[Kim 14]

HI, for those of you who've had chemo, I just wanted to kindly ask a few questions:

Did the chemo make your eyelashes fall out? If so, is it possible to wear false eyelashes, or is the glue too irritating if you're having chemo? Even for a very short length of time?

(I've worn false lashes before, and the glue isn't irritating, but I'm sure that may be quite different when going through chemo.) Also, my friend said that there's nothing to "attach" the false lashes to. (When I've worn false lashes, I always glue them right above my natural lashes, and they end up looking quite natural.)

A friend of mine was telling me that even if I got a good wig, the lack of any eyelashes is a dead givaway that a person is going through chemo. (There are certain people whom I just do NOT want to know about this, so I was hoping for a way to "conceal" the fact that I may be going through chemo).

Does chemo also make the eyebrows fall out? (I know a few of you have mentioned that). A person can use eyebrow pencil, but that can rub off and look rather fake. STILL, anything is better than lack of eyelashes.

Does the hair on the head always fall out with chemo? Does it fall out completely, or just in patches? That alone would be so devastating to me. I guess I can always try to get a really good wig. But I've heard from a couple of friends who went through BC that wigs can be uncomfortable, because they can itch and the chemo raises body temperature.

After chemo, how long does it take for the hair to grow back? Was your hair a different color or different texture than it was before? Is this change in hair color or texture permanent, or just temporary?

One other thing: I'm already fair-skinned, and I've seen in person the way that chemo can give a person a most unpleasant pallor. I wonder if there's any make-up that would fix this?

I obviously have a MILLION concerns other than the "cosmetic" aspects of this, so please don't misinterpret this. I just wanted to ask some other BC patients about their experiences with chemo hair loss.

Wearing a wig might be okay, but NO EYELASHES? I can't even imagine having no eyelashes. Is there ANY way to conceal this, maybe with regular glasses or something? Obviously one cannot wear sunglasses INDOORS.

Again, please don't misinterpret me. I only wanted to ask about others' experiences, in order to try to prepare myself. I realize that different people sometimes have different reactions regarding hair loss. Does this have something to do with the WHICH chemo drugs are used?

THANKS for any information, advice, or info about your experiences. All of you ladies are so very brave.

Best Wishes,
Kim

[1smalltiger]

Hi:

Happy to give you some answers from my experience. First I suggest you contact the American Cancer Society for their Looks Good, Feels Better Program. This is a class you go to and they give you a amazing make-up kit all donated by cosmetics companies, and they go through how to disguise the changes of chemo on your hair and skin. Wigs and wraps, and hats are discussed and donated. It is a WONDERFUL program .

I lost my hair little at a time but it was long so I had my husband shave it to save on the mess. Yes drains were clogging up all over my house . They say that can give you a feeling of control over your hair loss and not be a victim of it, it really seamed to work for me. Plus I had kept a patch in the back my husband described looked like a hairy krishna ponytail on the back of my head.

I have lost a few eyelashes and eyebrows, but have been being careful with them. I fill in the eyebrows a little with pencil, and don't wear mascara because I have long dark lashes and don't like when they fall out when I wash off the mascara. But if I do lose them, I was thinking of using the semi-permanent tattoo eyebrows, and in the class they give you a quality liner and teach you how to line your eyes to help disquise the missing eyelases. This is make-up I could have never have afforded for myself, so it was MUCH appreciated. And I found out my brother worked down the street from the two women who taught the class. The day after class, one of the women went to my brother's work and dropped off a loner wig for me (how thoughtful of her). I haven't worn it, and have cancelled the one I ordered. I have been wearning hats with ribbions tied to dress them up. Also I ordered an add-a-bang from tlcdirect.org. That little bit of hair just makes a world of difference. I didn't find the wig comfortalble at all because of the side tabs, plus I wear glassed, plus behind the ear hearing aids. It was just too much back there. And people love to see me and my hat and scarf/ribbion combinations. It really is comfortable. But I'm always a little different, but had warned my employer I wasn't planning on wearing a wig. And I don't wear anything glaring at work, I match them to my scrubs and it looks good. So that is an option. You can find ideas at the tlc website also.

Hope this helps even a little, I know my skin has revolted since I started chemo. So dry it's flaking off, but I'm breaking out in terrible acne and splotchiness. So I've been using the make up, where I'm not ususally much of a make-up person. But it does help you feel better. Especially if just to cover up the under eye circles I've developed since chemo started. I don't use alot, but it does help emotionally.

You will be in my prayers, good luck!
1smalltiger

[DianaLB]

HI, for those of you who've had chemo, I just wanted to kindly ask a few questions:

Did the chemo make your eyelashes fall out? If so, is it possible to wear false eyelashes, or is the glue too irritating if you're having chemo? Even for a very short length of time?

(I've worn false lashes before, and the glue isn't irritating, but I'm sure that may be quite different when going through chemo.) Also, my friend said that there's nothing to "attach" the false lashes to. (When I've worn false lashes, I always glue them right above my natural lashes, and they end up looking quite natural.)

A friend of mine was telling me that even if I got a good wig, the lack of any eyelashes is a dead givaway that a person is going through chemo. (There are certain people whom I just do NOT want to know about this, so I was hoping for a way to "conceal" the fact that I may be going through chemo).

Does chemo also make the eyebrows fall out? (I know a few of you have mentioned that). A person can use eyebrow pencil, but that can rub off and look rather fake. STILL, anything is better than lack of eyelashes.

Does the hair on the head always fall out with chemo? Does it fall out completely, or just in patches? That alone would be so devastating to me. I guess I can always try to get a really good wig. But I've heard from a couple of friends who went through BC that wigs can be uncomfortable, because they can itch and the chemo raises body temperature.

After chemo, how long does it take for the hair to grow back? Was your hair a different color or different texture than it was before? Is this change in hair color or texture permanent, or just temporary?

One other thing: I'm already fair-skinned, and I've seen in person the way that chemo can give a person a most unpleasant pallor. I wonder if there's any make-up that would fix this?

I obviously have a MILLION concerns other than the "cosmetic" aspects of this, so please don't misinterpret this. I just wanted to ask some other BC patients about their experiences with chemo hair loss.

Wearing a wig might be okay, but NO EYELASHES? I can't even imagine having no eyelashes. Is there ANY way to conceal this, maybe with regular glasses or something? Obviously one cannot wear sunglasses INDOORS.

Again, please don't misinterpret me. I only wanted to ask about others' experiences, in order to try to prepare myself. I realize that different people sometimes have different reactions regarding hair loss. Does this have something to do with the WHICH chemo drugs are used?

THANKS for any information, advice, or info about your experiences. All of you ladies are so very brave.

Best Wishes,
Kim

1-800-395-LOOK (1-800-395-5665). Kim, this is the number for the Look Good Feel Better Program. Thet will address all of the issues you mentioned and send you home with a bag full of free make up to help!
Hugs,
DianaLB

[katyg]

Hi Kim..........It sounds like you understand that each individual reacts differently to the chemo process. My understanding is that it does somewhat depend on which drugs you are given. I will just give you my experience. I had 4 rounds of A/C and was told that after the second round my hair would start to shed. I cut it very close after the first round (had a "whine and wine" party with my closest friends to give me courage, and my hairdresser came to the house to do the deed). I was shocked at how much was still left to fall out after chemo started. It was so short but gobs came out when I shampood. Finally went outside with a dry cloth and rubbed off the rest. My eyebrows and eyelashed stayed intact until I start the next 4 rounds of Taxol (for me that was the nastiest stuff). I am 4 weeks out from my last chemo, and my eyelashes are still leaving -- I have about 4 left on one side; non on the bottom at all. The LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER class is really good at showing you how to minimize the loss. I took the class before everything started to fall out, and in retrospect am glad I did, because I was too exhausted during chemo to have thought about a night class (it was 7-9 pm in my area).

I ordered "real hair" eyebrows from www.headcovers.com as well as eyelashes. The eyelashes are way too show girly for me so even though I have tried them on several times, I just think they look way more fake than just using eyeliner and doing what I can with what is left of my lashes. I too find this almost more disturbing than having no hair. Headcovers.com can also make you a fall (the type you can wear w/ a cap or hat) with your own hair. I planned to do this, but the hair is still in a bag in my closet; somehow it just did not seem important after all this started. Just like there comes a point where every medical person in creation has seen you naked and decorum just doesn't seem to matter anymore.

My hair has not started to grow back yet...just peach fuzz. The consensus seems to be that it is realistically a full year before you have hair that you can style again. My hair was below my shoulders before all this and I think it will be about 4 years before I am to the shoulders again at 1/4 inch a month.


I hope you have an easy time w/ chemo. Some people do. For me, I was so wracked with changes -- physically, emotionally, spiritually that there was no was I could "hide" it. My wish is for it to be an easy go for you!

[kamaha]

Most of the chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer will cause hair loss. Some women do not lose their lashes and brows--sometimes it depends on how many treatments are given as well as which drugs are in the treatments. Sometimes they only thin. You probably should ask the oncologist or the oncology nurse about using false eyelashes.

My complexion, although pale, was blemish-free during chemo, one benefit I enjoyed!

Look Good, Feel Better is a great program!!

[Cheryl G]

Hi Kim,
My eyelashes and brows did not fall out until AFTER chemo was over, around six weeks. The eyebrows seem to grow faster than the lashes (per eye doctor, it takes about six to eight weeks for a new set of eyelashes). It would be a good idea for you to attend a Look Good, Feel Good workshop or get the video from the American Cancer Society.

I tried false eyelashes but with no real lashes they tend to droop and aren't that comfortable. To give the appearance of eyelashes, I made my eyeliner thicker. You can draw in the brows and then dust with powder to set, just remember not to rub during the day.

When my hair started to fall out in clumps, I took control and shaved it all off. I found the wig to be uncomfortable and never wore it. In fact, I went out bald every where. It is okay for men to be bald, why not women? My hair is growing in right now and I've been done with chemo since Sept 17th. I probably have 1/2 an inch to 3/4 and it seems to be getting thicker instead of longer. The color is salt and pepper with a little brown mixed in. By the way, my eyebrows are growing back in and they are now black.....used to be an auburn color (I used to be a redhead).

The chemo never gave me an odd pallor, if anything, I was a bit red because of the steroids. The only time I had bad color was when I became dehydrated, my blood pressure dropped very low (69/47) and I was vomiting. Drink lots of water and take your anti-nausea medicine even if you don't feel like you need it!

Best of luck to you on your chemo journey!
Cheryl

[Marsha B C S]

My eyelashes and eyebrows both were gone.I had very itchy watery eyes cause of no protection. and had to use eye moisture drops.Smalltiger gave you great advice and although I did not get the pleasure of going to that class I have many friends that did and they loved it.HUGS

[DebK]

Kim,
My hair starting following out about day 14 after my first treatment. I shaved my head on day 16., this was early July of this year. I started wearing wigs right away and have had no problem with them.) I have 3 different wigs each different and I change them with my mood. I bought good ones and don't regret it. My insurance covered some of it, so check with them. The American Cancer Society also has wigs to give and they are free.) It was a warm summer in MN and although at times I was warm it was really no worse than my own would have been as I had very thick hair. I did take the Look Good Feel Better class, however I took it before my hair had fallen out, wish I would have waited awhile. My complexion did get paler than normal but like others have said my skin was wonderful, no breakouts and soft as a baby's behind. I wore makeup when I was out and about and no one knew I was paler. My lashes fell out after my six treatments were over and to be honest I didn't miss them all that much except that my eyes watered more. My eyebrows thinned but I never lost them all. I had my last chemo 10/1 and noticed my eyelashes had begun to grow back in on Thanksgiving morning. One more thing to be thankful for. My hair is about 1/4 to a 1/2inch long. It started to come back white, then more grey and now is getting darker again. Time will tell how it will end up. It is soft like baby hair and I have been told that after a year you should have hair more like you had before you lost them.
I too was pretty devastated when I started loosing my hair - you can search for my topic - Started losing my hair - scared and see all the wonderful support, encouragement and ideas for coping that all these wonderful women gave me. There truly is more support here than you can ever imagine. Take things one at a time - I know that seems easier said than done but it is so true. It is amazing what we can deal with and how things we thought we so awful become not as big a deal when and if they finally happen.

Blessings to you on this journey.

Deb K