Hi guys,whilst I’m wildly happy to have finished chemo (AC/taxol) about 7 weeks ago and watching my hair take off, what I’m not so excited about is all the facial hair that I seem to be sprouting. I’m going Michael J Fox in Teen Wolf a good run for his money! Its possible that I’m so used to being bald as an egg that any hair now seems excessive, but my young son has even pointed out my new beard and moustache. can I ask if this is normal and how long it takes for this hair to hopefully disappear? I’ve got dark chin hair and then a fine coating of blonde hairs all over my face. And secondly, perhaps more importantly would it be ok for me to start getting my eyebrows waxed now or should I wait longer than 7 weeks post chemo? I’ve smashed out a mastectomy/recon in between to pass the time 😆 I am due to start radiation in the next 2 weeks. Thanks all!

@Saram Just another thing to add to the mix. I carry a pair of tweezers in my handbag to remove random sprouting bits and pieces that can be not there today and an inch long tomorrow. I keep them in my bag because my eyesight is now that terrible (thank you Tamox) that the only place I can check things is in my car out in the sun! On a good note though they are no longer black but somewhere between blonde and grey. LOL The joys of fast and furious menopause huh?

@Zoffiel it still amazes me how there are always survivors out there who can easily make one feel ‘lucky’. I should really embrace my new brows shouldn’t I!? @kezmusc, good tip, I might buy a pair of tongs to keep in my purse And I am having so much fun reading these responses maybe I should keep all the hair! Thanks so much ladies. I love a good giggle and it’s hard to make fun of this stuff with the non cancery ppl.

Right, I got it all waxed off today! And whilst I looked like a man with my red moustache, chin and eyes for a good few hours all seems relatively ok.

@Saram Take care with the waxing - depending on what type they use, it can encourage regrowth. I'm a bit of an expert in this area as it's hereditary in my family and has been an ongoing battle since my teens. I've had every treatment possible - from electrolysis back in the eighties, and everything going since. I've always carried tweezers and a tiny magnifying mirror in my handbag. Have lost count of how many I've had confiscated at airports. And there's a set near my TV chair. The greatest joy of chemo was that my facial hair was the first thing to go, within two weeks. Threading is OK but the best professional treatment to have is sugaring (Cleopatra used to have it). It grows back more slowly and softer. If you have a degree of dexterity, there's a product called SURGI WAX available online - which you microwave in the pot it comes in, and use on small areas. It's much gentler than the professional waxes. I'm lousy at doing it myself, so always get my daughter to do it whenever one of us visits the other. In between, I have to rely on tweezers. The day before surgery, I've always had sugaring. It's a curse. >:)

Oh shit! Here’s another club I didn’t want to join but have been forced to sign up to. Have always been a bit hairy but my regrowth after chemo and a few weeks of letrozole is beginning to be scary. Next I will be out howling at the full moon 😳. Off to research all of the above solutions and to order some bleaching solution. 😩

Nobody told me I’d look like Teen Wolf

shs14
Member
6 years ago
Can't help with this as still bald and in treatment but had to compliment you on your post title @Saram :D
Hope its a temporary aberration for you.
Sister
Member
6 years ago
It's pretty common, I think. And I shouldn't think there would be any problem with waxing unless you've had any reactions to chemo but others may say otherwise. If in doubt, check with your onc.
LMK74
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Saram, I also had and still have this problem two years on from treatment. It is around my jaw line and chin. I absolutely hate it so I use and epilator. Not sure if it's the sudden menopause I was put into,I'm now 45 but it sucks.
primek
Member
6 years ago
I had wild long white hair on my neck also which I had clipped. It settles down fairly quickly. If on an aramatose inhibitor you might find the dark hair needs waxing or plucking.
Saram
Member
6 years ago
Oh bummer...apparently I’ll be starting an AI soon and zoladex. Can’t wait for the extra dark hairs. Might have to get on the old laser hair removal band wagon again.
Zoffiel
Member
6 years ago
@saram No! Since when is that's 'thing'? And here's me thinking I'd suffered through the full menu of chemo induced weirdness... BTW, well done you for blitzing the lopping/retread process and I'm seriously impressed that you still have eyebrows that require waxing. Mine have never really grown back
kezmusc
Member
6 years ago
@Saram Just another thing to add to the mix. I carry a pair of tweezers in my handbag to remove random sprouting bits and pieces that can be not there today and an inch long tomorrow. I keep them in my bag because my eyesight is now that terrible (thank you Tamox) that the only place I can check things is in my car out in the sun! On a good note though they are no longer black but somewhere between blonde and grey. LOL The joys of fast and furious menopause huh?
Saram
Member
6 years ago
@Zoffiel it still amazes me how there are always survivors out there who can easily make one feel ‘lucky’. I should really embrace my new brows shouldn’t I!?

@kezmusc, good tip, I might buy a pair of tongs to keep in my purse

And I am having so much fun reading these responses maybe I should keep all the hair!
Thanks so much ladies. I love a good giggle and it’s hard to make fun of this stuff with the non cancery ppl.
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
I had the furry face as well. Your face loses all the fine hair that you don't normally notice because you've always had it. When it grows back it stands out more because it hasn't had the lifetime of wear and tear that squashes it down against your skin. It takes a few months to settle down again. Some women find threading helps.

The dark chin whiskers are menopausal as @kezmusc says. Not the end of the world but somehow very insulting! K xox
Red1
Member
6 years ago
Had the same thing, settled down quite a bit after the first epillating. Go get your eyebrows done you'll feel great..I got mine done at the 5-6week Mark deffinely lighted my mood:)