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Posted 12/11/2005 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone

 

Just wanted to know if any of you had your hair come back in during Taxol. I had just a thin covering of blond peach fuzz before Taxol and now I have a 5 oclock shadow!!!!! It is coming in very fast, dark and curly. I have auburn hair and totally straight normally. Im very excited about it I figured that I would not have hair until March. I hope it does not fall out again before Im done with Taxol. I missed my treatment this week so I still have 3 to go. It is so wierd that I would loose my lashes and brows but grow head hair, Oh yeah it is growing back in my under arms too    :( :( Yuck I have not had to shave in months. I would gladly shave my armpits to get hair on my head again :) I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

Posted 12/11/2005 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
WhooHoo! Hair on your head. What a great Christmas gift!!! I can't explain why you lose your lashes yet the hair on your head grows while taking taxol. The same thing happened to me. I would imagine that your hair will be very curly now. Before chemo, I had very, very curly hair. Always dreamed of having straight hair. Well, my dream came true and I have to admit, that I hated my hair being straight. Not one bit of curl in it. Since I have been on the herceptin and navelbine, some curl has come back. Enjoy watching your hair grow. BTW, I don't know if you had any lymph nodes removed but if you did, then don't shave under the arm you had them removed from. Be very, very careful.

Hugs..Deb

Posted 12/11/2005 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, mine started growing back as soon as I started taxol, but my lashes and brows really thinned. Hope it comes in beautifully...

Hugs,
Julie
Posted 12/12/2005 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Deb & Julie

I just noticed that my lashes are coming back too! I can't believe it maybe it is an early christmas present. Maybe by Feb I will have enough hair on my head to keep it warm. I still see some grey in it, I was hoping to loose that LOL. Thank goodness for Taxol I missed my hair and lashes.

Deb
I had Lymph nodes taken out and my Dr said the same thing to be very careful with shaving. My scar is down a little further and off to the side so I dont think it will be too much trouble.
Posted 12/13/2005 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Taxotere and my hair started growing slowly during treatment.  It came back curly, gray and thicker.  I finally colored it.  I didn't actually lose all my hair, but shaved it so the wig was more comfortable.  I ended chemo on Apr 25 and was able to ditch the wig by the first week of June.  It was short, but cute.  I don't really remember when the eyelashes and eyebrows were back to normal.
Posted 12/13/2005 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Kathy

Thanks for the input. I have been very surprised by all of this, I thought I would have to wait until all of the treatments were done to get hair again. I noticed that my head is stinging again which means it will start growing again. My lashes are coming in pretty fast too. How long did you wait to color it? I have alot more grey coming in now and I will want to get rid of that. It sounds like your hair came back in quickly, how long was it when you got rid of the wig?

On another note my hubby has a very sore shoulder since his surgery, he thinks that something is broken in there. I tried to take him to the clinic yesterday but he wont even try to get out of bed. He has been in the same bed since coming home, I tried to get him up again yesterday to get in the tub but he wouldnt. I think he is depressed about all of this but Im not sure what to do for him. any suggestions?
Posted 12/14/2005 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
So what is the best way to grow in hair? Mine has been growing in, but so sparsely that I just shave it. Otherwise i look like the poster child for people with very short, very sparse mohawks.ick. Should I just keep shaving it until it starts coming in thicker? or just keep letting it grow, and wait for a hairstylist to figure it out?

chantry
Posted 12/14/2005 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Bernadette, I, too, got a little "white" hair just after taxol ended. Eye lashes and "dark" hair started on August 1st and by the 31st I had full lashes and brows. They came back really quickly. I, too, lost head hair, lashes and brows twice. Had my first haircut just before around Nov 1st. It was great -- took my wig off and have never looked back. My hair is a little longer and is now "darkening" from the gray, so I am going to wait a little while before I color. I am very excited for you, Katt and Chantry -- Chantry, try to let your hair fill in instead of shaving it. It will take a couple of months, but you will be happy in the end, and then a stylist can figure out what to do.

Love to all.

Judy
Posted 12/14/2005 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

Chantry: I agree w/ what Judy said. Don't shave your hair. Think of your hair like that of a new baby. You know how wierd a baby's hair can grow, well your hair is having to do the same thing. Just try and be patient. It will come in nice and full.

Deb

Posted 12/14/2005 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Oh no, don't shave it again.  Let it grow.  It will be thin at first, but give it time.  I ended chemo in April and stopped wearing the wig in June.  It had been growing slowly since about January, very shortly after I shaved it. 

 

I didn't color it until about a month ago.  I don't even use a blow dryer.  I like the messed up look.  I had my first hair cut in Oct., I think.  I need another one. 

 

Bernadette.....my husband's shoulder also was sore for a very long time.  It is probably that he tried to stop his fall and pulled something.  I had to bug my DH to have it looked at, but the doctor didn't think anything was broken.  Please tell your DH that lying in bed will just make him weaker.  It is very difficult, but that won't help.  If he would like to talk to my DH to compare notes, just let me know.  He's going through exactly what mine did, so maybe it will help.  Yes, my DH was depressed, too.  Take care.

Posted 12/14/2005 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Hi guys, so happy to hear that your hair is coming in Bernadette. I'm glad to say mine is in, gray and very short but it's there. I'll probably continue to wear my wig at work but I can't wait to get it off at the end of the day. My hair is thick enough that it makes my head hurt to wear a wig. I wear a cap when I can.

Nights get cold don't they...hair is definitely more than just for looks in Colorado. My head gets cold enough that I'm putting a warm robe around the top to keep the heat in.

I'm puzzled by everyone's comments about growing hair while on Taxol - I lost every and I stress every hair I had while taking it. I've been off since October and just know getting hair. Wow, it's so different for everyone.

Don't know if any of you can relate but I'm in a bit of a funk... scared about a recurrence and trying to be upbeat and positive and grateful at the same time. I will have a PET scan the 27th and I'm sure that has something to do with all of this. I'm dreading it and wanting it all at the same time.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone else who's feeling the same.

Hugs from,

Donna

Posted 12/15/2005 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Donna,

 

I felt that way right after all the treatments ended.  It took about a month or so to kind of get back to 'normal'.  What helped me was having a new goal in life - going back to school.  You need something to distract you and keep your mind off of it.  It's perfectly normal to feel that way, though.  Just don't let it overtake you.  Take care.

Posted 12/15/2005 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chantry, Judy, Deb, Kathy & Donna


Thanks to all of you for the posts. First of all Chantry I have never shaved my hair completly I have always at least a thin layer of peach fuzz. Are you on Taxol now too? I would say just let it grow, my wig does not bother me with the amount of hair I have. I don't know if shaving it will make it grow faster but if it is anything like your leg hair it will.

Donna

So glad to hear from you again. I was starting to worry about you. Im so sorry that you lost ALL of your hair during Taxol. I understand about the "funk" that you are in I had chemo today and we discussed my options after chemo. I still have my ovaries and that has been a concern to me. I was pre menopausal before all of this but will be tested after my last chemo to see where I'm at. She said that we will either take them out or put me on drugs to keep the estrogen from producing. I also have the concerns with the lungs and spleen to deal with and 6 weeks of rads too. Im scared that I will have to do more chemo I have 3 more to go I should have been done next week but have had to miss a few weeks here and there.

Back to the hair issue my hair is darker on top than it is on the sides they have much more grey. I don't care what color I'm just happy to be getting it back in. It has that stinging feeling it had before I lost it, I guess that is an indication of new hair. From what all of you have said it only takes about 2 months for it to grow enough to ditch the wig YEAH. I can stand it during work but as soon as Im in my car off it comes.

Kathy

FINALLY got hubby out of bed last night and back into the real world. I nagged long enough for it to sink in that he needs to move to help it heal. My Dr said that there is that chance of blood clots too without movement.

I have finally got the Christmas itch!!!! I went shopping and crossed alot of people off my list. I'am making my chex party mix right now and will start on my special cookies later. I make sugar cookies and decorate them for friends family and my guys at work. I also make chocolate peanut butter cookies that are great. The sugar cookies have been a holiday tradition since my daughter was little, now that she is grown I have the step kids help. They enjoy the decorating.

Love & hugs to all of you!
Posted 12/15/2005 5:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kathy and Bernadette... thanks for responding -- I love having someone to talk to who understands. I sometimes think that people in my life get tired of me talking about all of this, I don't share my feelings as often as I'd like because of it.

Kathy you're so right - when I'm busy I don't dwell on all of this negativity. I find that night time is the worst especially if I see or hear about someone dying from cancer. I really get worked up but I'm trying to give myself a break. I think having cancer twice in 17 months has made me more scared of another recurrence than I would be if I'd had a couple of years between. I'm sure I'll feel better after I have the PET scan.

Bernadette you make me laugh because that's exactly what I do -- as soon as I get in the car off comes the wig! I work in a small office (5 people) and I'm starting to take my wig off in the afternoon and wear my cap. By 2:00 I've had it and they all understand.

I haven't been on the site for awhile and I missed hearing from you too. Sounds like you're getting through all of this with flying colors! Hooray for you. Tell me about the ovary stuff. I know that breast cancer survivors have a higher incident of ovarian cancer but is your doctor recommending surgery? And what's going on with your lungs and your spleen?

As far as the radiation goes -- what I determined was it's not as bad as the chemo, but it does wear a person down to have to go EVERY DAY. I should tell you that my first visit was hard on me. I had no clue as to what to expect plus the room where the machine is was a little overwhelming, and everyone has to be out of there when you get your treatment. That scared me and I actually cried, boy did I feel dumb. It doesn't hurt when they do it and my techs were so patient that they took extra time to explain all of it so I wouldn't be frightened.

On a high note -- I'm grateful to have another Christmas to share and I'm going crazy decorating my house. I love all of the lights and decorations!

You guys are the greatest! Thanks for being there.

Love,

Donna

Posted 12/15/2005 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so I'll be leaving the hair alone - it's still growing, but it might fall out again since I just had my first Taxol??
Actually, the taxol (so far) has been a breeze! It's only been two days, but I didn't have any nausea, or the debilitating fatigue that I had with my last AC. I do have a bit of bone pain, but I'll take pain over exhaustion any day!Am I jumping the gun on celebrating? Do taxol side effects hit you a little later? I'm really hoping that i'm through the worst of it.

Donna, I find myself looking through the obituaries in my local newspaper, looking at ages of people who have passed, and trying to determine if it was cancer that took them. Morbid huh. i don't know why I do it, but I understand your fear of recurrance. I'm sure that everyone here does.

Christmas is going to be very special this year - DD's first! She loves all the lights on the tree - her eyes light up, and she loves touching it. She's sitting up by herself, and EVERYTHING is going into her mouth. Fortunately she is now down to only one feeding per night, so we are getting a bit more sleep around here.

I hope that everyone has a restful holiday. Thank-you so much for be here. I've said this before, but it's true - I don't know how I would have gotten through this time without you wonderful ladies!

Love
Chantry
Posted 12/15/2005 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Chantry, glad your Christmas is looking up. Yes, the Taxol may get your hair again, but just leave it alone. It will grow. As for Taxol, I breezed through it, no nausea ever and fatigue after the VERY last one. It was just EASY. I also found during this time that the stronger tasting foods that I ate caused less metallic and yucky taste in my mouth. So try going with spagetti, then tacos, mexican, etc. It really helped me a lot. I have been hesitant to mention this before because on A/C I was afraid of a yucky tummy, and I did not want to give any newbies a queasy stomach.

Hoping you have a really festive holiday!
Judy
Posted 12/16/2005 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Donna

Im so happy that you are back and posting again, I worry when someone is gone for awhile. I wrote about my ovaries because I have had a hysterectomy and I had the Dr leave my overies because of the amount of cancer in my family and I did not want to go on hormones. My Dr agreed that starting hormones at 40 would be asking to get cancer. I was estrogen positive and ovaries produce estrogen so that is not a good combo.
I did not realize that you had a recurrance within 17 months, I have to admit that is one of my biggest fears. As for my lungs I don't know if you remember when I went to the pulmonary Dr to rule out the spots and he concluded that they were most probably cancer. My onc said that we would do further tests after my chemo. I don't know if you remeber but I had written about this a couple months ago, my pulmonary Dr called me at home on a saturday night with the news, I was pretty upset at first but have come to deal with it now.

Donna, Chantra & Judy

I have to admit the Taxol is much easier than AC and my hair starting growing in as fast as my lashes and brows fell out. The worst part is the body aches. I would do Taxol over AC anyday. Chantry there is no nausea at all during Taxol I have not had to take anti nausea drugs in a long time. I know you will find it much easier. I have to agree with Judy on the food issue during Taxol, I eat Tacos almost everyday and they work great for me.

Happy holidays to all of you
Posted 12/22/2005 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I have nubs on my head. My last chemo will be 12/29, hopefully it will be all uphill from there. I never shaved my head either. I still won't look at myself in the mirror, I may take a REALLY quick look and that's it. This has still been the hardest part for me. I do have a few strands on each side at the sideburn area. I can't wait for it to grow in long enough not to wear a wig and start coloring it again. I found out today that my red cells were down so they gave me some shot. I missed 4 days of work last week because I felt so awful and out of energy, not that I had that much energy to begin with, but tkaes everything I have just to walk upstairs and down.

Posted 12/23/2005 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Katt

Im glad that your hair is starting to come back in. If you are like me it will grow fast during Taxol. Im sorry you have been feeling bad, just remember that the end of the AC is the worst it gets, Taxol is so much easier. Take care of yourself and take time to enjoy the season.

Merry Christmas to you my friend.
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