patient.
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #16
    Tina Brown said:

    Hair today gone tomorrow !
    Thank-you so much to all of you lovely ladies for replying. All of your tips and advice will be so useful. I did think about getting some fake eye lashes but didn't know if they will stick if I didn't have any eye lashes to stick them to. I love wearing make up so I think I will concentrate on dark eye shadow and liners. I might treat myself & go to a beautician for advise. I live in the Uk & I know my hospital does something called "look good feel better" where they give chemo patients advice & help with beauty so I will search this out. I think they also give you free samples as well :)

    My wig is lovely but think it needs modifying a bit because it looks too perfect if you know what I mean.

    Did any of you have your head shaved before it all fell out? Just wondered how you felt about it. I don't think I can bear it & feel inclined to just wait & let it all fall out on its own.

    Look foward to your replies, much love Tina xx

    your regular stylist will help
    When my mother's hair came out in gobs, we went to her regular stylist and had her head shaved and the wig styled. The stylist kindly turned mom around so she didn't have to watch the shave in the mirror. The next thing she knew, the wig was on and she looked great.

    Did you get a wig cap? They are like tight nylon stockings, and they will make the wig feel much tighter on your head. Less shifty.

    BTW, mom gets the prescription eyedrops for glaucoma prevention that are the same deal as Latrisse (sp?), which Brooke Shields is advertising. It really made her eyelashes grow back fast after chemo -- much faster than her other hair!
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #17
    Tina Brown said:

    Hair today gone tomorrow !
    Thank-you so much to all of you lovely ladies for replying. All of your tips and advice will be so useful. I did think about getting some fake eye lashes but didn't know if they will stick if I didn't have any eye lashes to stick them to. I love wearing make up so I think I will concentrate on dark eye shadow and liners. I might treat myself & go to a beautician for advise. I live in the Uk & I know my hospital does something called "look good feel better" where they give chemo patients advice & help with beauty so I will search this out. I think they also give you free samples as well :)

    My wig is lovely but think it needs modifying a bit because it looks too perfect if you know what I mean.

    Did any of you have your head shaved before it all fell out? Just wondered how you felt about it. I don't think I can bear it & feel inclined to just wait & let it all fall out on its own.

    Look foward to your replies, much love Tina xx

    couldn't either
    I, being a bit vain myself, couldn't bring myself to shave or cut it short prior to treatment. I found that it got very sparse and really scraggly looking. I was wearing a wig full time within 3 weeks of my first treatment but couldn't shave my head. Pieces of hair would sometimes hang out from under my favorite wig (a victoria beckman style). That is when I decided to have it cut. My hairstylist cut my hair very short. It was sort of a relief and did look less pittiful then the strands of hair I had left hanging on. My kids HATEF me wearing a wig a first. They would rather me wear a cap. They gradually adjusted. People would compliment me on my hair all the time not knowing it was a wig. A hairdresser even complimented me not knowing. Visit my facebook site Nancy Rosson Kavleski. I have lots of pics of me before I was diagnosed. I LOVED my hair.
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #18
    nancy591 said:

    couldn't either
    I, being a bit vain myself, couldn't bring myself to shave or cut it short prior to treatment. I found that it got very sparse and really scraggly looking. I was wearing a wig full time within 3 weeks of my first treatment but couldn't shave my head. Pieces of hair would sometimes hang out from under my favorite wig (a victoria beckman style). That is when I decided to have it cut. My hairstylist cut my hair very short. It was sort of a relief and did look less pittiful then the strands of hair I had left hanging on. My kids HATEF me wearing a wig a first. They would rather me wear a cap. They gradually adjusted. People would compliment me on my hair all the time not knowing it was a wig. A hairdresser even complimented me not knowing. Visit my facebook site Nancy Rosson Kavleski. I have lots of pics of me before I was diagnosed. I LOVED my hair.

    Don't want to shave my head
    I too am vain about my hair - it was always my crowning glory. My husband said he would shave it but I am determined to hold off as long as possible. I am taking my wig to my hairdresser who trained to cut wigs and hair extensions so I am lucky as I think she will make a good job. I am just managing to hold onto my hair day by day but I fear it will soon all drop out -I think I will wake up one morning and be completely bald!!!!! am going away for christmas so I am hoping it holds off until I get back. But I will take my wig with me just in case. You can visit my facebook as I too have pictures of my hair both long and short (as I had it cut short 2 weeks ago in readiness for it coming out)I am Tina Brown Nottingham in the UK.

    I wish all you lovely ladies a happy christmas xxxxx Tina

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