Would you 'shave' your head -

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Comments

  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159

    must be love
    I had cut my hair and donated to locks of love. because I wanted to control this beast. I have two girls they have long hair. The next day they went down and had there hair cut for locks of love . I felt good that they thought so much of me to share.....when I first found out that I had cancer my two girls had a tattoo of a pink ribbon put on there wrist so that every time they see it they would think of me and say a prayer....My oldest does tattoos and she is very motivated. now because she donates 1/2 of what she gets for the tattoo pink ribbon to the .ACS so sweet and wonderful such a positive thing coming from my girls love you all you are all in my prayers

    Very nice! As I mentioned,
    Very nice! As I mentioned, cutting off long hair to donate to Locks Of Love would be a no brainer for me ( if I had 10" of surplus hair, which I don't! LOL)

    I know we are in the itsy-bitsy minority, but Reggie and I have no tattoos, and have never wanted any, but my niece has ..( too many in my opinion, but everything is subjective! ) She knows I love hummingbirds, and she had a hummingbird holding a pink ribbon put on her wrist. She has worked in places wher she had to hide her body-art, but she is In Your Face, almost daring someone to object to the one she had done in my honor! LOL I am almost surprised that Reggie does not have a tattoo; as a Native American there is so much symbolic Tribal art which I am sure would be meaningful to him. But so far, tattoos have not called his name. And I drew the line at him shaving his long braided hair in support of me~NO NO NO!! I would not have felt supported by that, only saddened.

    Isn't it amazing how different we all are from one another? Thankfully, the non-important issues, such as tats and hair, do not color who we truly are: Kindred Spirits united in support of each other in doing battle with the Beast! Shave your heads, get tattoos! Or not! I love you all!
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    I couldn't do it
    My friend's daughter wanted to shave her head when I was diagnosed. She was in college at the time and I was totally against her doing that. The fact that she suggested doing it, in addition to a million other things she did, showed me her support, but I HATED being bald (having raccoon circles around my eyes didn't help either and no eye brows). I never would have wanted her to do that. My granddaughters offered (while pointing out that they were in high school) : ) and I didn't want them to do it either. Like many others, I'd have no problem helping in any other way or donating hair (if I had it) to Locks of Love (which my oldest granddaughter did) but shaving my head again, couldn't do it. It's probably one of my great fears about a recurrence (as dumb as I know that sounds), that and feeling like c**p again.

    Besides, if someone had shaved their head for me, I might have been even sadder when their hair grew right back and mine didn't.

    I know I sound spoiled and like a brat, but today i'm owning that.

    Good question, Susan, thanks.

    marge
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    chenheart said:

    Very nice! As I mentioned,
    Very nice! As I mentioned, cutting off long hair to donate to Locks Of Love would be a no brainer for me ( if I had 10" of surplus hair, which I don't! LOL)

    I know we are in the itsy-bitsy minority, but Reggie and I have no tattoos, and have never wanted any, but my niece has ..( too many in my opinion, but everything is subjective! ) She knows I love hummingbirds, and she had a hummingbird holding a pink ribbon put on her wrist. She has worked in places wher she had to hide her body-art, but she is In Your Face, almost daring someone to object to the one she had done in my honor! LOL I am almost surprised that Reggie does not have a tattoo; as a Native American there is so much symbolic Tribal art which I am sure would be meaningful to him. But so far, tattoos have not called his name. And I drew the line at him shaving his long braided hair in support of me~NO NO NO!! I would not have felt supported by that, only saddened.

    Isn't it amazing how different we all are from one another? Thankfully, the non-important issues, such as tats and hair, do not color who we truly are: Kindred Spirits united in support of each other in doing battle with the Beast! Shave your heads, get tattoos! Or not! I love you all!

    You and Reggie are not alone
    You and Reggie are not alone - neither Sandy or I have any tattoos. (Well I do if you want to cound the radiation dots but I don't.) It is a bit surprising that he doesn't have any either as he spent 20 years in the Navy but does not have any.

    I'm not anti tattoos if that's what 'you' want - I just don't want any myself

    Susan
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    Shave or not to shave. That is the question
    I would probably do it. But in doing so I would hope that I had hair long enough to donate it for making wigs for those who are going through treatment. I have thick hair and when I grow it long it is so thick I look like I have a dark brown Christmas tree on my head. Therefore I have always kept it short for convenience sake.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159

    I couldn't do it
    My friend's daughter wanted to shave her head when I was diagnosed. She was in college at the time and I was totally against her doing that. The fact that she suggested doing it, in addition to a million other things she did, showed me her support, but I HATED being bald (having raccoon circles around my eyes didn't help either and no eye brows). I never would have wanted her to do that. My granddaughters offered (while pointing out that they were in high school) : ) and I didn't want them to do it either. Like many others, I'd have no problem helping in any other way or donating hair (if I had it) to Locks of Love (which my oldest granddaughter did) but shaving my head again, couldn't do it. It's probably one of my great fears about a recurrence (as dumb as I know that sounds), that and feeling like c**p again.

    Besides, if someone had shaved their head for me, I might have been even sadder when their hair grew right back and mine didn't.

    I know I sound spoiled and like a brat, but today i'm owning that.

    Good question, Susan, thanks.

    marge

    When I was visited by the
    When I was visited by the Recurrance Monster, my daughter Siobhan wanted to shave her head~ and she was in the running to be chosen to go to Europe with her culinary class in college at the time. Reggie and I discouraged her from doing that, and she (bless her heart) said:
    "Well, maybe I will have it shaved off when I get to Paris!" I have to tell you that she and I both almost pee'd our pants when Reggie rolled his eyes at her and said, "Oh great, go to Europe as Siobhan, come back as Sinead!" It was so hilarious!!
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    Rague said:

    You and Reggie are not alone
    You and Reggie are not alone - neither Sandy or I have any tattoos. (Well I do if you want to cound the radiation dots but I don't.) It is a bit surprising that he doesn't have any either as he spent 20 years in the Navy but does not have any.

    I'm not anti tattoos if that's what 'you' want - I just don't want any myself

    Susan

    I was so glad that my boys
    I was so glad that my boys didnt decide to shave thier heads to support me. For locks of love I would have cut my hair, but not shaved. When my nephew had cancer his brother shaved his head, and when another nephew had cancer his dad shaved his head, but males dont stand out so much with thier head shaved. But when I see a woman without hair, my first thought is, oh she must have cancer too!

    However.... they are trying to decide on a mutual tatoo that they can both get that will always keep me close to thier hearts. I too love hummingbirds and couldn't stand the scars after my masectomy, so I had my right breast tatoo'd with a hummingbird and a beautiful hibiscus(pink of course). It is so beautiful that the tatoo artist uses it as the face of her business cards, of course no one knows that it is actually my breast:)
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member

    Shave or not to shave. That is the question
    I would probably do it. But in doing so I would hope that I had hair long enough to donate it for making wigs for those who are going through treatment. I have thick hair and when I grow it long it is so thick I look like I have a dark brown Christmas tree on my head. Therefore I have always kept it short for convenience sake.

    No..
    I wouldn't ...been bald once....
    Bald is beautiful.....on a baby!
  • Findingout
    Findingout Member Posts: 132
    I'm not sure.. maybe if and
    I'm not sure.. maybe if and when the situation arises I'll be able to answer that. As for right now, I wouldn't, and I wouldn't want anyone to do it for me.

    Because, Why? That's what I'd think....enough that I have to be hairless and my nogan cold at night, plus who knows what else (hair protects us). So my immediate reaction is - no. (still have my hair but not for long)

    I think it's a good 'food for thought' question though, that you brought up - it makes us think about it when we might not otherwise. Hope you're doing well and having a good weekend!

    Hugs,
    LynD
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328

    Absolutely not!
    I don't understand why anyone would want to call attention to themselves by shaving their head "in support" of a friend going through chemo. Seems like they're saying "look at me, I have a friend going through chemo and I did this, aren't I wonderful?" I don't see how someone shaving their hair is of any help to the person going through chemo. Their hair will grow back quickly.

    If someone really wanted me to do it and could convince me it would mean so much to them, I probably would. I know some people do this in honor of the chemo patient, I just don't understand it. I don't think they're wrong for doing it, not at all, just don't understand. Did anyone experience this "tribute" to them losing their hair? How did it make you feel?

    Suzanne

    A different perspective
    I think that the person who voluntarily shaves his or her head when a friend or loved one is going through cancer is doing it to help that loved one feel less alone more than anything. Very few people will shave their heads as a "bragging" point. In fact, I'd bet *that* type of person is the last person who would shave their heads for someone else!

    The one person I know whose family did this did it to help her feel better about losing her hair in the only way they could figure out. The whole family had a shaving party together, so she didn't lose her hair all by herself. She has very special memories of that time--showed me their shaving photos and photos of their bald heads leaned together with a lot of pride and love. She feels that her family was really "there" for her in many ways, shaving being one of them.

    Hugs, Sandy
  • dancinonwater
    dancinonwater Member Posts: 1
    It Depends on Who For
    I definitely depends on who you are doing it for. A girl at my dance studio has breast cancer (and she's only 23), and we are all strongly considering shaving our heads for her. She has the most beautiful hair you've ever seen, and it is so important to her, so losing it will be extremely difficult for her. In our case, shaving our heads would not only symbolize her not being alone, but also the fact that she is more important to us than our hair is. It would show her that we love her more than any number of French braids, which I know would really be beneficial for her. Maybe for some people it wouldn't help, but, like I said, it really depends. If she thinks it will help her, I will do in a second.
  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin Member Posts: 75

    It Depends on Who For
    I definitely depends on who you are doing it for. A girl at my dance studio has breast cancer (and she's only 23), and we are all strongly considering shaving our heads for her. She has the most beautiful hair you've ever seen, and it is so important to her, so losing it will be extremely difficult for her. In our case, shaving our heads would not only symbolize her not being alone, but also the fact that she is more important to us than our hair is. It would show her that we love her more than any number of French braids, which I know would really be beneficial for her. Maybe for some people it wouldn't help, but, like I said, it really depends. If she thinks it will help her, I will do in a second.

    Excellent Post
    Would I? I'd do anything for a family member or dear friend if it would benefit them. With that said, cutting what little hair I have left wouldn't be much of a sacrifice. I talked to my two sons about cutting their hair off when their mother had hers cut, and they would - reluctantly (5th and 10th graders). But I would never let them when so much of their ego at their age is focused on their appearance. Their mother felt the same way. Nice gesture, but not for them. My wife didn't want anyone to do anything that would resemble her exerience, but she was touched by the offer.
    So, would I? You bet. But only if the person I was doing for was ok with this expression of support. In the military, we had experiences that no one else has. Things we never want to do again; but remember fondly, with pride that we survived. In cancer, you have yours as well. Excellent topic!
  • BetsyJane
    BetsyJane Member Posts: 127
    Anything but shaving my head
    That was and still is one of the most devastating side effects of cancer for me. I still do not like to look at myself in the mirror. Every time I look at myself (without my wig) I know I have cancer. I would never ask nor want anyone to shave their hair off for me. Although I did not ask him to, my beloved husband (of 32 years) shaved his "mustache" off for me after having one for about 35 years. He actually looks better and younger! (and he still has his full head of hair). I'd do almost anything else but I definitely could not shave my hair.
  • Texasgirl10
    Texasgirl10 Member Posts: 668
    BetsyJane said:

    Anything but shaving my head
    That was and still is one of the most devastating side effects of cancer for me. I still do not like to look at myself in the mirror. Every time I look at myself (without my wig) I know I have cancer. I would never ask nor want anyone to shave their hair off for me. Although I did not ask him to, my beloved husband (of 32 years) shaved his "mustache" off for me after having one for about 35 years. He actually looks better and younger! (and he still has his full head of hair). I'd do almost anything else but I definitely could not shave my hair.

    I don't think I could
    I just don't think I could do it. My hair is finally coming back & I pray I never have to loose it again. I have missed my long, thick beautiful blonde hair daily for a year now. I have to agree with the ones that have said bald is beautiful but not on me. I would do anything for anyone but I will not shave my head unless it was a child going through it.

    I think now that I've been through this I would show my support in other ways like fund raisers , cleaning, running errands , babysitting, etc. Those were the things that were the most helpful to me while I was going through chemo. It was bad enough that I lost my hair, & felt like a freak if nature I sure didn't want my friends & family to look like that too :)

    Hugs,

    Dawne
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    I most definitely would for
    I most definitely would for my little girl, if something happened to her. I wouldn't let her feel alone in that. I didn't have chemo, but Erin had said she would donate her hair so they could make a wig for me, if I needed her to.
  • Another resounding NO!
    I have had a very positive attitude throughout this ordeal of cancer. I voluntarily went and had my head shaved when I felt like I was at death's door every time I looked at my thinning hair. That felt empowering! I was doing it on MY terms.

    So saying, I don't feel like ANY one's having shaved their head would have felt in any way supportive to me. I did not want any one to shave their head because I had to. Well, I didn't HAVE to, I chose to, regardless.....

    I agree with so many others here - things that WERE helpful to me - sweet friends and family who cooked and cleaned and prayed for me, who came to visit and chat, who made me laugh.
  • Another resounding NO!
    I have had a very positive attitude throughout this ordeal of cancer. I voluntarily went and had my head shaved when I felt like I was at death's door every time I looked at my thinning hair. That felt empowering! I was doing it on MY terms.

    So saying, I don't feel like ANY one's having shaved their head would have felt in any way supportive to me. I did not want any one to shave their head because I had to. Well, I didn't HAVE to, I chose to, regardless.....

    I agree with so many others here - things that WERE helpful to me - sweet friends and family who cooked and cleaned and prayed for me, who came to visit and chat, who made me laugh.

    addendum
    In the photo of me herein with my two sons, my younger son has super short hair because of his military duty, not because I had mine shorter than his in this photo!!
  • Another resounding NO!
    I have had a very positive attitude throughout this ordeal of cancer. I voluntarily went and had my head shaved when I felt like I was at death's door every time I looked at my thinning hair. That felt empowering! I was doing it on MY terms.

    So saying, I don't feel like ANY one's having shaved their head would have felt in any way supportive to me. I did not want any one to shave their head because I had to. Well, I didn't HAVE to, I chose to, regardless.....

    I agree with so many others here - things that WERE helpful to me - sweet friends and family who cooked and cleaned and prayed for me, who came to visit and chat, who made me laugh.

    addendum
    In the photo of me herein with my two sons, my younger son has super short hair because of his military duty, not because I had mine shorter than his in this photo!!
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member

    addendum
    In the photo of me herein with my two sons, my younger son has super short hair because of his military duty, not because I had mine shorter than his in this photo!!

    Personally
    Personally I wouldn't shave my head.I would wear a bracelet etc to support my friend but not shave my head.I have fine thin hair anyway and I don't want any of it gone for just a short time UNLESS I have to.


    My friend was dx years ago.I went to hospital when she had surgery and got her some Pink Ribbon jewelry to wear.She wore that till after her treatments but then she seemed to slack off wearing anything pink.I am like her.I don't wear pink now and I was dx 2 years ago.I no longer want others to know of my situation even though I had Non Invasive DCIS Stage 0. I find people think it won't be longer. This year a tumor was found.I told people and before I knew it I wasn't doing well.People thought my cancer was back. It was thought before I even had the biopsy.It was benign but rumors spread.

    I did meet a lady recently who was wearing a pink bracelet. it took me sometime to ask her but I finally did.Are you a Survivor??? She wasn't but was wearing her bracelet for her sister who passed away a year before. I thought that was nice of her.Even after her sisters passing she was wearing pink in her memory and for others. Her sister only lived a year after dx.

    Lynn Smith