New To The Group

Jean 0609 said:

Hi Judy,
Welcome pink sister. Sorry you have to be here, however, this is a great place to ask your questions, read, or just to vent. When I started chemo in June, I got my hair cut really short (yes spiked on top). I was more upset about losing my hair than losing my boob. My hair started coming out between my 2nd and 3rd treatment. However, it didn't come completely out, just thinned alot. I did then just have it buzzed, not shaved. I was one of the lucky ones not to have lost all of it. However, everyone is different. Good luck to you and keep us posted on how you do. Hugs, Jean

teresa41 said:

hi
hi judy and welcome i had chemo last september 2009 i did have my hair cut short after my first chemo about 2 weeks after chemo i started shedding badly so i had it shaved off. i got so tired of hearing its just hair it will grow back [ yes but its my hair easy for them to say. wishing you all the best and again welcome .


teresa

TraciInLA said:

Welcome, Judy
Taking some control over your hair loss helps many women feel a little better about it, so I think you're very wise to be thinking about this.

I would recommend that you get your hair cut as short as you're comfortable with before you start chemo -- I cut my hair VERY short, but, even so, when it starts to fall out, you won't believe how much hair there still is. As soon as I started finding hair in my food every time I ate, we buzzed it down as low as it would go with the clippers, and then just let it fall out on its own from there.

I did 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan (TC) -- for that "cocktail," hair loss will generally start 12-16 days after the first infusion. You didn't mention which drugs you're getting -- it may be a little different for different drugs?

I also used this as an excuse to go a little crazy shopping for cute hats and scarves -- I highly recommend the ACS' TLC site, tlcdirect.org. Great prices, and supports the ACS.

Traci

heidijez said:

welcome judy, but sorry you have to join us!
this is a wonderful place - i am glad you found us early in your journey.

about the hair, i too was more upset about losing my hair than losing my breast. i had long hair and did not want to cut it short - decided to just let chemo (taxotere and cytoxan)take its course - was finding hair on my pillow, in the sink, on my brush, etc. then on day 12 when i went to wash my hair, about half of what was on my head came out between my fingers. i was on my way to pick up my wig, so finished washing it and was on my way. the woman at the wig place was phenomenal - turned me away from the mirror to shave my head and didn't turn me around until the wig was on my head. she did some styling while it was on my head, then said she needed to steam it and wanted to know if i wanted to be turned around again. i said no, and of course, began to cry when i saw my bald head - then i realized i looked just like my father when he lost his hair - and then i was okay with it. i had ordered a wig because i work in a catholic grammar school and didn't want to traumatize the kids too much. it turned out that i was totally fine with being bald and in retrospect, wish i hadn't bought the wig. i wore hats and scarves - and went bareheaded outside of work and church.

by the way. . . i never got sick on chemo, even tho i spent almost 8 mos. getting it (i was a chemo failure the first time and went on a different cocktail) i felt queasy at times, and things didn't taste very good, had some side effects, but all in all, not nearly as bad as i expected.

we are all unique individuals, and even with the same diagnosis and same drugs, we can react very differently.

i wish you a lot of luck - come back here whenever you need to. we are here to share, to care, and to vent.

sending you lots of hugs, heidi

heidijez said:

what i really like about this site . . .
is that i find answers to questions i didn't even know i had so ask away, we are here for you!