Hi Suzanne- you asked about other people’s experience of grow-back when they were on Arimidex. I had not actually connected the two issues but have been on Arimidex for 9 months now and my own hair is taking a VERY long time to grow back. I am over 60 and my hair had already started to become a bit thinner on top …but since FEC and Tax I have been wearing my wig for nearly a year- and can’t see myself being happy without it for at least another 3 months.
I do go wigless sometimes but feel really unhappy about anyone except my nearest and dearest seeing me whilst so much of my pink pate is visible!
I found losing my hair was one of the worst aspects of the whole BC experience & not properly recognised as such by many of the professionals. Although my wig is excellent - and in many ways actually looks better than my own hair(!!) I live in hopes that it will eventually recover …although in my bleaker moments I do begin to doubt …
Sorry if this is not very encouraging- most people do seem to have hair again within 4 or5 months: I guess I am just unlucky. However, in other respects, although unhappy re the Arimidex side effects (joints pains & hot flushes causing disturbed sleep) I actually feel really good again (I’m now 15 months post-diagnosis) and have regained all of my old energy- both mental and physical.
I’m just about to have my 5th FEC treatment on Friday.
My hair started to fall out 2 weeks after my first chemo. Ironically I was due to be doing a reading in the church at my cousin’s daughters wedding 2 days after it started to shed! Sheer willpower alone kept enough of it in on the day - however fuelled by much champagne I was handing tufts of the damn stuff out with the wedding favours by the evening!!! By the next morning the bed looked like something akin to the Shroud of Turin - that day a friend shaved it all off.
I had bought a wig in anticipation of the event, but for some reason (I really can’t explain properly!)said wig has never been on my head. I really dont feel the need to wear it and am not embarrased or shy about being out & about. It is an incredible time for all of us but also a journey of self discovery - I was delighted to discover (after 45 years) that I hadn’t been the result of botched forceps delivery & my head was a reasonable shape!!
I guess my advice is always go with what’s comfortable for you, for some it’s bandanas & others its a wig - my personal preference is nothing at all - after all blokes have been doing it for years and we look far more attractive than they do anyway!!!
I hope everything goes very well & look forward to hearing how you are getting on.
Hi ladies,
Well I am only 24 hours into my first chemo so no hair loss as yet but over the last few years it has been thinning due to menopause and the stress of the last few months. Although I am very positive through all this, I am convinced my body is going to get it wrong and when it does grow back it will be on the wrong end of my face and I shall be a bearded baldy lady!!! Better get used to wearing my wig.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
i was like suzanne when my hair fell out… i thought it was quite funny and my sister shaved it off and we had such a laugh… my mum and partner on the other hand were both freaked out about it.
for me losing my hair wasnt really an issue but i know for many women its the most traumatic part of treatment…
my hair was shoulder length before diagnosis and then i chopped it off my self into a short bob after diagnosis. it started to get really sore about day 12 a few days before it fell out and was all lying the wrong way so chopped it even shorter till it was just a couple of inches long.
when it started falling out more (day 15) my sis shaved it to a No 6 all over and then to a No 0 (day 18) all over when it was falling out in clumps.
my chemo its 4xepi 4 xcmf… its the epi that makes it come out and due to have 2nd cmf tomorrow and hair is starting to come back in a tiny bit on my head but eyebrows still falling out.
i have a really cute wig but dont wear it much tend to wear hats and scarves but usually just go commando LOL… and if i get too hot i just whip it off but then im a bit of an extrovert… if people look at me its their problem not mine!
the things i wasnt prepared for was how sore my head would be when it fell out and the fact that it fell out of my foof before my head… and worst of all i still had to shave my legs!!!
I have four eyelashes! Only you ladies will really understand what a glorious moment this is. They may be only 2mm long at the moment, but hey, we have to start somewhere!
Hi ladies,
I am only 10 days into my first FEC so still have all my hair.
Susanne you must be really pleased, I guess we don’t notice our eyelashes that much unless putting mascara on. Has it been a real problem not having any and is it uncomfortable when they start coming back. Hope you don’t mind me asking!!!
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Hi ladies, just to say Suzanne A, I know the feeling when hair reappears, however small the amount. I was over the moon when my nasal hair came back!!! I had struggled with the runny eyes (no eyelashes) but having a runny nose as well took the biscuit. When it came back I breathed a sigh of relief as I’d been told that when the nasal hair starts to reappear it’s a good indicator that it’ll return everywhere else. Having said that, I still have no underarm hair, either on my op side or the good side, no complaints there though! (I’m 6mths post FEC T chemo) Head hair is growing, too slowly for my liking but just grateful that it has returned. Lots of luck to all you ladies with your treatment. Pat x
Just to say that for me losing my hair wasnt the big deal i thought it would be. I dont like the way it looks, but it is growing back at speed. It seems to have a lot more grey (honest!!) and its quite wavy. (Chemo finished in June.)
Losing eyelashes and eyebrows now that was more of a problem because it made me look ill. However, they were the first thing to grow back.
I have no hair under my left arm but its been cut and burnt to bits so didnt expect it.
Good luck all of those who are undergoing treatment.
Lucky you Linda ! I have much less hair than you have on your photo and it is 10 months since I finished treatment. Guess my age is against me !(I’m 66) I would certainly not go out without my wig though I don’t wear it indoors - to encourage the hair to reach for the light!
Hi girls,
Day 12 of first FEC and my hair is starting to come out of my head. I thought I may have kept it a bit longer and I was hoping it would be my underarms or bikini area etc first. Still I have been very lucky so far with side effects so perhaps my hair is going to pay the price. Well the wig will def come out now. Will it be the eyebrows/eyelashes next?
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
It hasn’t been too much of a problem not having eyelashes - wearing glasses gives my eyes some protection. Certainly no discomfort with them growing back - I now have quite a few, but still very short. Eyebrows are doing great - which is nice, because I always think eyebrows give your face definition, and it looks odd without them. Little sign of action “elsewhere.”
On my head, I have a nice fluffy growth on top now, but can still see my scalp. Quite bald on the crown area, but there does seem to be a bit of growth. It’s eleven weeks since last chemo - I’m getting so fed up with being patient!
Cass, I was interested in what you said about nasal hair - it’s hard to be sure, you have to catch it at just the right angle, in the right light, but I think it’s there! OH was very puzzled what I was up to!
I just found this forum and thought I’d add a comment on my experience. I’m in my early 60s and finished chemo (FEC & Docetaxol) just about 2 years ago. I also had radiotherapy. My bikini hair went first and then 2 days later my head hair all fell out in the shower one morning just after my second chemo. What a shock - I just didn’t expect it to be that quick! I never wore a wig (I hated the feel of it) but had loads of scarves and bandanas. So many that people at work used to pop in to see what colour I was wearing today. It took about 6 months after chemo finished before I had enough hair to go out without a hat, but I gave up wearing one indoors as soon as I had about 1 cm of hair over most of my head. (I was on holiday and away from home so it made it a bit easier to get used to the new me) I still have a couple of bald patches, but to be honest its so nice to have hair at all that I no longer care. And I have to shave my legs much less often than I did before, and still have no underarm hair - either side! The best experience ever was going for my first post chemo visit to the hairdresser. Good luck and best wishes to you all.
hello i am 36 and on day 8 of my first shot of chemo. I really do understand how you feel coz i really didnt go ahead with chemo coz i cant handle the thought of loosing my hair. When i lost my boob at least i could hide it. Please let me know how u get on. I am in a new relationship and the thought of my boyfriend seeing me with no hair kills me inside. Take care im sure we r probably both over worrying.
Sorry to hear a few of you are getting upset about hair loss. I had my last chemo July 10th and am now sporting a new crop! A variety of colours, growing upwards,downwards and Walnut Whip swirly bits! Still too short to go without a wig or headscarf though.
I cut my hair off as soon as it started to fall onto my dressing gown shoulders. The intial shock isn’t nice, but then you remember that if it’s killing hair cells it’s killing cancer ones too.
If you haven’t got your headwear, can I suggest you invest in a sleeping hat, only at night with a bald bonce it gets a tad chilly! I got mine off Ebay.
Apart from leaning back in the bath and nearly shooting up ten feet up in the air when your head hits the back of the cold bath, it hasn’t really bothered me. My wigs are very comfy and the headscarves so pretty and I grew quite fond of my little peanut head.
I can understand that being in a new relationship you are feeling worried, but, if he loves you, he will love your bonce!
Can anyone give me advise on hair dyes etc. Is it safe as i wanted to go platinium blonde even though it is still quite short but hairdresser advised against it. For those girls who have dyed their hair different colours, did you have any probs? many txs
I was advised not to use normal dyes with amonia in for 6 months after chemo. Couldnt wait that long so I used a natural vegetable dye called “Naturtint” - got it online (about £10 with p&p) or its available in Holland & Barrett. Lots of shades from blonde to black and really gentle on the returning hair. - It does fade a bit quicker but didnt wash my hair so much with it being so short and got a good 10 weeks from one application. Hope this helps x Debbiex