Seriously unimpressed : tamoxifen bearded lady

[tors]

Bumping up for lilac x

[Guest user]

Hi ladies,
I had the odd whiskery bits before bc but now it seems worse since I started Arimidex 7mth ago. Mind you it does look worse if I've got my specs on, looks much better without them... Maybe it's affecting my eye sight as well!!!

Isabelle xxx

[Guest user]

I had the "Hairy Mary" problem before BC and spent a lot of money getting rid of it by Epilight laser treatment which was really successful.

Now after chemo and Rads (2008) I was put on Tamoxifen and Aromasin since last March It has come back with avengence on my chin and neck.

The Beauty therapist told me at my last facial that electrolysis would get rid of them, so I am starting with my first treatment this Friday.

I don't care how much it costs! Any amount of money is better than shying away from mirrors and peoples gazes.

Good luck to all you brave and wonderful ladies.

Rosalind

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

[Guest user]

Just wanted to throw in another option to electrolosis. I tried this for a year or so for facial hair on my chin (very blond) and it had got a bit more noticeable with menopause. Anyhow, my beauty person suggested that I try "threading" and I have found this to be just as effective, if not more so than the electrolosis. It is also not quite so painful.

Pauline

[Guest user]

my face fluff seems to be decreasing too, thought mine was an "old lady" thing!!

[tors]

Bumping for billia. I had assumed my beardedness was tamoxifen but on reflection chemo is a likely candidate. Chemo finished in august, tamox started september. Fluff not as bad now.

Vickie

[Guest user]

Hi Gwendoline
I've been having electrolysis for the last few years and it's the best cosmetic investment I have ever made. It doesn't really hurt although I agree that anything near the top lip stings like mad. But on the chin is fine. My hair is barely noticeable now and whereas before I had fortnightly appointments now I go 6 0r 8 weeks between appts.My confidence has improved greatly. I was told off for using tweezers by electrolysis lady but Ihad been doing it for years and years so eventually electrolysis is working on those tough little bristles. Go for it, if you can afford it. It's expensive but as I said earlier I'd probably spend as much on creams and other cosmetics and not end up with a good result. Good luck if you go for it. Annys xx

[CheshireCheese]

Hi ChoccieMuffin
I'm advised that laser treatment doesn't work on any blond hairs, only the dark ones.
Hi Gwendolyn
Yes! But it only stings a little bit if it's done by an experienced person. The area that hurts like s**t is any hairs on the top lip, that brings tears to your eyes. If you come out with red lumps afterwards that means they have used too high a voltage to get the hairs out quickly. If done properly it shouldn't be sore afterwards.
Sarah x

[xwelcomex]

Well, there I was, 45, fit, healthy, not overweight, and then i got IT.

Now, amongst all of the other probs from treatment I find I have chin hairs and what can only be described as lanugo on my face (you know, what newborns have). AND my leg and girlie-part hairs are sprouting massively whilst my eyelashes are still in the dunce's corner.

I never had chin hairs before. I hardly ever had to shave my leg hairs (now daily). And my girlie-part hairs have spread to places they'd never have dreamed of spreading.

Never mind bearded lady. I am the monkey-girl. :-(>

[Guest user]

Does electrolysis hurt?

[Guest user]

I have the downy soft blonde fluff below my greying sideburns!! First we complain that we have no hair then we complain that it grows back in very unwanted places oh the fun fun fun
Xx Suze Xx

[ChoccieMuffin]

Bum. Too late there then, Cheesie, I've been yanking out those suckers for the last 30-odd years! 😄

Seriously though, would laser treatment do the job for the fine downy stuff? I know it's supposed to do something for dark hairs (I did actually manage to zap one or two of the 50 or so dark bristles I have) but I don't know if it does the trick for hairs with not a lot of pigment in them. Also, would oncs and surgeons and consultants and all the other specialists say that laser treatment is a no-no? Or even an epilator (ouch)?

[CheshireCheese]

Hi Gwendolyn
I should have been more accurate and said that a lot of post-menopausal women have a fine peach fuzz of facial hair, rather than saying over 50 as I did. Sorry!
To ChoccieMuffin
Don't keep pulling those few irritating hairs out with tweezers - I did that for years and all that happens is they get darker and stronger. I finally decided to get mine sorted out properly and have been having electrolysis on them for the last year or so. Some have now died off and the rest are getting weaker, but it takes time after encouraging the little buggers for years by pulling them out by the roots!
Sarah x

[Guest user]

Hi all
I am so glad to read that I am not the only one with facial hair. I am 9 mths post chemo and have been on Tamoxifen for 6mths. My onc tells me that facial hair is rare (?) and due to tamoxifen. In fact he laughed when I told him - not very helpful. Anyway its very soft and blonde but very dense. When it got to a centimetre long I shaved it off - I just couldn't stand it anymore. It shows no sign of going away. Now I may be 57 but I'm a working girl and was getting very embarressed around my colleagues in my office. Not that they would make fun of me but its just not right. I'm probably being over-sensitive but the constant reminder was driving me nuts. I've tried to be as normal as possible during all the treatment and this isn't normal.

Well thats my moaning finished for this year. May I wish all of you all the best for 2011 and keep those chins up!

Maggie

[ChoccieMuffin]

This is a serious downer for me. I already have several dozen really dark bristles that I've been pulling out of my chin pretty much since puberty and I ALWAYS carry a pair of tweezers with me for when I notice that sharp bristly feeling. 😞 I'll have to ask if tweezers are ok as I don't think I'll cope with any more than I have already! Not yet started on Tamoxifen but I know it's on the cards.

[feistybluegeck]

I too had the glorious Tamoxifen beard - it appeared after chemo finished and I started the Tam, so I had attributed it to the Tam rather than chemo, but i guess it could be either.

Anyway, the good news is that the fuzz seems to have disappeared. When I saw this thread I realised that I hadn't noticed it in the mirror for a while (though I avoided mirrors for a time!!) I have had a good look and it is definitely not there, or at least not visible/noticeable. The other thing is that when I had almost no hair it was very visible, and I think that now I have more hair ( my chemo perm)it would be less obvious too.

Hope this helps.

Philippa

[juliebtaurus]

my oncology nurse said it usually settles and comes out on its own after a few months ive also been on Tamoxifen since end of sept and do have slight downy fine facial hair like extensions to sideboards ha ha x

[Guest user]

Chemo and no tam. Serious facial hair for 2 months post chemo. Good news is that it has all gone now!

[Guest user]

A friend who had chemo a few years ago warned me that we get facial hair but have been advised not to use anything to remove it. It falls out on it's own after a while though she can't remember how long before this happens. Anyone out there know?

[stressy_messy]

guess we are all different.I don't think it is the tamoxifen that causes it I think it's the hair coming back after chemo.might be wrong though 🙂

Melxx

[Guest user]

Just wanted to deny that all women over 50 have facial peach fuzz! I haven't, although I assume this will come as I've only had a week of Tamoxifen.

[stressy_messy]

Hi I had the downy furry stuff after chemo and made the mistake of using facial hair removing cream and now I have to use it every week sometimes more often.I really wouldn't recomend trying to get rid of it,try and persevere for a while and see if it goes on its own.it usualy does.I wish thats what I had done.

Best wishes Melxx

[owls4eva]

If I was to give you any advice it would be to not try and return to the past it just puts too much pressure on you try and change to finding a new you, good luck

Karen

[Guest user]

Thats fantastic. 3 years I cant wait til i can say that. I think this site needs people like you to inspire those of us going through it now!!! I bet in some ways it only feels like yesterday to you. I love my hair now and will be sad to loose it. However ive had short hair b4 and it looked ok so not worried about that. On saying all that I would like to tolerate the cold cap and hope it would work. Dont start til after xmas so we'll see.

Debbie. XXX

[owls4eva]

Hi Weena

Should have said yes 3 years on (before chemo I had long hair that I loved) everyone tells me how young I look and cant believe Im the same person (which I am definitely not) so good does come from bad. Sorry been off this site for awhile and posted under aniversaries and immediately fell back into wanting to help lol

Karen

[Guest user]

He does have a point there!! Have you finished all treatment now then karen? Is head hair regrowing as well as facial? x

[owls4eva]

Oh bless ya, no its really not a problem my OH said to me all the moaning about hair think you would be happy lol bless him

[Guest user]

You read my mind karen!!! Have enough problems already with unwanted hair without more!! XX

[owls4eva]

Yes it does go eventually saying about you being dark haired my friend was very blonde and she really looked like santa bless her. The good news is if you remove it it doesnt come back like stubble if that is what is worrying you

Karen

[Guest user]

Does it go of its own accord in the end? Theres no hope for me-am already v dark haired so am gonna end up looking like a gorilla. XX

[owls4eva]

It is an option lol some ladies used the facial hair remover but I think threading was the favourite, aparently less painful than waxing.

Karen

[Guest user]

Ouch.!!! Not a paper bag then??? XXX

[owls4eva]

Hi Ladies

I am a while down the line but after chemo had the same problem and we discussed it on here and as I recall threading was what was recommended.

Hope that helps

Karen

[tors]

Well I'm still going to still go out but will be avoiding back lit changing rooms from now on.

[lella]

Well I never knew beardedness was a menopausal thing - oh joy can't wait to see what happens next! I have seen older ladies with the odd sprouting whisker but not the full on beard!

Vickie ... fortunately I used a semi permanent dye so it did eventually wash out, but it meant me being housebound for a while and sporting very red cheeks from all the rubbing.

[tors]

Aahhhh, hadn't factored in the Chemo effect. Yes finished 3fec3tax in august. The rest of my hair has started to grow really thickly too. Hell and damnation , I'm looking more like a man every day. Just waiting for my lower voice to kick in.....

[Guest user]

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH What else???!!! Am sick of all these possible side effects of the various treatments. What a ball ache this BC lark is. XX

[Guest user]

Hello all the furry ladies,
I presume you all had chemo of one sort or another? Did you notice that after about the 3rd dose, most of your eyelashes and eyebrows also any existing bumfluff disappeared? I don`t think it`s purely the fault of Tamoxifen, I was started on Femara and I finished up with sideburns like Englebert Humperdink, I think it`s just a case of your follicles rejoicing that they`re not being poisoned any more, give it about 6 weeks and it will gradually come off.
Best wishes to you all, love Mags x

[tors]

I'm 36 and was nowhere near menpause, gggrrrrrr. Will study any ladies around the age of 50 that I meet tomorrow.

[CheshireCheese]

Those of us who were heading into menopause territory even before all the BC **** started will be familiar with the facial peach fuzz that appears. Is this what you are getting? If you look at most women who are around 50 or older they have this fine soft facial hair. So it could just be another menopausal type SE from the Tamoxifen - not that that makes it any more fun!
Sarah x

[Guest user]

Great got that too to look forward too. the joys of bc boo hoo. xx

[Guest user]

Yep me too !!! My OH keeps threatening to shave me !!!

I have too become very conscious of this... and am looking more light Father Bloody Christmas by the day ! Wey Hey. !!!

I have been told though it reaches a certain peak then falls out, Um ZZ Top rings a bell!

Love Teresa x

[tors]

Ok so I take it from
that that dying the beardedness is the wrong move. Did it come out?

[lella]

Oh yes my cheeks too are covered in bum fluff since starting Tamoxifen. Not too noticeable until I decided to dye my new grey hair a vibrant chestnut - Being my usual rushy messy self I inadvertantly smeared hair dye onto my face and ended up with a chestnut beard eeek! Spent days endlessly trying to wash colour out with shampoo... be warned!!!

[tors]

I was trying on clothes in m and s today and suddenly noticed that below where my sideburns are growing nicely back there is quite a lot of other facial hair growing too! It's not dead obvious yet but have only been on tamoxifen since mid September and am worried it will get worse. I know it's a possible side effect of tamoxifen and it's not too bad, it's not upsetting or depressing me , but it has really irritated me. Has anybody had a similar problem, did it get worse and what did you do about it?

Thanks in anticipation

vickie