2 weeks after first chemo treatment

Yes, they fall out, but they
Yes, they fall out, but they don't fall out until way later, at least mine did, maybe close to the third one. What chemo are you getting? Are you doing A/C then Taxotere? I had 4 AC and then switched to Taxotere for 4 and my hair started to grow back on the Taxotere. And I've noticed that I am getting my eyelashes back.

I bought one of those eyebrow stencils and it really helped. I did notice that I have some tiny stubbles, so my eyebrows are starting to grow back now.

I also learned how to put false eyelashes on. I only wear them if I go out to dinner, and holidays, like at Christmas I wore them.

I cried like a baby when my hair fell out. I was in major denial and wouldn't look at myself. I'd run past mirrors, put make up on with the towel on my head, didn't let anyone see me like that... but eventually it "grew" on me and I became more comfortable with myself. My hair started to grow back before I got a true bald photo, so I'd better hurry up and get one here.

Good luck to you.

Hair loss
Yep, just had a third treatment (making it 3 weeks) my hair started falling out just after two weeks. No other hair loss yet though. Was kind of hoping it wouldn't but o'well.

chenheart said:

Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair,
Yes! Yes! Yes! Hair is hair, and pretty much anywhere you have it ( and I mean anywhere!) you won't! If you have not cut and then shaved your head with clippers, I sadly urge you to do so..hard and sad as it is for almost 100% of us. You cannot with any extra TLC stop your hair from coming out, it is an internal reaction to the chemotherapy. Aside from hair coming out everywhere; on your pillow, in the shower, all over the kitchen and dining room table, your scalp can become extremely tender. YOu know the feeling when you have left a too tight ponytail in way too long? That feeling! Cutting your hair off will almost instantly relieve that pressure.

I wish my Dr had told me EVERYTHING about the whole losing hair thing; it would have been less frightening and scary.

And, don't forget to drink lots and lots of water~ you need to keep hydrated and flush the chemo from your system.

Hugs,
Chen♥

Drinking Water
Yes, drinking plenty of water is a must. I feel that is why I am handling the treatments so well right now, other than the hair loss. So far I have had no ill side effects. So tiredness but that I think because i have been getting to bed late. I do need more sleep than before. Wanda

hair loss
Oh, I forget how your scalp will hurt for awhile. The pony tail pulled-to-tight is the best description. And wearing anything on your head for a few days makes it worse, as it tends to force the hair to lay in an unnatural growing position. If you can hang at the house, or under a baseball cap - no scarf like I did - I think your scalp will be much better for it. My hubby shaved me this weekend and the scalp doesn't hurt at all anymore. (It really only hurt if I touched it, or pulled out more hair. It didn't bother me constantly.)

jesse1313 said:

hair loss
Oh, I forget how your scalp will hurt for awhile. The pony tail pulled-to-tight is the best description. And wearing anything on your head for a few days makes it worse, as it tends to force the hair to lay in an unnatural growing position. If you can hang at the house, or under a baseball cap - no scarf like I did - I think your scalp will be much better for it. My hubby shaved me this weekend and the scalp doesn't hurt at all anymore. (It really only hurt if I touched it, or pulled out more hair. It didn't bother me constantly.)

Yeah, my scalp hurt and then
Yeah, my scalp hurt and then about a week later, day 16 after first chemo, my hair started falling out. I was in the hospital at the time for a fever and sinus infection, so I couldn't do much about it, but I wanted to go home so bad so I could cut my hair.

The wig people told me not to cut it shorter than an inch so it wouldn't be itchy under my wig.

The bad thing about that is that when it fell out into my chemo cap, it looked like my black cat had been lying on it! So much hair.

Oh well, it came out pretty fast.

But, on the other hand, once your treatments are done, your hair actually grows back pretty fast.

Rague said:

My hair was guite long -
My hair was guite long - almost to my waist before I started chemo but cut it much shorter (but not short) just before. I noticed it starting to come out a bit at day 12, day 14 hunks were coming out and day 16 Son used the clippers on the few hairs that were left (those very few hairs that didn't fall out never did - just remained as stubble but other areas [where you might shave or wax] all came out completely). While I was on A/C, I did not loose all my brows nor many of my lashes but as soon as I started Taxol those few came out almost immediately. 5 weeks after last Taxol some of brows are starting back

Lost my hair day 13...
Had it buzzed and felt like I had earned a "Badge of Courage". The rest of "everywhere" came out a little slower. Loved the Brazilian thing going on....but when the hair started growing back that is much faster than on my head! Didn't lose the eyebrows or lashes til after my 4th and final chemo. About 4 or 5 weeks after. That's when I lost it and cried like a baby. But we girls are lucky and eyeliner covers up the lack of lashes. I also wear glasses and that helped to I think. They are growing back slowly and are cute little stubbles. My last chemo was 12-11 by the way. When my hair first started growing back my scalp itched like crazy and my wig was unbearable for a couple of weeks. Now that I have longer stubble it's ok.

I can't belive how fast I got used to the whole no hair thing but I still cover up when someone comes over or I am out in public. I do not have a great looking head.

It's good that there are several of you going thru this at the same time, it helped me when I was going thru it and could read what the "chemo chicks" were feeling and could compare notes on rashes, dry skin etc.

Everyone here is great and so willing to help in any way they can, lots of great knowlege and love here.

Hugs, Judy :-)

Skeezie said:

Lost my hair day 13...
Had it buzzed and felt like I had earned a "Badge of Courage". The rest of "everywhere" came out a little slower. Loved the Brazilian thing going on....but when the hair started growing back that is much faster than on my head! Didn't lose the eyebrows or lashes til after my 4th and final chemo. About 4 or 5 weeks after. That's when I lost it and cried like a baby. But we girls are lucky and eyeliner covers up the lack of lashes. I also wear glasses and that helped to I think. They are growing back slowly and are cute little stubbles. My last chemo was 12-11 by the way. When my hair first started growing back my scalp itched like crazy and my wig was unbearable for a couple of weeks. Now that I have longer stubble it's ok.

I can't belive how fast I got used to the whole no hair thing but I still cover up when someone comes over or I am out in public. I do not have a great looking head.

It's good that there are several of you going thru this at the same time, it helped me when I was going thru it and could read what the "chemo chicks" were feeling and could compare notes on rashes, dry skin etc.

Everyone here is great and so willing to help in any way they can, lots of great knowlege and love here.

Hugs, Judy :-)

Brows - thought for those starting chemo
A thought for those starting chemo - even if you haven't lost your brows yet - start learning to draw them in NOW while they are still there. I went to a Look Good Feel Better class before anything started falling out. The booklet they gave point spots to use when drawing on brows - those points did not line up with my natural brows. I started drawing while brows were still there (and as they left) and got the 'feel' of the originals.

I started Taxol 5 weeks after the last A/C so maybe it was the ongoing effect of A/C that made the brows and lashes come out at that time and not yet the Taxol.