What has been your experience with hair loss?

My hair began coming out just about two weeks after my first infusion.  That soreness you feel is the precursor.  I had that for a couple of days before I began shedding.  My infusions were on Fridays, and by day 15 I was shedding.  I shaved it down to about a 1/2 inch the following Monday because I didn't want to end up shedding more than the cat.    I don't remember how long it took for the rest of my body hair to go, but I know that my eyelashes and eyebrows were the last to go and they really didn't begin falling out til almost the end of chemo.

I began losing my hair on day 14. In anticipation I had my hair buzzed with a #3 guard on the clippers on day 10. I only experienced some tickling of my scalp. The length was just enough that I could give a slight tug at the tickly site and remove the hair along with the tickling. This went on for weeks. It was slow and not very traumatic. I actually went from long, to a bob, then the buzz so that my family and I could get used to it. Now 8 weeks out of chemo it is beginning to grow back. Patchy just like I lost it.

I had chemo 20 yrs. ago as well, so knew the drill. The first time I took a bunch of hair out of the towel after shower, went to Great Clips as  they give cancer patients free shave and cuts, and had it shaved. However, this time the hair came back much faster than before - and much more hair everywhere!!! Not sure I like that!  Several say the steriods they give now is what makes the hair return faster. Also have stronger nails than ever in my life.

llhgrey, I clearly remember a pain on my scalp.  All I can equate it to was when I was young and would use a curling iron on my head and I was pulling the hair too tight and it would hurt my scalp.  For the 'pulling'  I felt during chem, and for quite awhile after it, I would just press on my scalp /head on those areas.  

It does seem we all seem to lose it differently.  I was just looking at the pictures last night from 5 years ago, and thinking about it, will add that you are going to amaze yourself.  What you didn't think you can do - you will, and we are here for you. 

Laura, I was lucky that my company insurance would cover the cost of a wig.  I realize not everyone has that and after I could accept I won't need them anymore, and it took me awhile, I donated them to the local American Cancer Society.  I hope some woman, who couldn't afford one or whose insurance wouldn't cover it, enjoyed them.  With all that I wore them for work so people didn't focus on me having cancer and would listen to what I was saying.

On casual Friday I would do the t-shirt head wrap because I wanted to be comfortable.  (Tip for t-shirts:  Goodwill and look for the designer t-shirts - the color and feel is better)  The wig was hot and I never wore it on the weekends or at home.  

As I said, for me, it was looking 'normal' at work.  I do have a funny story though, I was on a flight going somewhere and a woman behind me said, "I love your hair!"  I thanked her and I told her it was a wig.  So I guess that kind of proved for me I looked 'normal' although I didn't feel the 'old' normal self.  

My two cents.  

I hated that... especially at the end when my eyeleshes and brows were gone   I felt like a little mole.  My scalp always tingled and was cold.  I have lost a lot of hair, and it it nearly bald on top, but I did not lose it all with this weekly Taxol.

I hope you will weather it as best you can and be fine after, because my hair was the best its ever been when it grew back.

My doctor was surprised I still had most of my hair by treatment 2. My scalp was sore in spots and it was getting difficult to deal with the shedding. I gently clearned my hair and scalp from that point. I also buzzed my hair. My hair growth was definitely slowing down and by cycle 3 it had stopped growing except my grey hairs! My grey hairs were indestructible with chemo! I didn't have many grey hairs going in though. Finally, before cycle 4, I rubbed my hair out. It felt like I had a crust of dandruff holding my hair on my scalp anyway. Very itchy. It took all night to rub it out and I used a lint brush to get rid of the tough ones. I was finally free of the itching and pain by the next morning. It was liberating. So by cycle 4, I was bald except for a few grey hairs that never fell out and I was bald for at least 2 months after my 4th and final cycle. My eyesbrows finally fell out after the 4th  but quickly grew back first. My hair has come back very bushy, more grey but more hair overall, wavy, and very black. I had very dark brown hair most of my life so my friends and family are pretty shocked by what I have now. Interestingly, the growth rate on top of my head is noticeably slower than my back and sides now. It's a struggle to keep it clean cut but I'm not complaining. I'm actually having fun with my wavy hair. It's just easier to style than the stick straight hair I had going into treatment.

Hi All! I was diagnosed last year October 2016 followed by “Hysterectomy – Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy” by Laparoscopic Surgery".  

I started my Chemo treatment on December 20, 2016.  My hair started to fall on the 2nd week after the treatment and also my scalp was terribly burning.  I read that it's better to just get rid of it so I DID!  I wear BALD no wig throughout my treatment.  My friend who was a cancer survivor lent me her caps or soft hats for sleeping.  My hair grows back before the next treatment but of course fall off again on the 2nd week.  So I regularly shave it every shower.  My last Chemo treatment was on April 2017 and decided to grew my hair on June 2017.  My hair grew back evenly not in patches.

BTW I was 41 years old when I was diagnosed.  It never put my faith down and my positivity.  My friends told me they were blessed and uplifted seeing me with great positive attitude.  I owe it all to God... He is the one who gives me strength.

To all who are currently going through the treatment hang in there.  Eat well to give your body enough strength and also hydrate yourself.  Whenever food is not appealing to me.  I take chocolate power drink or I make smoothies and I add different fruits like blueberries.  Chemo drugs makes me constipated, I drink warm Prune juice every morning and that does the magic.  

Well, now I know what to do with my coconut oil that's getting a little on the old side. Thank you for the tip!