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Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
Guest: You are so right about the humor, and I love your idea of many doo-rag gifts. A friend sent my husband 2 silly ones while we were at Mayo. He's a pretty conservative guy, but got a kick out of wearing the Harley one.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
We shaved EJ's head and beard when he got sent to cardiac intensive care for some heart issues. We had nothing better to do, it was the 4th of July weekend, and I didn't like seeing his goatee shedding into whatever he was eating. Yes! A sense of humor is crucial throughout!
Lyn
Lyn
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Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
I was starting to pull my hair out in bunches after the cytoxin infusion prior to stem cell harvest. First I cut it very, VERY short....and finally, when I was admitted to the City of Hope, I had them give me their buzz cut. I'm 59 days out of the 'rescue' day, and my hair is just now starting to grow back. I think. I keep rubbing my scalp and I think that there is SOMETHING there, anyway. Scratches my palm, anyhow. Can't see it much, though, because I think it's coming in transparent. 
What IS growing back, with verve, is my moustache, arm hair and leg hair. Now, since I'm a guurl, I beg to complain; that's just not FAIR!!!!!
In the meantime, at the dentist this morning one of the ladies said I was looking good, and could see my hair was coming back; my eyebrows were growing back.
I didn't lose my eyebrows.
As for hats and wigs and such, I discovered that I hate hats, the wig itches, and what the hey. I rock the bald look. I figure by Christmas I'll be able to put a temporary orange rinse on my head and look very much like a tennis ball.
It's OK though. the doc tells me that my M-spike is undetectable (according to the blood work), and all my numbers are great, so even though I did have to stay an extra week in the hospital because of C-diff (and there is an experience I could have forgone...) I'm a very happy camper right now....
BTW, ginger tea is better than any antinausea drug there is at this point, for me. Anybody else find this to be true?
What IS growing back, with verve, is my moustache, arm hair and leg hair. Now, since I'm a guurl, I beg to complain; that's just not FAIR!!!!!
In the meantime, at the dentist this morning one of the ladies said I was looking good, and could see my hair was coming back; my eyebrows were growing back.
I didn't lose my eyebrows.
As for hats and wigs and such, I discovered that I hate hats, the wig itches, and what the hey. I rock the bald look. I figure by Christmas I'll be able to put a temporary orange rinse on my head and look very much like a tennis ball.
It's OK though. the doc tells me that my M-spike is undetectable (according to the blood work), and all my numbers are great, so even though I did have to stay an extra week in the hospital because of C-diff (and there is an experience I could have forgone...) I'm a very happy camper right now....
BTW, ginger tea is better than any antinausea drug there is at this point, for me. Anybody else find this to be true?
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
Hi Dianaiad,
I hear you
"What IS growing back, with verve, is my moustache, arm hair and leg hair. Now, since I'm a guurl, I beg to complain; that's just not FAIR!!!!!"
Yep, I can certainly say that the waxing companies are making millions out of me. A combination of cyclosporin (immunosuppressor) and prednisolone makes for a truly remarkable hair growth. As a bonus its dark hair
. My eyebrows were never as bushy as they are now and as well as plucking them they need to be trimmed 
. My arms get waxed when I think I look a bit like a monkey. One thing is a bonus, my eyelashes are long and lush - when I wear mascara they touch my glasses 
.
Glad to hear that you are doing okay,
Libby
I hear you
"What IS growing back, with verve, is my moustache, arm hair and leg hair. Now, since I'm a guurl, I beg to complain; that's just not FAIR!!!!!"
Yep, I can certainly say that the waxing companies are making millions out of me. A combination of cyclosporin (immunosuppressor) and prednisolone makes for a truly remarkable hair growth. As a bonus its dark hair
. My eyebrows were never as bushy as they are now and as well as plucking them they need to be trimmed . My arms get waxed when I think I look a bit like a monkey. One thing is a bonus, my eyelashes are long and lush - when I wear mascara they touch my glasses . Glad to hear that you are doing okay,
Libby
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
A sense of humor is definitely a must.
I'd like to suggest that hair loss is also a great opportunity for knitters and other creative family and friends to make hats. My sister felt very helpless when I was diagnosed but put her knitting and creativity to good use by making me several soft, beautiful, and beautifully decorated hats to wear. Since my transplant was in the winter -- and Snowmageddon hit the Washington, DC area right after I got home -- I put them to good use until my hair started to grow back.
I'd like to suggest that hair loss is also a great opportunity for knitters and other creative family and friends to make hats. My sister felt very helpless when I was diagnosed but put her knitting and creativity to good use by making me several soft, beautiful, and beautifully decorated hats to wear. Since my transplant was in the winter -- and Snowmageddon hit the Washington, DC area right after I got home -- I put them to good use until my hair started to grow back.
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
My husband had melphalan about 14 days ago. He is yet to lose his hair. When does this typically happen?
The nurses told us that they NEVER have seen a patient not lose hair. I know some people shared their feedback above. We are at Day 12.
The nurses told us that they NEVER have seen a patient not lose hair. I know some people shared their feedback above. We are at Day 12.
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LadyLib - Name: LadyLib
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
Well I had the same and I lost mine within a few days. maybe he isn't telling you something, you sure he isn't wearing a wig.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
I lost mine at about Day 10 with both transplants. Hope that he is through the worst part of the side effects of the chemo.
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RickK - Name: RickK
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
Another thing to note is that not everyone loses all if their body hair. While I lost all of the hair on my head and limbs, my eyebrows thinned but I didn't lose them, and I didn't lose my eyelashes. I know others who lost everything, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
How hair grows back is also interesting. On my head, my hair came back thicker than it had been on top and has stayed that way. It came back brunette where I had been brunette and gray where I had been gray. Less hair grew back on my limbs, under my arms and elsewhere. I also got some gray in my eyebrows. Tweezers work wonders!
How hair grows back is also interesting. On my head, my hair came back thicker than it had been on top and has stayed that way. It came back brunette where I had been brunette and gray where I had been gray. Less hair grew back on my limbs, under my arms and elsewhere. I also got some gray in my eyebrows. Tweezers work wonders!
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Stem cell transplant (SCT) - hair loss?
Hi LadyLib,
I lost my hair Day 17 with my first lot of chemo (VAD). Cant remember what day it was when I lost it with melphalan (didn't really know what day it was anyway - I was too sick).
I lost my hair Day 17 with my first lot of chemo (VAD). Cant remember what day it was when I lost it with melphalan (didn't really know what day it was anyway - I was too sick).
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
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