should I go ahead and shave my head
Comments
-
My hair started coming out in
strands too. It never did come out in clumps. But I couldn't leave it alone and keep running my hand thru my hair and pulling lots of it out myself. It just came away with my hand. I had it buzzed about 3 days later. My hairdresser left about 1/4 inch. I also had C/T chemo. Yes, my head was sore and hurt just before the hair started coming out and after I had it buzzed it stopped. It was actually a relief to get it buzzed. I felt I had faced it, conquered it and was ready for the next hurdle.
Everyone is different and there is no way of knowing if you will be like me or have it start falling out in clumps. If it's like me you can wait til Tues., if it starts big clumps have your friend buzz you.
It's a big step, but you can do it...remember, we are pink warriors and can do anything!
Hugs, Judy :-)0 -
hair lossSkeezie said:My hair started coming out in
strands too. It never did come out in clumps. But I couldn't leave it alone and keep running my hand thru my hair and pulling lots of it out myself. It just came away with my hand. I had it buzzed about 3 days later. My hairdresser left about 1/4 inch. I also had C/T chemo. Yes, my head was sore and hurt just before the hair started coming out and after I had it buzzed it stopped. It was actually a relief to get it buzzed. I felt I had faced it, conquered it and was ready for the next hurdle.
Everyone is different and there is no way of knowing if you will be like me or have it start falling out in clumps. If it's like me you can wait til Tues., if it starts big clumps have your friend buzz you.
It's a big step, but you can do it...remember, we are pink warriors and can do anything!
Hugs, Judy :-)
I had a "take it off party" the saturday before my 1 st chemo session. My hairdresser came over to the house and gave me a "g.i. jane haircut". Now that i look back, i am glad that i did it before chemo. My hair started dropping about a week after my 1st session, by 2 wks, it was all gone. There are very few things that we have control over during our cancer battle , but in my eyes, i was going to control when/where i lost my hair. Like you, i also had taxotere and cytoxan.
Its a personal decision, but if your hair is long, you might want to cut a couple of inches off, so its not too traumatic to see your hair on the ground.
karlene0 -
My hair started falling outn01kar said:hair loss
I had a "take it off party" the saturday before my 1 st chemo session. My hairdresser came over to the house and gave me a "g.i. jane haircut". Now that i look back, i am glad that i did it before chemo. My hair started dropping about a week after my 1st session, by 2 wks, it was all gone. There are very few things that we have control over during our cancer battle , but in my eyes, i was going to control when/where i lost my hair. Like you, i also had taxotere and cytoxan.
Its a personal decision, but if your hair is long, you might want to cut a couple of inches off, so its not too traumatic to see your hair on the ground.
karlene
My hair started falling out in clumps.14 days after the start of chemo. I had my son shave it off. It's hard to do, but its going to happen anyways so we just got it over with. Cried all day and then moved on.0 -
FUNNY STORY ON HAIR LOSS
Hi
I try to do anything to put a smile on any ones face considering what we all have been
going through. This is the first time I've told this. So go ahead and laugh. I also took the same type of chemo you did and by the 2nd treatment which I was taking every 3 weeks my hair started coming out every time I brushed it and started leaving bald spots. My head was a little sore but it got better. Well my onocology nurse made a suggestion I should just go ahead and shave, so I said guess I will.
That evening I came home and thought okay lets get this over with. I had tears in my eyes
and went to the closet got the vacuum cleaner out, hooked up the hose and started running
it all over my head thinking my hair would just be sucked right off. Well that didn't
happen. I thought this was going to be an easy thing to do, but I was wrong. None of my hair came out. My husband walked in and said what are you doing and he could see that
it did not work. My husband done thought I had lost it so we stood there crying and laughing. He got the clippers out and started shaving my head. When he got finished he
said I had a birth mark. I said where? Well I've always wore my hair short and parted on the right side and he goes right there on the part. I told him that's not a birth mark goofy that is where my part has been for at least 50 years. I had a tan where the part was. lol Husbands can't live without them and can't live with them.
Well I could not wear wigs. It was so uncomfortable. My daughter bought me a black cap with a pink ribbon on it and that is what I wore. As of today my hair has come back in
so soft and healthy. I still wear my cap sometimes. But also I'm so relieved to say
I'M CANCER FREE from a very rare type of BC that chemo and radiation has no effect.
So here's my thought on cancer:
The cancer won the 1st battle and now I've won the 2nd but the war is not over for I will
not give up.
I know this was not much help but you have got to stay strong and keep a positive attitude
that no matter what the battle, God says put on the armor for the war.
God Bless You
ARKANSASGIRL0 -
To Shave or Not to Shave....
My Mom and Sister had breast cancer. Here's what happened to me when it was "my turn"!
My husband and I had sold our home in California and purchased a home in New Hampshire and were expecting to move in April. Those plans were on hold as the Oncologist wanted me to begin chemo immediately. The cancer was stage III. Escrow closed, we moved into our 5th wheel trailer with our two golden retrievers, and I began chemo.
Now here's the thing about the hair. My Sister tried to let things happen naturally. Her hair was beginning to fall out, but she wasn't going to shave it until it was REALLY coming out. Well, one day she gets in the shower and her hair hardens to her head like a brick! She calls me laughing hysterically while she's sitting on the floor with scissors and a BIG glass of wine, and try to cut between the brick and her scalp! So I HAD A WARNING! Shave it before you experience "the brick". Did I listen? Noooooooo! And yes, there I was, sitting on the floor of my 5th wheel with a retriever on each side of me, picking at the brick with my scissors! I had to call my Sister...we both had a glass of wine!0 -
YES!
When my hair started coming out I went a week dealing with all the stands in my hair brush, on my shirts, on the floor, on my pillow and in the shower drain. It was so hard to deal with! Then I finally got the courage to have my husband shave it off. Then at least it was short hair all over rather than long hair! Losing my hair was probably the hardest part to deal with in this cancer fight. I don't know why, I thought I was so prepared for it. Now I love not having hair. Not getting in my face, don't have to worry about fixing it and so on. Just a couple of weeks ago I finally put away my curling iron. I went a month with it just sitting there on the counter. I have a couple of really nice wigs, in cute hair styles and I would rather just put on my hat and go. My husband says he isn't going to let me grow my hair back he loves it like this. I may just wear it short when it comes back. Believe it will be so nice to get that part over with, I wish I would of shaved it off sooner!0 -
I agree to shave it. I was
I agree to shave it. I was so nervous for peeple to see me in a scarf (I never bought a wig). So, the best thing happened. Two weeks after my first round of AC was the Making Strides walk. I thought, what a great time to fit in. If I could go anywhere and be accepted without hair it would be that walk! The night before my husband and daughter shaved it off! I went to the walk the next morning and rocked it out! As time goes on and you need to get that old stubble out use masking tape. I've noticed some posts on other threads where women used a lint roller. Wish I would have known about that one! Good luck on the decision! We are with you! :0)0 -
Time to shave my head
I fought shaving my head because I could still wear a baseball cap and have some hair showing, but then I kept seeing the commercial for the movie Shelter Island. If anyone has seen it, you will know exactly what I am talking about! I looked exactly like the woman in the movie and it was so creepy! My girls and I laughed and laughed and I knew it was time......0 -
When I started to notice thebeachgal said:Time to shave my head
I fought shaving my head because I could still wear a baseball cap and have some hair showing, but then I kept seeing the commercial for the movie Shelter Island. If anyone has seen it, you will know exactly what I am talking about! I looked exactly like the woman in the movie and it was so creepy! My girls and I laughed and laughed and I knew it was time......
When I started to notice the strands coming out, I went to the hairdresser and she buzzed it and then got my wig. I was really pretty sick so I hardly ever wore it. I left the stubble some came out when I washed it and I left the rest. Its growing in now slowly but surely.0 -
I had my head shaved afterbeachgal said:Time to shave my head
I fought shaving my head because I could still wear a baseball cap and have some hair showing, but then I kept seeing the commercial for the movie Shelter Island. If anyone has seen it, you will know exactly what I am talking about! I looked exactly like the woman in the movie and it was so creepy! My girls and I laughed and laughed and I knew it was time......
I had my head shaved after my second treatment. It bothered me more to have it fall out in strands then to get rid of it. I wore scarves instead of a wig--hate tight things on my head. Walmart has some really pretty bandanas that I wore.0 -
Shaved it -- no regrets
My hair started coming out in strands and clumps right before my daughter's play. I didn't want to distract her or take attention away by shaving then, so I "glued" my hairdo with hairspray for four days and hoped I wasn't trailing hairs everywhere. I was the one who was distracted and rather miserable! Then, what a relief to have it shaved! She said she wouldn't have cared if I'd done it during the play.
Scalp was quite tender. Buzzed, it's less sore. I'd like to shave it slick because even the stubble catching on hats and pillow is slightly painful. They don't want you to risk cuts, however, but I'm still thinking about it. I do run the sticky lint roller over it GENTLY several times a day but still have plenty of stubble.
I know people who didn't shave and say they have a combo of random long strands and peach fuzz. Sorry, but yuck! Like the woman in the Shutter Island ad, yes.0 -
When my hair was falling outChristine Louise said:Shaved it -- no regrets
My hair started coming out in strands and clumps right before my daughter's play. I didn't want to distract her or take attention away by shaving then, so I "glued" my hairdo with hairspray for four days and hoped I wasn't trailing hairs everywhere. I was the one who was distracted and rather miserable! Then, what a relief to have it shaved! She said she wouldn't have cared if I'd done it during the play.
Scalp was quite tender. Buzzed, it's less sore. I'd like to shave it slick because even the stubble catching on hats and pillow is slightly painful. They don't want you to risk cuts, however, but I'm still thinking about it. I do run the sticky lint roller over it GENTLY several times a day but still have plenty of stubble.
I know people who didn't shave and say they have a combo of random long strands and peach fuzz. Sorry, but yuck! Like the woman in the Shutter Island ad, yes.
When my hair was falling out we were in the car on the way to treatment and I was driving. The air was on in the car. All of a sudden we had hair flying all over the car. By the time i got to the hospital my car was full of hair strands. Looked like I had a long hair dog in the car and just as hard to clean up.0 -
Funny story on hair lossarkansasgirl said:FUNNY STORY ON HAIR LOSS
Hi
I try to do anything to put a smile on any ones face considering what we all have been
going through. This is the first time I've told this. So go ahead and laugh. I also took the same type of chemo you did and by the 2nd treatment which I was taking every 3 weeks my hair started coming out every time I brushed it and started leaving bald spots. My head was a little sore but it got better. Well my onocology nurse made a suggestion I should just go ahead and shave, so I said guess I will.
That evening I came home and thought okay lets get this over with. I had tears in my eyes
and went to the closet got the vacuum cleaner out, hooked up the hose and started running
it all over my head thinking my hair would just be sucked right off. Well that didn't
happen. I thought this was going to be an easy thing to do, but I was wrong. None of my hair came out. My husband walked in and said what are you doing and he could see that
it did not work. My husband done thought I had lost it so we stood there crying and laughing. He got the clippers out and started shaving my head. When he got finished he
said I had a birth mark. I said where? Well I've always wore my hair short and parted on the right side and he goes right there on the part. I told him that's not a birth mark goofy that is where my part has been for at least 50 years. I had a tan where the part was. lol Husbands can't live without them and can't live with them.
Well I could not wear wigs. It was so uncomfortable. My daughter bought me a black cap with a pink ribbon on it and that is what I wore. As of today my hair has come back in
so soft and healthy. I still wear my cap sometimes. But also I'm so relieved to say
I'M CANCER FREE from a very rare type of BC that chemo and radiation has no effect.
So here's my thought on cancer:
The cancer won the 1st battle and now I've won the 2nd but the war is not over for I will
not give up.
I know this was not much help but you have got to stay strong and keep a positive attitude
that no matter what the battle, God says put on the armor for the war.
God Bless You
ARKANSASGIRL
OMG that is one of the most funniest stories I have heard. Thanks for the laugh I really needed that.0 -
That is so funny!Kat11 said:When my hair was falling out
When my hair was falling out we were in the car on the way to treatment and I was driving. The air was on in the car. All of a sudden we had hair flying all over the car. By the time i got to the hospital my car was full of hair strands. Looked like I had a long hair dog in the car and just as hard to clean up.
Thanks for sharing that!0 -
Mine hurt
As it started falling out, just before my second T/C cycle. I had already had it cut to a short hairstyle prior to starting chemo, but even with it short, it hurt every time I brushed it or ran my fingers through it, and of course I could pull handfuls of short hairs out every time I pulled on it. It also looked dull and seemed to have less body. I happened to be camping when it started to come out, but since we knew it was coming we had borrowed some clippers from my stepson and my hubby buzzed it on New Years day for me. It still took a while for it to be mostly bald, and I used the lint roller and had the stubble buzzed a second time before I was done with my chemo. A few hairs never fell out, but now it is starting to grow back (last chemo was 2/17). It hurt much less after I had it buzzed, so I would definitely recommend doing that.
I didn't exactly throw a party since we were camping, but I realy like the idea I've seen others post about.
Good luck,
Cindy0 -
Yeap Mine Did Too
I had A/C and yes my hair came out... I would hand clumps of hair to my co-workers... was fun... my the Saturday I shaved it off because I looked sicker than I felt--I looked better shaved... my hear also hurt till it came out... crazy... remember it will come back!!0 -
i found my head to be very
i found my head to be very tender while the hair was falling out. and continued to hurt even after I shaved my head till the rest of the hair fell out. and was very tender when it grew back in too.. I would also get little scabs on my head..
Acs TLC catalog has sleeping caps which are suppose to be very soft
I opted to shave my own hair... it started as strains and within a few days it was clumps.. You should be okay till Tuesday for you appt. but everyone is different..
As for being scared.. your not alone, I don't know anyone who was thrilled about the idea of one losing their hair and the thought of what you are going to look like bald..
Be strong... you are a beautiful warrior and in great company0 -
yes my scalp was "tender" when it was falling oute_hope said:i found my head to be very
i found my head to be very tender while the hair was falling out. and continued to hurt even after I shaved my head till the rest of the hair fell out. and was very tender when it grew back in too.. I would also get little scabs on my head..
Acs TLC catalog has sleeping caps which are suppose to be very soft
I opted to shave my own hair... it started as strains and within a few days it was clumps.. You should be okay till Tuesday for you appt. but everyone is different..
As for being scared.. your not alone, I don't know anyone who was thrilled about the idea of one losing their hair and the thought of what you are going to look like bald..
Be strong... you are a beautiful warrior and in great company
But I opted NOT to shave and don't regret it for one minute. I always had a few strands hanging around to remind me that it will come back one day, and as you can see by my picture it DOES come back! My last chemo was Feb. 18th and now I'm beginning to forget all the horrible things that go with it (kinda like childbirth)
Hang in there, and whichever you decide it's your own choice not anyone else. I liked having a little hair between me and the wig, kinda like a cushion.
God bless, and good luck.0 -
Wow, some of you your hairMama G said:yes my scalp was "tender" when it was falling out
But I opted NOT to shave and don't regret it for one minute. I always had a few strands hanging around to remind me that it will come back one day, and as you can see by my picture it DOES come back! My last chemo was Feb. 18th and now I'm beginning to forget all the horrible things that go with it (kinda like childbirth)
Hang in there, and whichever you decide it's your own choice not anyone else. I liked having a little hair between me and the wig, kinda like a cushion.
God bless, and good luck.
Wow, some of you your hair is growing really fast. Mine is going slow and I was done the end of November. Well, I have hair but not as long as some of you. My eyelashs came in beautiful and now hardle have any again.0 -
Hair Coming Out
I was about 17 days out from my first round of CT when I noticed the hair loss. Wierdly enough, I had brushed my hair (checking of course to see if it was coming out) and saw nothing abnormal. Then I washed my hair and it must have just unglued whatever was holding those little follicles in place and I started pulling out strands. Of course, once I saw that, I had to keep running my hands through my hair all day to see if I was imagining it. My daughter came over after work and cut it and my husband shaved it. At first we cried but by the end we were laughing. I think it was harder making the decision to do it than actually havingit done. By the time we finsihed, it was a relief to have checked off one more box to recovery.
Even now the little stubble will fall out when I "wash" my scalp (and I too use the lint brush). My scalp seems to get very dry at times but when I have my husband re-shave my head, it returns to healthy looking and soft so I am keeping mine shaved. And I am with the "I hate the wig" club...the only place I wear mine is to the plastic surgeon's office....0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards