Losing your hair

Mine started falling out
Mine started falling out about two weeks after the first treatment. I went ahead and had the beautician buzz my head. I cried and cried. I would not let anyone see me without a hat on. I tried a wig, but it was too hot!

My head felt very tender. I started noticing mine coming out as I brushed it. It only comes out in "clumps" so you might want to go ahead and get it buzzed fairly soon.

It's easy for people to say "oh, it'll grow back." They're not the ones experiencing the hair loss. Those who had been through it never once said that to me. One day when I had just lost my hair, my sister was complaining about her hair cut. I was the wrong person to complain to about that.... LOL!

Before I began chemo I could go out in public and no one knew I was battling cancer. The hair loss announces to the world, "hey, look at me, I have a cancer!" At least that's how I felt. But then random people would come up to me in Wal-Mart and say, "Hey, I've been where you are." Complete strangers offering such encouragement.

Best wishes. I'm sending you a virtual hug.

Carla

ktamp said:

Mine started falling out
Mine started falling out about 2 weeks as well. Once it started falling out, I just had it shaved. I had done my grieving and by that time it was almost cathartic. I felt that choosing how and when to deal with my hair was the last thing I had control over. I didn't want to watch it fall out strand by strand. It was personal and I didnt leave the house for a few days. But ultimately I decided not to wear a wig. It's weird but I feel so empowered in my turbans and scarves. Yes it labels me as a cancer patient. But I feel like I am refusing to be ashamed of my disease and I am doing it for all the rest of my teal sisters. As mom2greatkids has said, it has opened doors to talk to other people about what I am going through. Random people will approach me at the grocery to give me encouragement and I once had the oppurtunity to give some back at kroger to a beautiful little girl who was completely bald going through chemo. She got a kick out of me whipping off my turban in kroger just for her to see.

My hair
started falling out slowly about two weeks after my first treatment too. I would notice many strands on my pillow in the morning and when I washed my hair, large handfuls would come out. My scalp was tender too and I made sure to pat my head dry, instead of rubbing. When it got to the point where there was not much left, I had my husband shave off the few remaining strands. With no hair, I could see that I have a pretty nicely-shaped head, if I do say so myself! I didn't go the wig route but I had several pretty hats and scarves, a couple that I bought ahead of time but most of them I received as gifts. I asked my oncologist when my hair would start growing back and he said that hair generally starts growing back one or two months after the last treatment. Mine started growing back about five weeks after my last treatment.

Take care,
Kelly

anicca said:

I didn't mind losing my hair
I didn't mind losing my hair so much, but I did wear a wig because I work with the public and with children a lot, so I didn't want that to be an issue. Worse than losing the hair on my head, was losing my eyelashes. I never knew how much dust the lashes really do keep out of our eyes until they were gone. I also had to learn how to pencil in my eyebrows. Something I learned here, but too late to help me, is that you can buy eyebrow stencils. That would have saved me a few weeks of weird looking brows, and way too much time spent in front of the mirror!

Marnel - I also lost a lot of weight. When my older daughter came over check out my new "thin" wardrobe, she commented "Aw, Ma, you lost boobage!"

I have now lost my hair
I have now lost my hair twice.

The first time I felt numb and looked throught the mirror with interest as my husband, tears streaming, shaved my head. It was kind of a novelty and thought it looked cool. BUT I soon grew to hate it. I always wore my wig and even took to wearing a hat in the house and in bed too as I was cold.

The second time I was heartbroken. I knew just what was coming and I also knew the time and effort it takes for it to grow back. It was summer and I got so fed up of wearing my wig as it made me so hot. I so wanted to go out completely bald but I didn't have the courage. Until one day at work. I am a teacher in college and one day I was sitting at my desk planning my lessons. I had taken my wig off because I was so hot and uncomfortable. I needed to nip down to the library for some books and rushed out of my staffroom. I jumped in the lift, pressed the button and turn around to be faced with a mirror. OH MY WORD I was still bald. My first reaction was to run back to get my wig, but I thought "oh for gods sake just do" so I did. People looked at me and I just smiled at them. That was the start of me going bald. It was so liberating and free. I was proud to be ME. I have cancer...... I am not ashamed or embarassed by that so what is wrong with showing the world the side effects of chemo.

I am quite a vain person (show me a woman who doesn't care about what their hair looks like) but I used to wear make up, I would pencil my eyebrows in and use eye liner for my lashes. It took at lot of practice but you eventually get really good at it. The trick is to get the balance right. Too much and you look like a painted doll and not enough and you look like you are ill.

I hope some of what I have said has helped.

My new chemo that I started yesterday has the side effect of "HAIR LOSS" so I will be going through it for a third time. I am so upset about it as it has taken me a year to grow my hair and it is only just at a length that I like. BUT we have no choice and have to make the best of what happens to you.

Lots of love Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hair
when they told me it was inevitable for my hair to fall out, the week I had the port placed I also had my head shaved. I had bought all the scarves and turbans and spent money i didnt have on them and wish i would have waited. My family bought me a wig that is cute the the thing is so uncomfortable no matter what i do I only wear it for super special things and only when I have to. I too was recognized by my hair. It was blonde and shiny and I always got compliments, so it was .... ME. To lose it and make the decision to shave my head was not easy. No matter how I tied those scarves and turbans I look like a babooshka (sp?). All my hair has not fallen out so it is buzzed off. I have embraced it. I put on makeup, big fun earrings and I don't think about it again. I have some little soft caps if I get cold,cuz it is cold without your hair. In fact, when this is over and it grows back I am keeping it in a short,cute style that is easy.
I can sit here and tell you it will be alright, but I get sick of hearing that so I wont. It will be up to you in the end when you decide to stop worrying about it. My motto is, if I have cancer, these least I can be is comfortable. All the best. Fight like a girl!!!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!
I went and had my hair cut very short prior to losing it, and it made the process of losing it much easier. I too started losing my hair about 2 weeks after my first chemo. I just woke up one morning with a very tender head and sure enough, that is when the process started. After a while, that tenderness will go away. I never struggled that much with losing my hair, and now that I'm a month out from my last chemo, my hair is starting to grow back. I'll tell you one thing, not having hair sure makes getting ready in the morning a fast process. And not having to shave your legs or arm pits.....I hope that hair never comes back! :]

Tina Brown said:

I have now lost my hair
I have now lost my hair twice.

The first time I felt numb and looked throught the mirror with interest as my husband, tears streaming, shaved my head. It was kind of a novelty and thought it looked cool. BUT I soon grew to hate it. I always wore my wig and even took to wearing a hat in the house and in bed too as I was cold.

The second time I was heartbroken. I knew just what was coming and I also knew the time and effort it takes for it to grow back. It was summer and I got so fed up of wearing my wig as it made me so hot. I so wanted to go out completely bald but I didn't have the courage. Until one day at work. I am a teacher in college and one day I was sitting at my desk planning my lessons. I had taken my wig off because I was so hot and uncomfortable. I needed to nip down to the library for some books and rushed out of my staffroom. I jumped in the lift, pressed the button and turn around to be faced with a mirror. OH MY WORD I was still bald. My first reaction was to run back to get my wig, but I thought "oh for gods sake just do" so I did. People looked at me and I just smiled at them. That was the start of me going bald. It was so liberating and free. I was proud to be ME. I have cancer...... I am not ashamed or embarassed by that so what is wrong with showing the world the side effects of chemo.

I am quite a vain person (show me a woman who doesn't care about what their hair looks like) but I used to wear make up, I would pencil my eyebrows in and use eye liner for my lashes. It took at lot of practice but you eventually get really good at it. The trick is to get the balance right. Too much and you look like a painted doll and not enough and you look like you are ill.

I hope some of what I have said has helped.

My new chemo that I started yesterday has the side effect of "HAIR LOSS" so I will be going through it for a third time. I am so upset about it as it has taken me a year to grow my hair and it is only just at a length that I like. BUT we have no choice and have to make the best of what happens to you.

Lots of love Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

good for you Tina
So encouraged by your words. I have not lost all my hair yet, but I have it shaved in preparation. I have noticed about the makeup thing. Maybe I need new product or something, it is very tricky to apply and have it look right. As far as the wigs and scarves, I'm over it. I do the make up ( as best I can) and some fun earrings. And I think like you do. I have cancer, it sux, and this is what it does. Only us girls that go through it will ever really know.

undertreatment2012 said:

dear Marnel
I too have the same kind of cancer as you and the same drugs to treat. Sounds like I may be a couple weeks ahead of you. I received my first treatment on March 23. My next one is the same day as your first one!. I will think about you. Are you as scared as I was? because I was so upset I was throwing up and having bowel issues when I got to the cancer center. If you are, let me know and I can walk you through what happened to me, maybe calm you if you need. You sound pretty up beat though, and I will tell you there was no need for me to be in such a tizzy.

thanks honey...
I added you to my friends list on this site.

I'm not really too freaked out about chemo. I know there may be some side effects but at least I'm not working so I can take naps when I feel like it. I ordered a wig just in case I feel like I need it but my husband is bald so we are gonna be a matched set. My older sister said I had a really nice shaped head when I was a baby so I'm kinda curious to see it.

Where are you located? I'm having my treatment in Vancouver, Wa.

Take care and thanks for the encouraging words.

twillits said:

I am located in Lake
I am located in Lake St.Croix Beach, MN. Are you on a leave from work? I am dealing with that too. I was suppose to go back to work, but told them I was not ready. I really don't feel ready at all. I don't want to go back. I work in a school with autistic kids, so lots of germs, and sickness. I can't afford to catch any of them.

hair and work
work, ugh. such a HUGE stressor for me too. I dont EVER want to go back to where I was. Currently I am not ready to work anywhere. But I don't know how to make it all come together. It become this vicious circle. Have to have a job, because of insurance. Need insurance because I am sick, but they are raising an eyebrow because I am nearly out of FMLA and then they can let me go. I just dont know what to do , I would appreciate suggestions

Marnel said:

Work...
I am so lucky that I don't have that stress. I had a horribly stressful computer systems analyst job and when my husband retired two years ago he said "just quit". So at 49, I "retired". Even tho' I made really good money, I didn't have to think twice. We have just cut way back and really don't miss the extra income. I can't draw my retirement until I'm 55 but that's ok. I went without health insurance for a bit tho' and we decided recently to get it for me. THANK GOD! Just got the hospital bill for the first surgery...$43K and that didn't even include the doctor bill. My insurance is catastrophic with a $7500 deductible and $200 a month....but just glad I have it. Can you get disability of some sort?

working
You are blessed not to have to mess with an employer. I swear they act like you have a cold and cant understand why you cannot come back!. I have been told I could get the disability insurance. I am one of those people, paperwork blows my mind, especially government double talk and all that. But with the help of a friend who has been through it, I think I am headed in that direction. Like you, my husband and I were brining in a lot of play money. But that's not what life is about and we could live with so much less. He is a little more materialistic than I am so I have to kinda change his way of thinking. And I did not even think about my retirement. I just turned 56. I will look into that as well. When you get this diagnosis it just feels like the bottom of the floor breaks away and you are in free fall mode for a while. I need to settle down and think.