Forum Discussion
Autore
10 years agoMember
I want my eyelashes back now please !
Hi ladies
I'm new to the group and wanted to introduce myself.
I was diagnosed with triple negative BC last year. The tumors were aggressive and growing fast (the biggest was 3cm). We have no family history of cancer so it was a shock to discover I also have the BRCA gene mutation.
I was living on the other side of the world and had to drop everything to move back to Australia. Suddenly I was homeless, jobless and trying to make sense of cancer. I've always been independent, so this was a huge adjustment.
I've had 7 months of chemo and felt nauseous and tired the whole time. Mostly now I just want my eyelashes and hair back please (it's the simple things lol!). I have 3 treatments to go, then I need to prepare for a bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction and removal of my ovaries - oh the joys! I'm petrified of surgery but thankful for the invention of anesthetic (and pain killers!)
Well that's my little story. Now for the real pressing issue... has anyone tried false eyelashes ? I'm a little bored of having bald eyelids Lol xx
18 Replies
- GABBYGMember:) Oh yes Melinda I did the same and the eyeliner certainly did work a treat, I never left the house without my eyeliner and sunglasses as when there was one bit of breeze my eyes started watering but seriously go the eyeliner, Keep going you're doing a great job
- AutoreMemberHey ladies . Thanks for all your comments. Just sending an update - It's been 6 months since chemo and I can proudly say my hair has grown back to mini 'pixie' and my eyebrows have half grown back (the rest seem to be sloooowly saying hello). Eyelashes did appear for a few weeks, but they all fell out again (seems they are fragile). I used to have very thick lashes, but right now they're just a thin lining. I'm hopeful they will grow back to full volume ASAP.
- primekMemberI couldn't do eye liner on the top as my lid was just too wrinkly. But used eyeshadow and eyeliner on the bottom lid. When they come back it's all at once. My first lot were silver and sparce ..they fell out about 6 weeks after chemo and now thick dark ones are growing. Still shorter but they are there. Can't believe how diff my eyes look. Too short for mascara presently. My eyebrows are slowly returning...and my eyes and brows were itchy as the hair came through.
- melclarityMemberHi Autore!
Aaaah Eyelashes, yes you'll be a few weeks once you have finished before they start to grow. I wore fake eyelashes sometimes towards the end. OMG so so hard a nuisance!!! LOL BUT I'll give you a little tip...trick I learnt after having a meltdown one morning going to Chemo when the damn fake ones wouldnt work!!!!!! I put eye liner on my top lids and YOU COULD NOT TELL I DIDNT HAVE EYELASHES!!! Try it, its quite interesting and got me through! When my eyelashes came back they were the same and long as originally :) Melinda - ScorpionQueenMemberHi Autore.....While I don;t have triple negative....I had 7cm tumour, two lumpectomies, followed by chemo followed by bi lateral mastectomy with expanders and am now at number 16 of 25 radiotherapy sessions......the toll it takes is enormous let alone moving back to a new country to start all over! ....The surgery (mastectomy) is not as bad as i thought it would be , however don't be a hero! take the pain killers! and remember everyone is different........I finished chemo end of my and am only just getting some eyebrows and a few lashes back now!....I'm not sure if you can use flase lashes as I think they have to have real lashes to stick to (????) ...anyways have you looked for a course called Look Good, Feel better at you clinic? it gives great tips and advice on make up etc.....(i never went, i was so sick from chemo!) Wishing you all the very best for your surgeries
Tracy - xpatausMemberHey Autore & Dana,
Just joined the site a few days ago and found this thread. I too have had to return home - I've been traveling and living abroad for a long time now. Was about to start a fabulous directing gig in the US, and post-grad study on a full scholarship. C'est la guerre.
It all happened so quick. Found a lump while in Hawaii, and by the surgery date 4 weeks later in Adelaide, it was 7cmx4cmx3cm so off with my breast!
My prognosis is triple negative BC, stage 3. Mastectomy/Lymph Node removal completed 5 weeks ago.
Chemo commences in coming weeks, then radiotherapy, second mastectomy, and reconstruction. Guess I'm home for a while. And have moved home with my sis' and Mum. Fabulous and tough all at once ;-)
Mum had it, sis' had her breasts removed the day of my prognosis, and Dad's heritage is from unknown providence, so looks like I'll be getting the genetic testing.
Hope your ovarian surgery was okay, Autore and the hair and eyelashes have now grown back for you both. Guess mine will be gone in 3 weeks and counting. Got it cut in advance to lessen the shock.
All the best,
Karen. - AutoreMember
Hi Dana
It took about 3 months for my hair to look like a full head of hair. It's still super short and thinner. The colour hasn't come back yet. It's full grey! And I didn't have any grey before. I'm thinking of dying it bright blue and doing the punk rocker thing just for the sake of it lol! Then again, I don't want to draw attention to myself. I never got used to being stared at in public .
Right now I'm being fast tracked for Ovarian surgery and am sitting on pins awaiting test results for that, feels like the fun never stops! Am back to a never ending list of hospital appointments and meeting a whole new surgery team - sigh !??
Hope you're treatment is going ok
- dana1987Member
Hi Autore,
It feels like life has been put on hold while I am back in my home town after travelling and working for so long! I've had 6 months of chemo, and am halfway through 6 weeks of radiotherapy. Then I've got 5-10 years of hormone treatment (yet to be decided). I went through fertility treatment beforehand as well, so hopefully I'll be able to have kids one day. I feel like my treatment is never ending, but I ma grateful I don't have to have a mastectomy (though the option was there). I am at my parents place in Aus now, which is both a blessing and not so much... haha! Are you settled somewhere now?
I'm so glad to hear your hair is growing back, how long did it take after you finished chemo? I look like an old man with a receding hair line still - lots of fine hair on the sides but barely any on top! I'm considering shaving it again so it can all grow back at the same rate. I never got a wig, I stuck with scarves. I didn't want the discomfort!
- AutoreMember
Hi Dana
Yep, nothing like having to quickly move countries after being whacked in the face with a BC diagnosis! How long is your treatment plan? And are you settled back into OZ now?
I am pleased to say my hair is officially starting to grow back now - slowly but surely! when the first sprout appeared I immediately threw my wig aside . I was so sick of wearing it. After 7 months, it started to feel like scratchy hay on my scalp!
- dana1987Member
Thank you for sharing - I was also living and working overseas, and had to come back to Aus for treatment. Reading yo9ur story feels so similar to mine - which is a relief, as I feel quite alone in my story. I also had no family history, but I don't have the BRCA gene mutation - there seems to be no reason for my cancer.
I haven't tried falsies, but I have some eyelashes left still. The breast care nurse arranged a pamper day for young women in my town, and it was so great to meet 4 other young women.