Silly but...Mohawk for a Minute Question

leesag
leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Ok, so to help my husband through this transition from the redhead he fell in love with to the chromedome he'll love even more, I promised to have a "mohawk for a minute." (Don't ask, it involves a shaver and elmer's glue and hair spray paint). So my question is this, my chemo starts on Thursday. How long do we have to plan for this before starts falling out in earnest? I'll be on a carbo/taxol regimen for six treatments, 1 every 21 days.

I know, silly question for this board, but it's something that I think he needs to help him cope with all of this, so I'm asking.

Please don't hate me!

Leesa

(PS: I've already ordered some beautiful scarves, now I just need to learn how to tie them!)

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #2
    First of all, you HAVE to
    First of all, you HAVE to promise us pics!

    I had exactly the same "cocktail", and my hair started falling out exactly 14 days after my first treatment.

    It is not a very subtle thing, either. Every time you touch your head, your hand comes away literally plastered with hair. It is a very emotional thing for most of us. It sounds to me like your husband's goal is to make an otherwise sad situation into a fun, fabulous - maybe a little outrageous - couple event. God bless him!

    Carlene
  • lisazee
    lisazee Member Posts: 12
    #3
    They told my mom her hair
    They told my mom her hair would start falling out around day 18 and it was that exact day. They sure have it down to a science. She made me shave her head and I did a long buzz cut first so she'd be able to get used to it before we took it ALL off. To this day, after 4 cycles, she is still fuzzy. I call it her permanent five o'clock shadow. ;)

    DO the mohawk. It sounds awesome.
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #4
    My hair
    started falling out in GOBS at exactly 14 days, just like Carlene's. Please post the mohawk pics. Gotta love your sense of humor!!!
    Kathleen:)
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183
    #5
    kayandok said:

    My hair
    started falling out in GOBS at exactly 14 days, just like Carlene's. Please post the mohawk pics. Gotta love your sense of humor!!!
    Kathleen:)

    same here
    it will start in 2 weeks, for me too. Mine will be going pretty soon too, so I'll be right along with you. I'm one week ahead of you. It will grow back is how I look at it. I've gone through it twice already, this is number 3. I'm so hungry........
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #6
    pictures please :-)
    Mine fell out the first time in about 21 days..I cut it really short at first treatment and by the second one we were shaving the head. Each of us is different though.. I hope he is getting the mohawk with you LOL Love Bonnie
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #7
    BonnieR said:

    pictures please :-)
    Mine fell out the first time in about 21 days..I cut it really short at first treatment and by the second one we were shaving the head. Each of us is different though.. I hope he is getting the mohawk with you LOL Love Bonnie

    He offered,
    Hi Bonnie,
    He offered to mohawk and shave with me, but I love his hair, it's thick and curly and a silvery gray color. Plus, I told him that, in theory, his idea of solidarity was sweet, but in practice, it would hurt when his hair started growing back right away and mine didn't. So it's going to be a mono-mohawk, but it should be interesting.

    I'll definitely post photos!

    L
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #8
    dorion said:

    same here
    it will start in 2 weeks, for me too. Mine will be going pretty soon too, so I'll be right along with you. I'm one week ahead of you. It will grow back is how I look at it. I've gone through it twice already, this is number 3. I'm so hungry........

    Hungry Hair
    Your post made me suddenly start thinking about that 80's song "Hungry Heart" only, my brain inserted the word "Hair" instead of Heart.

    I know, I'm weird. My daughter tells me that all of the time.

    I'm just trying to find a way to tell you that I'm thinking about you, praying for you, and love your sense of humor. You are one of the women on this board who inspire me and make me want to fight harder!

    HUGS for you and Meghan!

    Leesa
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #9
    leesag said:

    He offered,
    Hi Bonnie,
    He offered to mohawk and shave with me, but I love his hair, it's thick and curly and a silvery gray color. Plus, I told him that, in theory, his idea of solidarity was sweet, but in practice, it would hurt when his hair started growing back right away and mine didn't. So it's going to be a mono-mohawk, but it should be interesting.

    I'll definitely post photos!

    L

    Has anyone told you...
    Hi Leesa,

    Has anyone mentioned that you won't have to shave your legs? I find that a plus :) and I lose "other" hair on my body also. Oh, carry tissues for you might lose nosehairs... silly, but I never realized what a purpose those tiny hairs have!
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #10
    Mwee said:

    Has anyone told you...
    Hi Leesa,

    Has anyone mentioned that you won't have to shave your legs? I find that a plus :) and I lose "other" hair on my body also. Oh, carry tissues for you might lose nosehairs... silly, but I never realized what a purpose those tiny hairs have!
    (((HUGS))) Maria

    So true........no nose hair
    So true........no nose hair = runny nose all the time.

    No pubic hair = extra attention to avoid feeling damp in the nether regions. Although my teenage granddaughter informed me that no one in her right mind would cultivate pubic hair in the first place because it's GROSS. Her generation apparantly shaves EVERYTHING.

    Carlene......happy, but hairless
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #11
    Don't know
    I had mine shaved at the "Look good, Feel good" shop at the cancer center where they gave me a wig from the American Cancer Assoc. I never wore it but ordered some from a wig company on the internet that I like better. Your head will get real sore and that will tell you that it is about to fall. I went to the shop when it got sore, before three weeks and the next treatment though. I think it was about 15 days. I do find that the 99 cent bandanas at WalMart are the most comfortable around the house for me. Cotton is better than other scarf material. Almost all wigs have to be thinned by a professional and I have learned that the artificial hair needs to be razor cut, not with sissors. Our local beauty college does it for free for cancer patients. It is amazing what help is out there that you gradually learn about. Saundra
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #12
    Hi All,
    Yep, mine started
    Hi All,
    Yep, mine started falling out 14 days after the first treatment. It was so annoying: hair all over your clothes, in the drain, in the hairbrush. When I found a hair in my food I promptly got a buzz cut, (I did not shave as I was afraid of cutting my scalp). My mother-in-law did it for me. It was emotional, as I wanted it to be fun with the mohawk etc., but at the time I just wanted it done. I shed a few tears. It is also the last big thing you have to experience. I think: the surgery, the firt chemo, losing your hair are the top three "scary" things. The good news: when it was done it was a huge relief. It does take a week to get use to no hair...a little itchy and sore. I used an anti-itch cream. I wish a bald head would be a new trend for women....it sure is easier!

    MK
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #13
    leesag said:

    He offered,
    Hi Bonnie,
    He offered to mohawk and shave with me, but I love his hair, it's thick and curly and a silvery gray color. Plus, I told him that, in theory, his idea of solidarity was sweet, but in practice, it would hurt when his hair started growing back right away and mine didn't. So it's going to be a mono-mohawk, but it should be interesting.

    I'll definitely post photos!

    L

    About 2 weeks for me
    About 2 weeks for me too!

    The moment I would just touch my hair it just started coming out actually surprisingly gently? So rather than have the trauma of seeing it come out in a rather unpleasant manner, I too decided to take the situation by the hair (no pun intended) and took the clippers to my entire head, just wish I had of been brave enough to do the mohawk before taking it all off. Oh well.....

    So yes; pics please :-).

    Sharon
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #14
    MK_4Dani said:

    Hi All,
    Yep, mine started
    Hi All,
    Yep, mine started falling out 14 days after the first treatment. It was so annoying: hair all over your clothes, in the drain, in the hairbrush. When I found a hair in my food I promptly got a buzz cut, (I did not shave as I was afraid of cutting my scalp). My mother-in-law did it for me. It was emotional, as I wanted it to be fun with the mohawk etc., but at the time I just wanted it done. I shed a few tears. It is also the last big thing you have to experience. I think: the surgery, the firt chemo, losing your hair are the top three "scary" things. The good news: when it was done it was a huge relief. It does take a week to get use to no hair...a little itchy and sore. I used an anti-itch cream. I wish a bald head would be a new trend for women....it sure is easier!

    MK

    Hair loss
    My hair started dropping out 3 weeks into the first chemo. I had it cut really short before I started chemo so i wasn't such a shock. My husband shaved it. He cried I just looked through the mirror in a kinda "stunned silence" It was like it was happening to someone else. It wasn't completely smooth - I had stubble. I used to laugh that my head was like "velcro" and it would get stuck on my pillow (black humour works!!!)

    But it is true, someone said on here, the combination of diagnosis, 1st chemo, and losing your hair is the hardest part THE BEGINNING BIT. Once things settle down and you get into the routine of treatment and hospital visits etc it stops being quite so scary.

    On my scalp I make sure I moisturise it daily and it is nice having no body hair. Another funny thing - I was out shopping the other day & picked up a lady shave without thinking. My husband just laughed at me and said "What do you need that for?" It also made me laugh - I said CHEMO BRAIN!!!!!!

    Take care Tina xxx
  • jtotten1
    jtotten1 Member Posts: 21
    #15
    The Hair Was The Hardest Part!
    I adopted a "Lets Kick Some ****" attitude when it came to the chemo and the cancer, but I cried like a little girl when I cut off my hair! I had a HUGE mane of long, thick, black curls, and when I cut it off in prep for it all falling off, I had a really hard time with it. The body hair was a VERY pleasant side effect - a free "Brazillian" for 5 months was awesome!

    Your scalp will get very sore & tender - thats how you know the follicles are dying. Don't worry - it WILL come back!

    In your case, you won't have to deal with summer heat & humidity - you won't believe how much more comfortable you'll feel in the dog days without all the hair.

    Go to www.baldisbeautiful.com to see the trials & tribulations of a young woman with OVCA, and how she learned to embrace her baldness! She is truly inspirational (although she is GORGEOUS, so you kind of hate her a little!) and her message really helps.
  • Bailey37
    Bailey37 Member Posts: 8
    #16
    Mohawk
    Hello Leesa, from one redhead to another-
    I had the same treatment and at 14 days my hair was falling out in clumps so one of my best friends cut it all off for me and having her do that made it a lot easier for me. My family and friends embraced my baldness and made me feel good about it. I did purchase a couple of wigs too. Not sure where you live but there is a place outside of Philadelphia called Jude Plum and they make the best human hair wigs. I love them.
    Good luck,
    Mary

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