My experiences with Hair loss during chemo treatments - It's not uncommon!

Hello my friends:

As you might note, both my husband and I have played “role reversals”.  First he was diagnosed in 2002 with Esophageal Cancer, Stage III.  Suddenly I became a caregiver.  Stats are dismal and my husband is truly a “miracle.”  April is “Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month” here in Virginia.  Our Governor’s proclamation reads thus:    “…WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimate that in 2016 more than 16,500 new esophageal cancer cases will be diagnosed nationally, and more than 15,500 deaths will be caused by esophageal cancer in the United States alone…”, you can see that this is equally as devastating as Ovarian cancer stats.   Sadly through these many years MOST of our EC friends died.   And in both the case of Esophageal Cancer and Ovarian cancer, there are “no early warning” tests to detect the presence of either type of cancer.

Then in November of 2012, I was diagnosed with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, then 3 weeks later a Second Opinion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with Ovarian cancer as well.  So then our roles reversed.  He is now a fantastic caregiver to me. (I am sorry that some of our sisters here struggle with having no close caregiver, thus an additional problem to cope with.)   And so we both know what it’s like to be a caregiver as well as a cancer patient.  In that regard, we have both had chemotherapy treatments and thus far are survivors.

Recently an EC patient wrote my husband to ask about hair loss.  My husband had Carboplatin & 5-FU.  He didn’t lose his hair.  My chemo was Carbo & Taxol and I began to lose my hair 2 weeks after the first treatment.  (I have had 2 separate sessions of chemo and lost all my hair both times.) The first time round, my hair came in “curly”.  Currently, my hair has grown back to the point that it looks like I have a crewcut.  It is sticking straight up and is about 1 and ½ inches long.  That’s better than absolutely bald though. It’s also “white” and when you get to be 77, I consider it a badge of honor.  Many of us have dealt with enough tragedies to make our hair “stand on end” present diagnosis included!  Then again we do thank God that we’re alive and from that perspective after the initial shock, on a scale of 1 to 10, dealing with being bald is no biggie for me. 

And on a totally unrelated thought, wonder who coined  the word “permanents” for our hair when one rarely last 6 months?

Some chemo cocktails predictably cause a high percentage of hair loss.  The “ChemoCare.Com” website is excellent for looking up the details of all types of chemo.  Probabilities percentage wise for side effects are listed.  So I refer to that site often.  It’s okay to wait and see how the chemo affects you, but if you’re like I was, by Week 2 the hair was coming out in the hairbrush in big amounts.  So by the 3^rd week, you will probably know for certain how your hair is going to respond to the treatments.  It may not affect you but it may “thin out or “fall out!”

Although I know that loss of hair can be “demoralizing”, you must remember that the hair will grow back in time, but we hope the cancer will not.  Both Carboplatin and Taxol can result in hair loss.  And, my oh my, wouldn’t it be wonderful if while going through chemotherapy, our only side effect was hair loss?  In Sept. of 2015, have just completed my second series of Carboplatin and Taxol.  Each time my hair began to “turn loose” (fall out) within two weeks of treatment.  So it became so thin I just went to the beauty salon and had my head shaved since I had already shopped for wigs and hairpieces the first time around.  Granted the second time around, the shock is not as great.  Yes it is a bit demoralizing from the “beauty standpoint”, but the prospect that the chemo will kill the cancer cells, is by far the greater benefit.  Actually, some days I rarely think about my cancer, until I look in the mirror and see that I don’t have much hair. 

Not only did I lose the hair on top of my head, it took the eyebrows and eyelashes as well.  One good thing—I didn’t have to worry about shaving my legs.  Come to think of it, wouldn’t you hate to have to shave your face every day?  That brings up one more problem though.  When the hair starts to come back, ironically I start to see “facial fuzz” and long “wild” hairs on my chin and around my lips.  Thankfully, most of them are white, but some of them are black!  That’s not a pretty site.  So far I just clip them as close as I can with scissors. My eye sight is not what it used to be so I use a 10X magnifying make-up mirror.  That way I don’t put lipstick where eye shadow’s supposed to be!  J

These are the “tradeoffs” to living longer.  Do I want to look a bit worse for wear on the “outside,” while I get better on the inside—you bet!  I think you will adjust to the hair loss more quickly when you think of the good that the chemo will be doing to kill the cancer.  Furthermore, there are hair pieces, wigs, turbans, etc. that you can wear that can make you look normal.  If you’re interested in choosing something that matches your hair, if and when it begins to fall out, save a larger swatch of your hair, and then you can “match” it to the hair colors in this catalog.  My nurse gave me a copy.  If your oncology office doesn’t have any, you may order a free catalog on the web.  I’ve been totally satisfied with everything I’ve purchased.  And no, I don’t have any affiliation with the company.  Therein will be instructions on how to measure your head in order to get the right size.  So here is that address.

1.  http://thewigcompany.com/face-framer-regular-length-halo-headband-hairpiece/p/J182/

I have one of these headband hairpieces that I wear under my turbans and people never know it isn’t real.

2.  http://thewigcompany.com/turbans+&+headcovers/vc/turbans+&+headcovers-turbans/

I purchased several of these turbans in different colors to match my clothes.  I have used my “fake bangs” underneath my turban most of the time.   I feel like myself when I go out in public.  People think it’s my real hair until I tell them.  So for the best look, like I have said before, if your hair starts to fall out, I found “solace” in these wigs, bangs and hairpieces.  I think you will be very happy.  J

One last thing, depending on your insurance company, your doctor may write a prescription for a wig, and it may be covered by insurance.  (There may be a local wig shoppe that would offer cancer patients one for free as well.)  However, my insurance didn’t pay for it.  I found the wigs in this catalog were far more reasonably priced than the one I purchased at a local wig shoppe.  Returns can be made if the hairpiece hasn’t been worn, and it is returned promptly. 

And ladies, considering the current world chaos, aren’t we still happy to have a head, while all about us others are “losing theirs?”  YES we are!  So let’s just hold our head high as we move on!

Loretta

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Below are helpful web links from ChemoCare.com that will inform you as to the side effects of these two chemo drugs most often prescribed initially for Ovarian Cancer patients—Carboplatin and Taxol.    

3.  http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/

Chemotherapy Drugs and Drugs often used During Chemotherapy Home Page