How soon after?

TiggersDoBounce
TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Hello Ladies :)

I will get Round 2 of Chemo on Monday. This time around I will be getting the Carbo/Taxol
instead of the Cisplatin (as I have completed Radiation)...

Since I did not lose my hair with the Cisplatin and I know I will with the Carbo/Taxol, what is the timeframe you all have started losing your hair. I have not started looking for a wig yet and I think I need to do it this weekend.

As I work in the corporate world, I don't want to shock them too much :)

Thanks Ladies!

Laurie

Comments

  • akunzel
    akunzel Member Posts: 13
    #2
    Timeframe
    Hi Laurie -

    My hair started falling out on the 13th day after my first Carbo/Taxol infusion.

    Good luck finding a wig!
    April
  • maggie_w
    maggie_w Member Posts: 18
    #3
    wig
    laurie,
    as soon as my hair started to loosen, and i found lots of strands on my sweater, i shaved it all off. that was after my first chemo. it was much better not waiting to see how long my hair was going to last, or trying comb overs, etc. i did get a wig just in case, but in fact never wore it. got lots of very cute knit hats, however. i do understand why you might want a wig in the corporate world. just make sure it's comfortable, as well as looking the way you want it to. good luck.
    maggie
  • maggie_w
    maggie_w Member Posts: 18
    #4
    akunzel said:

    Timeframe
    Hi Laurie -

    My hair started falling out on the 13th day after my first Carbo/Taxol infusion.

    Good luck finding a wig!
    April

    wig p.s.

    it's actually a lot easier to see how the wig looks and fits if you buy your wig when your head is bald. i've seen women trying to fit wigs over their hair, and it's a lot harder. thought i'd mention this.
    m
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #5
    maggie_w said:

    wig
    laurie,
    as soon as my hair started to loosen, and i found lots of strands on my sweater, i shaved it all off. that was after my first chemo. it was much better not waiting to see how long my hair was going to last, or trying comb overs, etc. i did get a wig just in case, but in fact never wore it. got lots of very cute knit hats, however. i do understand why you might want a wig in the corporate world. just make sure it's comfortable, as well as looking the way you want it to. good luck.
    maggie

    Thanks Ladies
    Thanks for the good advice...

    Not sure how folks wear wigs over a head of hair though lots do!

    Laurie
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #6
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Thanks Ladies
    Thanks for the good advice...

    Not sure how folks wear wigs over a head of hair though lots do!

    Laurie

    Lauri - about hair loss
    I started losing my hair 12 days after my Taxol/Carbo treatment. I did not shave my head, but wore a hat at night time so I would not get hair all over my face and mouth while I slept. I wore a hat during the day, too, and would comb my hair every couple of hours, so the hair was not falling all over my clothes. I too wore hats most of the time. I got a wig, but only wore it to church or going somewhere where I did not think the hats were right. There are so many cute hats available. I liked the newsboy hats in different colors. I never did let anyone other than my husband see me totally bald. I know a lot of others were comfortable going bald all the time. Good luck with the adjustment of being bald. Just remember it is only temporary.

    Baby oil helps the itching while the hair is coming out. A silk pillow case is more comfortable to the head, too. In peace and caring.
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #7
    Ro10 said:

    Lauri - about hair loss
    I started losing my hair 12 days after my Taxol/Carbo treatment. I did not shave my head, but wore a hat at night time so I would not get hair all over my face and mouth while I slept. I wore a hat during the day, too, and would comb my hair every couple of hours, so the hair was not falling all over my clothes. I too wore hats most of the time. I got a wig, but only wore it to church or going somewhere where I did not think the hats were right. There are so many cute hats available. I liked the newsboy hats in different colors. I never did let anyone other than my husband see me totally bald. I know a lot of others were comfortable going bald all the time. Good luck with the adjustment of being bald. Just remember it is only temporary.

    Baby oil helps the itching while the hair is coming out. A silk pillow case is more comfortable to the head, too. In peace and caring.

    Thanks Ro :)
    Ro,

    Thanks for the information :)

    I will adjust and adapt...we are all experts at that one!

    I will keep you posted as I am sure I will have more questions...

    Thanks and Happy Weekend!

    Laurie
  • norma2
    norma2 Member Posts: 479
    #8
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Thanks Ro :)
    Ro,

    Thanks for the information :)

    I will adjust and adapt...we are all experts at that one!

    I will keep you posted as I am sure I will have more questions...

    Thanks and Happy Weekend!

    Laurie

    I am bald right now typing this note
    I started losing my hair 2 weeks after starting the taxol. Waited another week nursing along the last remaining hair then we clipped it then shaved my head. Felt much better after hubby shaved it. I got some soft caps in lots of colors to match with what I am wearing. It isn't so bad. And the baldness has started many an interesting conversation. I have had perfect strangers come up to me and say they had been through chemo. There are lots of cancer survivors out there.
  • catbird
    catbird Member Posts: 33
    #9
    norma2 said:

    I am bald right now typing this note
    I started losing my hair 2 weeks after starting the taxol. Waited another week nursing along the last remaining hair then we clipped it then shaved my head. Felt much better after hubby shaved it. I got some soft caps in lots of colors to match with what I am wearing. It isn't so bad. And the baldness has started many an interesting conversation. I have had perfect strangers come up to me and say they had been through chemo. There are lots of cancer survivors out there.

    buy the wig now
    laurie

    I too had to have a wig due to my type of job meeting with high power clients, etc.
    The best advise I was given & took was buy the wig before chemo or asap after 1st treatment. This way you can match your hair color & the wig specialist can see what style you wear your hair now, etc. they can also cut & style the wig more to your liking etc. You get a net type hair cover to wear while your hair is falling out to wear with the wig, etc. Mine fell out in the hand fulls once it started - hair every where. also, check with your insurance & use the correct terminology for a cancer wig & they may have some coverage for it. if you have aflac it pays $200.00. I bought wigs at a cost of $175.00 each. it usually takes 24-48 hrs for the wig to dry once it is washed depending on the length etc. wash it in woolite - hope this is helpful to you
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #10
    catbird said:

    buy the wig now
    laurie

    I too had to have a wig due to my type of job meeting with high power clients, etc.
    The best advise I was given & took was buy the wig before chemo or asap after 1st treatment. This way you can match your hair color & the wig specialist can see what style you wear your hair now, etc. they can also cut & style the wig more to your liking etc. You get a net type hair cover to wear while your hair is falling out to wear with the wig, etc. Mine fell out in the hand fulls once it started - hair every where. also, check with your insurance & use the correct terminology for a cancer wig & they may have some coverage for it. if you have aflac it pays $200.00. I bought wigs at a cost of $175.00 each. it usually takes 24-48 hrs for the wig to dry once it is washed depending on the length etc. wash it in woolite - hope this is helpful to you

    Catbird
    Thanks for your comments.

    I guess the hardest part for me is to shave it off now before it begins to fall out...Since I sailed through the Cisplatin round with no hair loss....I wonder if I might escape it for Round 2 even though I will likely be switching meds... I know it sounds like I am in denial...LOL

    Anyway, I will add this to my list of "To Do's" for this week and be prepared...

    Thanks!

    Laurie
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #11
    catbird said:

    buy the wig now
    laurie

    I too had to have a wig due to my type of job meeting with high power clients, etc.
    The best advise I was given & took was buy the wig before chemo or asap after 1st treatment. This way you can match your hair color & the wig specialist can see what style you wear your hair now, etc. they can also cut & style the wig more to your liking etc. You get a net type hair cover to wear while your hair is falling out to wear with the wig, etc. Mine fell out in the hand fulls once it started - hair every where. also, check with your insurance & use the correct terminology for a cancer wig & they may have some coverage for it. if you have aflac it pays $200.00. I bought wigs at a cost of $175.00 each. it usually takes 24-48 hrs for the wig to dry once it is washed depending on the length etc. wash it in woolite - hope this is helpful to you

    Update on my Chemo- Cycle 2
    Well I made it thru Chemo Monday :0

    Today is Day 3 and the pains in my legs are incredible. More nerve like pain than sore muscle pain....I hope it ends soon. I never had this while on the Cisplatin, but I understand it comes with the Taxol...oh well...

    Got the buzzer from my Aunt and will do the deed when I see the first sign of the hair coming out...going for the wig sometime this week.

    Thanks ladies for all your support!

    Laurie
  • catbird
    catbird Member Posts: 33
    #12
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Update on my Chemo- Cycle 2
    Well I made it thru Chemo Monday :0

    Today is Day 3 and the pains in my legs are incredible. More nerve like pain than sore muscle pain....I hope it ends soon. I never had this while on the Cisplatin, but I understand it comes with the Taxol...oh well...

    Got the buzzer from my Aunt and will do the deed when I see the first sign of the hair coming out...going for the wig sometime this week.

    Thanks ladies for all your support!

    Laurie

    i didn't shave my head - I
    i didn't shave my head - I got the wig before the chemo started then had my hair cut short. less hair falling out. at first you notice more hair in the brush then you will wash your hair & it will come out in handfuls. it was at least 4 weeks before the hair came out. I was on gem/tax different chemo for lms. I only had bone pain from the shot for my blood & since it was working so sell the dr lower the amount of the shot given. that helped a lot
    good luck

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