Yikes hair!!!

Lori-S
Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
OK, so I've read that hair thinning (up to 50%) can be part of FOLFOX. Last treatment (#2) I really starting to notice hand fulls of hair. So, I starting only washing my hair once or twice week and using hair spray to try and glue my hairs together to keep them on. I have really fine (not thin ... but skinny - baby fine) hair so it doesn't take much to make a difference. Last weekend I emptied the vaccuum cleaner and it had more of my hair in it than my dog's! This round it's been even worse. I hardly have enough hair on the sides to cover my ears eventhough it is a good medium/long length. someone please assure me that the research I've done is true and that it won't be more than 50% hair loss with FOLFOX ... UGH!!!!

BUT ... on a positive note: thank goodness that the oxy pins and needles don't happen on your butt because .... heck the toilet seat sure gets cold!
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Comments

  • jararno
    jararno Member Posts: 186
    #2
    Hair
    Lori,

    I never lost my hair or really had any thinning ( I had already bought a wig and a turban thingy with some hair on it just in case ). I have rather thin hair these days, but I was pleasantly suprised that it didn't fall out. ( I need a real hairdo, but can't stand the smell of hair salons )

    Hope you keep your hair, but there are lots of cute wigs out there!

    Take Care,

    Barb
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #3
    jararno said:

    Hair
    Lori,

    I never lost my hair or really had any thinning ( I had already bought a wig and a turban thingy with some hair on it just in case ). I have rather thin hair these days, but I was pleasantly suprised that it didn't fall out. ( I need a real hairdo, but can't stand the smell of hair salons )

    Hope you keep your hair, but there are lots of cute wigs out there!

    Take Care,

    Barb

    Hi Barb!
    I'm thinking I might get a wig just to keep my head and ears warm!
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #4
    Lori-S said:

    Hi Barb!
    I'm thinking I might get a wig just to keep my head and ears warm!

    two years ago while in folfox I lost some of my
    hair, yea! maybe the 50 % but kept enough to can dissimulate it, actually nobody notice it!
    Any way you know.... buy a good tapa!
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #5
    Folfox Is the Thinner...
    ...but Folfiri will finish off what the Folfox couldn't.

    I'm getting in bad shape now and with Folfiri starting back in a few days, I could be getting my head shaved by the end of the year, or early next year for sure.

    I've got a plan and a special post for that when it happens.

    It does get to you - I guess it's because it's our of control, and we all love to be in control of our lives, right? LOL:)

    -Craig
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #6
    pepebcn said:

    two years ago while in folfox I lost some of my
    hair, yea! maybe the 50 % but kept enough to can dissimulate it, actually nobody notice it!
    Any way you know.... buy a good tapa!

    Pepe
    Tapas for everyone! Tapa tapa tapa LOL
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #7
    Sundanceh said:

    Folfox Is the Thinner...
    ...but Folfiri will finish off what the Folfox couldn't.

    I'm getting in bad shape now and with Folfiri starting back in a few days, I could be getting my head shaved by the end of the year, or early next year for sure.

    I've got a plan and a special post for that when it happens.

    It does get to you - I guess it's because it's our of control, and we all love to be in control of our lives, right? LOL:)

    -Craig

    Craig
    Yes, it's definitely a control issue. I just hate it when cancer gets to control one more thing! And, please don't anyone take offense ... but, it's a daily reminder that I have cancer. If I can keep my hair and my weight up then maybe I won't look like a cancer patient?? I think that's even more true for the females. It's sort of in style for men to shave their heads right now. I don't want to give anything else up to cancer. Sometimes, I'd just like to forget for a little while.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #8
    Lori-S said:

    Craig
    Yes, it's definitely a control issue. I just hate it when cancer gets to control one more thing! And, please don't anyone take offense ... but, it's a daily reminder that I have cancer. If I can keep my hair and my weight up then maybe I won't look like a cancer patient?? I think that's even more true for the females. It's sort of in style for men to shave their heads right now. I don't want to give anything else up to cancer. Sometimes, I'd just like to forget for a little while.

    hair loss
    It really does suck when we lose ANOTHER thing to the beast. It seems silly, but you are so right, when you think of a cancer patient, you picture a thin, bald, sickly person and it sucks when that's what we see when we look in the mirror! I found that I did eventually get used to it, but I still found myself crying sometimes when I would get home; not only was I bald, but i had the round face of steroids. When I was on FOLFOX, my hair only thinned, but I wound up having to shave it when I was on FOLFIRI. I also have thin hair and it just doesn't leave much before the razor needs to come out! I did find that when it grew back in, it grew back in thicker! There's one of those silver linings! Yes, admittedly most of the new hair that grew back in for me was white, but hey, easily covered with dye! :) I sure hope you don't lose any more hair, but if you do, there are so many ways to help keep the head warm and help us to hold some dignity. I knit and crochet a lot and just made hats to go with my outfits! I bought the nicest, softest yarn, in my favorite colors, and it really helped! Especially in cold weather!
    mary
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    #9
    Hair
    Wow, I am impressed that you lost so much hair so soon. I did not know about this site till after chemo, so when they told me I would not lose my hair, I believed it.....I made it thru 7 with hair and didn't start losing it till about 3 weeks after I was taken off folfox. But the good news was that my taste buds came back the day I started losing the hair....so at least I had a consolation prize. The hair came back and I think losing my taste buds was the worst....along with neuro problems. I still find it interesting how some lose their hair and some don't, we all react so differently. When I lost my hair I thought it can't be, but found out thru this site, yes it can.....good luck with further sessions....Pat
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #10
    Lori-S said:

    Craig
    Yes, it's definitely a control issue. I just hate it when cancer gets to control one more thing! And, please don't anyone take offense ... but, it's a daily reminder that I have cancer. If I can keep my hair and my weight up then maybe I won't look like a cancer patient?? I think that's even more true for the females. It's sort of in style for men to shave their heads right now. I don't want to give anything else up to cancer. Sometimes, I'd just like to forget for a little while.

    How about this?
    Here is an idea for a new business for you...Blue Star Creations...named for the logo for colorectal cancer.

    For the days you want to just pop out for a quick run to the store or just a drive or when the wig is in for styling...make up fasionable hats which have hair attached inside between the crown and the brim...you could even make it so that the hair is detachable so that one day you could have brown hair, the next red, the next blond. You could have some with bangs..some with a sweep...some straight...some curly!

    You could even make turbans like that.

    Just imagine how much fun you could have!

    I would buy one...not because I am losing my hair to treatment, but because some days are just plain bad hair days!

    Marie
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #11
    Lifeisajourney said:

    Hair
    Wow, I am impressed that you lost so much hair so soon. I did not know about this site till after chemo, so when they told me I would not lose my hair, I believed it.....I made it thru 7 with hair and didn't start losing it till about 3 weeks after I was taken off folfox. But the good news was that my taste buds came back the day I started losing the hair....so at least I had a consolation prize. The hair came back and I think losing my taste buds was the worst....along with neuro problems. I still find it interesting how some lose their hair and some don't, we all react so differently. When I lost my hair I thought it can't be, but found out thru this site, yes it can.....good luck with further sessions....Pat

    Lori
    If you find that you really need a wig send me your address and I will send you mine, it's brand new, never used! I lost half of mine, then it stopped. I have a lot of hair.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #12
    msccolon said:

    hair loss
    It really does suck when we lose ANOTHER thing to the beast. It seems silly, but you are so right, when you think of a cancer patient, you picture a thin, bald, sickly person and it sucks when that's what we see when we look in the mirror! I found that I did eventually get used to it, but I still found myself crying sometimes when I would get home; not only was I bald, but i had the round face of steroids. When I was on FOLFOX, my hair only thinned, but I wound up having to shave it when I was on FOLFIRI. I also have thin hair and it just doesn't leave much before the razor needs to come out! I did find that when it grew back in, it grew back in thicker! There's one of those silver linings! Yes, admittedly most of the new hair that grew back in for me was white, but hey, easily covered with dye! :) I sure hope you don't lose any more hair, but if you do, there are so many ways to help keep the head warm and help us to hold some dignity. I knit and crochet a lot and just made hats to go with my outfits! I bought the nicest, softest yarn, in my favorite colors, and it really helped! Especially in cold weather!
    mary

    Mary
    I haven't crocheted in years but, it;s funny you mentioned it because it's been on my mind lately. I've thought it might be a good thing to do while sitting for 7 hours at the infusion clinic. Maybe you were the angel that was sent to let me know that yes, I should start again. Thank you
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #13
    Lovekitties said:

    How about this?
    Here is an idea for a new business for you...Blue Star Creations...named for the logo for colorectal cancer.

    For the days you want to just pop out for a quick run to the store or just a drive or when the wig is in for styling...make up fasionable hats which have hair attached inside between the crown and the brim...you could even make it so that the hair is detachable so that one day you could have brown hair, the next red, the next blond. You could have some with bangs..some with a sweep...some straight...some curly!

    You could even make turbans like that.

    Just imagine how much fun you could have!

    I would buy one...not because I am losing my hair to treatment, but because some days are just plain bad hair days!

    Marie

    Marie
    How about just a blue wig? Then if someone asks, I can tell them why and get the word out. Plus the blue would match my eyes. Ah Ha!
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #14
    Nana b said:

    Lori
    If you find that you really need a wig send me your address and I will send you mine, it's brand new, never used! I lost half of mine, then it stopped. I have a lot of hair.

    Hi!
    I'm thinking that I'll have to cut my hair soon and that might help a little. I'll try cutting it to about your length. Yours looks so nice. I just want to keep my ears warm. Figure as long as I can keep enough to cover my ears and wear a cap out then mybe I'll get by. If not then I might take you up on the wig offer. I'm on the Holiday card list. just in case. Thanks!

    I'm just hoping that FOLFOX does the trick and I don't have to go to FOLFORI cause if FOLFOX is doing this I'm sure FOLFORI will finish it off.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #15
    Lori-S said:

    Hi!
    I'm thinking that I'll have to cut my hair soon and that might help a little. I'll try cutting it to about your length. Yours looks so nice. I just want to keep my ears warm. Figure as long as I can keep enough to cover my ears and wear a cap out then mybe I'll get by. If not then I might take you up on the wig offer. I'm on the Holiday card list. just in case. Thanks!

    I'm just hoping that FOLFOX does the trick and I don't have to go to FOLFORI cause if FOLFOX is doing this I'm sure FOLFORI will finish it off.

    You got it! I have a
    You got it! I have a short one and a long one!
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #16
    Nana b said:

    You got it! I have a
    You got it! I have a short one and a long one!

    Ive often wondered if my
    Ive often wondered if my hair would start to fall out how that would be. Being a guy guess not much, just shave it off like half the population. (even go mohawk a few days to!) But you ladies I can see where that would but a daily double slap.
    Lets hope it dont come to that. Other than some nausea my side effects have been minimal.
    Does it get worse the more treatments you have? Go for #3 tuesday.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #17
    Kenny H. said:

    Ive often wondered if my
    Ive often wondered if my hair would start to fall out how that would be. Being a guy guess not much, just shave it off like half the population. (even go mohawk a few days to!) But you ladies I can see where that would but a daily double slap.
    Lets hope it dont come to that. Other than some nausea my side effects have been minimal.
    Does it get worse the more treatments you have? Go for #3 tuesday.

    Kenny
    I finished #3 last week. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's getting better .. but, it's getting easier to deal with. I know what to expect and when to push myself and when to slow down so that really helps. I do notice all sorts of weird little things and now I just mutter "Damn Chemo". I'm sure not everything is chemo's fault but, what the heck ... why not blame chemo. LOL
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #18
    Hun
    LMAO, I spent the days before going on Thanksgiving vacation, plunging my darn bathtub.
    It was he11, pure he11, plunge, plunge, plunge, few rewards, then finally, my HAIR, and again my HAIR,and more of my HAIR!!!! I swear I lost half of it, and I found it during my plunging. Finally had to get the Drano to finish the job off.
    My beautiful hair. Wow, hmmm, really how do we say good bye to half our hair? By PLUNGING IT BACK UP!!!! ROFLMAO!!! Thank the supreme beings for DRANO!!!!I'm thinking (I know, know, not always a good thing, this thinking thing I like to do upon occasion) but I'm thinking the Drano, and RotoRooter should all be tax deductible, for every cancer patient undergoing chemo.
    Well, again, just my thoughts on the matter.
    Winter Marie
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #19
    herdizziness said:

    Hun
    LMAO, I spent the days before going on Thanksgiving vacation, plunging my darn bathtub.
    It was he11, pure he11, plunge, plunge, plunge, few rewards, then finally, my HAIR, and again my HAIR,and more of my HAIR!!!! I swear I lost half of it, and I found it during my plunging. Finally had to get the Drano to finish the job off.
    My beautiful hair. Wow, hmmm, really how do we say good bye to half our hair? By PLUNGING IT BACK UP!!!! ROFLMAO!!! Thank the supreme beings for DRANO!!!!I'm thinking (I know, know, not always a good thing, this thinking thing I like to do upon occasion) but I'm thinking the Drano, and RotoRooter should all be tax deductible, for every cancer patient undergoing chemo.
    Well, again, just my thoughts on the matter.
    Winter Marie

    Me too!
    I had to clean all the drains in my bathroom and then use the drano. Sheesh. That's another reason why I wore a cap on Thanksgiving while preparing dinner. I didn't want to serve handfuls of hair with the meal and have everyone coughing up fur balls!
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #20
    Lori-S said:

    Me too!
    I had to clean all the drains in my bathroom and then use the drano. Sheesh. That's another reason why I wore a cap on Thanksgiving while preparing dinner. I didn't want to serve handfuls of hair with the meal and have everyone coughing up fur balls!

    OMG
    OH, my, and here I thought I was the only one wearing a disposable shower cap when making dinner. I was so embarrassed last year when my daughter threw away the deviled eggs because my hair was embedded like a reporter in Iraq in the eggs.
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #21
    Smart me
    I pre-empted the chemo and lost mine years ago :) ron.

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