The hair loss has begun

luna20
luna20 Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Okay well like they said on day 14 my hair will start to fall out, well they were exactly right. How is this one of the few things they are right about....Anyway I have very thick hair right now that is a little shorter than my shoulders. Trust me I already cut it is was down the middle of my back. The hair is everywhere. I am sheding like crazy. This is the hardest part for me to deal with. I have been fine through everything else but this one is so tough. How do you know when it is time to just shave it. I don't have any patches. I look the same but boy is it coming out. It is like I don't have the courage to just shave it off. I probably am hoping it just stops. I know that is not practical. I guess being a 28 yr old who lives in scorching hot florida where everyone is at the beach and swimming everyday doesn't help. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear it....Thanks to all and God Bless

Comments

  • neenie
    neenie Member Posts: 13
    #2
    I'm sorry that this is happening to you. Losing my hair was the most difficult part of chemo treatments. Nothing prepared me for the shock of finding large clumps of my hair in a brush 15 days after my first chemo treatment. Mine started falling out in clumps the day before my 40th. birthday, on a Friday the 13th. (Good thing I'm not superstitious.) I had a meeting scheduled at work that day so I couldn't take a sick day. My very understanding boss knew that I was undergoing chemo treatments, but I couldn't tell him I needed the day off because I was having a "bad hair day". I just put on the wig and went to work. Nobody noticed that I was wearing the wig, which closely resembled my real hairdo. I didn't shave the remaining hair. I just let it fall out naturally, which took a couple months. Do what you feel comfortable doing. I wish you all the best.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • llange
    llange Member Posts: 54
    #4
    When my hair started to really fall out I plugged the shower in the morning so I decided to have it shaved that day because I couldn't stand the falling out. Shaving it was a way of taking control of the situation, which I preferred to just having it fall out. However, not all of my hair fell out (I was on AC), and now I'm on Taxol and my hair is already growing back. So I wonder if I had just cut it really short if I could have gone without the wig. If I could go back I might just cut it very short. Sorry you have to go through this. Good luck!!
    Lisa
  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #5
    llange said:

    When my hair started to really fall out I plugged the shower in the morning so I decided to have it shaved that day because I couldn't stand the falling out. Shaving it was a way of taking control of the situation, which I preferred to just having it fall out. However, not all of my hair fell out (I was on AC), and now I'm on Taxol and my hair is already growing back. So I wonder if I had just cut it really short if I could have gone without the wig. If I could go back I might just cut it very short. Sorry you have to go through this. Good luck!!
    Lisa

    I too had really long hair. When I first found out I was going to have AC, I cut it fairly short. Still, it was very thick and when it started to fall out, it was such a mess. One morning I tried to curl my bangs and all the bangs came off on the curling brush. I felt better taking control of the situation and so a couple of days later, we shaved it off. After 3 AC treatments, I still had little wisps here and there, so I took a razor to what remained. I didn't opt for a wig, but do wear scarves and hats when I go out. At home, I go au natural!
  • marytres
    marytres Member Posts: 144
    #6
    Hi, I've been there and my heart goes out to you. Yes, it's hard but the means justifies the end. My advice is to cut it real short if you don't want to shave your head yet. I cut it that way and then shaved it off. It was almost summer like now, so everyone thought I was in style. Hang in there. Hugs, Marie
  • yoklec
    yoklec Member Posts: 3
    #7
    I totally understand how you feel. My hair was down to the middle of my back one week and then I cut it to above my shoulders. Within 3 of 4 days of that my hair clogged up the shower drain three days in a row. I had very thick hair and no one else could see that it was falling out. Anyway after the third day in the shower and crying each time I thought this is one thing I can control. Cancer and doctors had controlled everything else but they could not decide when my hair came off. So I had my husband shave me bald. He hated to do it and my 4 year old daughter would not come near me for a week. Later she would pull the hairs out of my scalp. They hurt after they get brittle and it actually felt pretty good. It also got her over her fears. I know it is alittle off the wall but I figured if it gets her through it why not.... It has been two years now and my hair is down to the middle of my back again and has alot more curl. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Hold your head up and be strong. I will be praying for you.
  • heavenlee
    heavenlee Member Posts: 113
    #8
    I had long hair all my live. I am only 30 also and man was it hard. I have or had alot of hair also. My doctors said that once it started falling out it would all be out within 2 days. Well, they were wrong. It took a good two weeks before I finally shved my head. I was so tired of it falling everywhere, getting the bath clogged, waking up with it in my mouth. I felt so much better when I shaved it. It's been like over a month since I did it and I still do double takes in the mirrow but I feel pretty ok with it now. Even go outside sometimes... Well, I wish you the best and hang in there. God Bless.
    Angel
  • karbear
    karbear Member Posts: 163
    #9
    Hello, I wasn't sure how i would react when my hair fell out ,but two weeks from chemo it began. I shaved it all off as soon as I had the "sick look"..and it felt soooo much better !! Its been almost one year since my dx and now i have curly and thick hair,everyone loves it,,me not too sure of it yet,,looking like Annie,except with brown hair!! lol..lol..but trust me I will never complain about my hair again!! Happy to have it back,and it started growing before chemo was done ..The best thing that helped me through the hair loss was this>>>ITS MY LIFE OR MY HAIR !! Best of luck to you and God Bless..karin
  • bdean
    bdean Member Posts: 259
    #10
    neenie said:

    I'm sorry that this is happening to you. Losing my hair was the most difficult part of chemo treatments. Nothing prepared me for the shock of finding large clumps of my hair in a brush 15 days after my first chemo treatment. Mine started falling out in clumps the day before my 40th. birthday, on a Friday the 13th. (Good thing I'm not superstitious.) I had a meeting scheduled at work that day so I couldn't take a sick day. My very understanding boss knew that I was undergoing chemo treatments, but I couldn't tell him I needed the day off because I was having a "bad hair day". I just put on the wig and went to work. Nobody noticed that I was wearing the wig, which closely resembled my real hairdo. I didn't shave the remaining hair. I just let it fall out naturally, which took a couple months. Do what you feel comfortable doing. I wish you all the best.

    I am going through the same stage of thinning hair - big time. I get tired of picking hairs off my clothes and pillow, but it sure beats the first time I had chemo and it came out in handfuls - so I just shaved the rest off. If I had known then what I know now, I would have kept the fuzzies as long as they lasted - just kept my hair cut really short. Thinning hair - even when the part starts getting 1/2 inch wide, is better than a shaved head. The wig itches so bad on unprotected skin, it is horrible. I would advise you to keep your hair as long as possible. Maybe it will only get real thin but not peel off like onion skin. Any hair at all makes kerchiefs, and some cloth hats look better - not so obviously bald. Be of good cheer - it does grow back - sometimes as a surprize - it might be a different color or texture or curly if straight, or it may be just the same - you just have to wait and see. One lady put it best about hair - that it really is the least of our problems, but when you look into a mirrow, you don't see cancer, you just see a bald head, and in the beginning it is devastating. Just keep the faith. You will be in my prayers. God bless you.
    Brenda

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