Hair Loss

Hair loss
I agree with Alexandra, the synthetic are best. In the winter I wore alot of different hats. Just bought them at walmart. I have allot of them. Taxol will make your hair fall out. Not sure if that is one of the drugs you are on. Also the American Cancer Society will give one free wig to cancer patients.
Hugs to you
Shawnna

ptharp said:

Hi Chris. I purchased one
Hi Chris. I purchased one wig,a bunch of hats, and scarves before starting chemo. I have not worn my wig yet but probably will wear it when I go back to work. I have not worn the scarves yet but I wear the hats all the time. tlc.com have really cute hats.

I started to loose my hair around week 3 of chemo. I had my hair cut short before I started chemo. My hair did not fall out in chunks. It thinned. I did not shave my head because now after week 6 I still have a little hair around ear area so when I wear my hat it peeks out so I feel like I can pretend I have all my hair.

Hi Chris
I bought a couple of hats and received several hats and scarves from family and friends prior to starting chemo. My hair too starting falling out about the third week in. Strands of hair would be on my pillow in the morning and when I washed and combed my hair, it would come out in handfuls. When it got really sparse, I had my husband remove the last remaining strands with an electric shaver made for the head. I have to say, I was fascinated with seeing the shape of my now-bald head. Big pluses: not having to shave my legs and armpits and saving on shampoo.

My oncologist said that my hair would start growing back one or two months after my last chemo treatment ended. Sure enough, my hair started growing back about five weeks after my last chemo session.

Kelly

Good Wishes Scarves
You can order free Silk Headwrap or Scarf from http://www.franceluxe.com/i/goodwishesscarves/GoodWishesScarves.html

You select the type of the scarf and fabric.
The headwrap I received was beautiful.
I send them a picture of me wearing it and they asked to use it in their promotional materials.

Marnel said:

Wigs and such
I bought one wig before my hair loss but never used it. My doc said my hair would start to fall out 18 days after starting chemo. The night of the 17th day it started coming out in handfuls so I had my husband shave it. I had cut it quite short a few weeks prior just to get used to it. I know it sounds funny but I kinda enjoyed being bald. It opened the door to many conversations when I was out in public. I had several women come up to me, give me a hug and tell me their stories of survival. I welcomed that and I think it empowered me. I never felt ashamed or like I needed to hide my cancer/baldness. I guess it depends on how private of a person you are. I'm sure you can tell I'm not really very private. I did wear warm hats occasionally when my head got cold.

Good luck to you on your journey,
Hugs...Marnel

I agree with Marnel.
I had ordered 18 different colored paisley cotton scarves...the ones I used to wear in the seventies. My hair began to fall out 13 days after my first chemo. I hated the shedding. Everywhere I sat or laid my head looked like a dog had been there. I called my hairdresser who had told me she would come when I needed her. I cried when I realized the time had really come that I was losing my hair. Once it was shaved off I felt amazingly free.

I ended up not wearing the scarves at all because I found them unflattering. I never wanted to wear a wig. I didn't want to get into the thing, where everytime I went out or someone stopped by I had to hurry and put the wig on.

I never had anyone out in public say anything to me positive or negative. I never noticed any looks or double-takes, even from children.

When I would get ready to go out, it was great to get dressed, put on makeup and be done. I didn't have to fuss with my hair...therefore, no bad hair days.

It's funny because I think the bald look is becoming a fad. There are two girls at Macy's who are bald and neither has cancer. They just like the look. I only saw one but she sure looked beautiful. I showed her a picture of me bald and we high-fived each other and I said, "sister!"

For me losing my hair was a minor thing in my journey. At the first visit with my surgeon he said I would look different the next time I saw him. I gave him a quizzical look and he said, your hair will be gone. I told him I didn't care if I was bald the rest of my life, I just wanted to live.


Karen

Like my wig
My hair fell out right on schedule. It came out very quickly: noticed handfuls coming out on a Friday morning, and by Sunday, I was bald. I had prepared with several scarves and a couple hats, but my daughter really wanted me to have a wig. My sister went with me on that Saturday to buy a good quality synthetic wig. I actually really liked it and wore it everyday. Just bought a second one, a little more expensive, monofilament with a "scalp." I REALLY like this one. I'm a generally private person, so I like being inconspicuous in my wig. When I have worn a scarf or hat in public, I feel like it is shouting, "Look! I have cancer!" I know that is just me and my psyche, but I love my wigs and I feel great in them, so that is my preference. I have lots of knit caps I wear at home, in the kitchen especially: no heat or steam around the wig!

lovesanimals said:

Hi Chris
I bought a couple of hats and received several hats and scarves from family and friends prior to starting chemo. My hair too starting falling out about the third week in. Strands of hair would be on my pillow in the morning and when I washed and combed my hair, it would come out in handfuls. When it got really sparse, I had my husband remove the last remaining strands with an electric shaver made for the head. I have to say, I was fascinated with seeing the shape of my now-bald head. Big pluses: not having to shave my legs and armpits and saving on shampoo.

My oncologist said that my hair would start growing back one or two months after my last chemo treatment ended. Sure enough, my hair started growing back about five weeks after my last chemo session.

Kelly

Much-needed info

Thanks for this info about hair regrowth! I've been looking for specific info. Had my last chemo on 12/12/12 & am looking forward eagerly to having hair again. I've worn scarves & hats mostly; I only wear a wig at my volunteer job, where I want to look as normal as possible.  I retained a few wisps of hair, which I had shaved off to a 1/2" length, & would have been happy to go out publicly with that.  But my husband doesn't care for it.  He thinks my regrowth has already begun -- maybe wishful thinking on his part!