Hair Loss

Christine B.
Christine B. Member Posts: 137
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
This is the third week after my first chemo, and now I am losing hair in handfuls. Can anyone give me suggestions? Do I cut it short and begin wearing a hat/ scarf now? I knew this was to happen, but not sure how to handle it? Thank you, Chris

Comments

  • Mum2bellaandwilliam
    Mum2bellaandwilliam Member Posts: 412
    #2
    Hi Christine,
    My mum just
    Hi Christine,

    My mum just let hers fall naturally, she has a wig which was provided for her by the NHS, when she told me they did the wigs I thought oh Christ they have got to be bad, I just think of the old NHS specs and how shocking they were! Well I must say her wig is awesome she looks fab in it. My brother even thought she had had her hair done! Bless him! She does say one bonus is that she now never has a bad hair day!
    She does wear a scarf around the house, I think it is a bit more comfy for her.
    All the best with your treatment xx
  • Sandy10
    Sandy10 Member Posts: 80
    #3
    Hair
    Hi Christine!!

    I used to have very long thick hair.I never had short hair in my life. When I knew it was going to fall out from the Chemo, I went and had it cut short. I did this for two reasons. One was because, it was the only thing I could control. I said when it was gonna be short and beat the chemo to it!!! I also donated it to the locks of love. So, something good came of losing my hair. I think everyone deals with losing their hair their own way. There is no right or wrong. Do what you feel comfortable with. I also tried hats and scarves and wigs. It just wasn't me so I went the almost bald route. Chemo was over 4 months ago and my hair is now growing back. I can't wait to have it long again!! Just remember it will grow back!! And Bald is the new sexy!!!!! good luck to you!! you as well as everyone on this board are in my thoughts and prayers!!!

    Sandy
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #4
    Chris: What I did...
    knowing I would lose my hair I arranged for my mother in law to "shave" my hair. Once it started coming out by the handful I went and she buzz cut all the hair off. It was about 1/8 inch long. I found the hair falling out to be very annoying...it was everywhere! I did not have her shave it bald because I was afraid of getting nicked or cut.....on chemo every nick and cut could be a source of infection. I remember my scalp feeling a bit itchy and sore for a week. I wore wigs out in public and cotton comfy hats at home. If you get a wig remember most insurances will cover a portion of the cost. Educate yourself on the type of wig...real hair or synthetic wigs. You will need a prescription from your doctor. The American Cancer Society has a catalog of all kinds of head gear. If you post your city I am sure someone on this board can give you a reference of a salon that will cut/shave your head. Also consider the ACS Look Good Feel Beter class..I found it helpful.
    Losing you hair is emotional but looking back at my chemo days it really never bother me...I kinda enjoyed not having to buy hair products, spending time styling, etc. Now 10 month from chemo my hair is growing back and I get it cut often and wear it short. I had long hair my whole life and I am loving the short hair.
    Good Luck to you Chris!
    Mary
  • joan60
    joan60 Member Posts: 89
    #5
    Hair
    Hi Chris,
    My hair was fairly long and I also donated to locks of love, when my hair started falling out and it started to look stringy, I had my husband shave it the shortest the shaver heads would go. I got a wig from a hair school they fitted me for free as they work with American cancer Society. I personally didn"t like the wig as it was to hot to wear in the summer. (finished chemo July 2010). I was more comfortable wearing a baseball hat. Surprisingly I became quite comfortable with no hair (I actually went to a store without my hat). Humor makes it easier to handle.

    Looking forward to a bad hair day!?!
    Good luck! Joan
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #6
    HAIR-RAISING STORIES!
    Well, not really, just the usual. You seem to be right on target. The first time I had to have chemo the PA told me the hair usually starts to fall out around day 21. Boy, she was right. My head hurt a little, like I had been wearing hair pins or pony tail ties or something like that for a long time. It came out in gobs and it was still a shock to me. But I said, well at least I was prepared. The place where I got my wig buzzed the rest off for me.

    So, the second time I had to have chemo I figured, why watch it happen. After the 3rd week I just went to my hairdresser and had him buzz it off. He took me to the back of the salon where it was private, which was really sweet of him. I wore wigs to work, hats to the store, and sometimes nothing at home. But I did wear a cap to bed at night, it was just more comfortable, and kept me warm.

    You will handle it as time goes on. It's always upsetting at first. But when my hair started growing back and was long enough not to wear anything, I went to my hairdresser and he 'shaped' it up for me. And it was salt and pepper, so we colored it a little. I couldn't believe how great it looked. I received tons of compliments. I would never think to go that short, but since it's all I had, it was really, really great! So, look forward to when your hair returns. In the meantime, experiement with differnt scarves, bandanas, etc. Let us know if we can help more.

    Sending lots of love and hugs, Chris.

    Monika
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #7
    Bald is beautiful
    At the first appointment with my oncologist surgeon he told me I would look different the next time he saw me. He was referring to losing my hair from chemo. I told him I didn't care if I was bald for the rest of my life as long as I could live. Thirteen days after the first infusion, my hair began to fall out. Though my hair was short it was disgusting to find hair everywhere. My pillow looked like a dog laid on it. I washed my hair in the kitchen sink so I could see how much was falling out. I cried and told my mom that it was harder than I thought it would be. I decided to cut it off. I called my hairdresser and she came to my house and took it down to the nubs. It was freeing. I didn't even feel sad. I had bought a bunch of bandanas but only wore them a couple of times. I didn't like the way I looked in a bandana at this age(62). I joked that I didn't look as cute in a bandana as I did in the seventies! I didn't want to put a scarf or wig on everytime I went out or run to cover my head when the doorbell rang. I figured this is who I am right now and I am proud to be me. Since then I have gone "au naturale."

    My hair started to grow back a little after first rounds of chemo, before surgery. Then chemo started again. The white hair grows first so I have had that cut down once. I am noticing it is coming in again although the dark hair seems not to have grown yet and it is five weeks since my last chemo. I think it will be weird to have hair again. I have joked that I may keep my hair off. Time will tell. Has anyone noticed the white hair growing faster or a difference in hair texture or color?

    Bottom line, do what feels right to you. If you want to wear a wig or scarf or just be bald, it is a decision about yourself that you have a say in at a time when you probably feel you don't have a lot of control.

    Best of luck to you,
    Karen
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #8
    kikz said:

    Bald is beautiful
    At the first appointment with my oncologist surgeon he told me I would look different the next time he saw me. He was referring to losing my hair from chemo. I told him I didn't care if I was bald for the rest of my life as long as I could live. Thirteen days after the first infusion, my hair began to fall out. Though my hair was short it was disgusting to find hair everywhere. My pillow looked like a dog laid on it. I washed my hair in the kitchen sink so I could see how much was falling out. I cried and told my mom that it was harder than I thought it would be. I decided to cut it off. I called my hairdresser and she came to my house and took it down to the nubs. It was freeing. I didn't even feel sad. I had bought a bunch of bandanas but only wore them a couple of times. I didn't like the way I looked in a bandana at this age(62). I joked that I didn't look as cute in a bandana as I did in the seventies! I didn't want to put a scarf or wig on everytime I went out or run to cover my head when the doorbell rang. I figured this is who I am right now and I am proud to be me. Since then I have gone "au naturale."

    My hair started to grow back a little after first rounds of chemo, before surgery. Then chemo started again. The white hair grows first so I have had that cut down once. I am noticing it is coming in again although the dark hair seems not to have grown yet and it is five weeks since my last chemo. I think it will be weird to have hair again. I have joked that I may keep my hair off. Time will tell. Has anyone noticed the white hair growing faster or a difference in hair texture or color?

    Bottom line, do what feels right to you. If you want to wear a wig or scarf or just be bald, it is a decision about yourself that you have a say in at a time when you probably feel you don't have a lot of control.

    Best of luck to you,
    Karen

    I may be in the minority,
    I may be in the minority, but I made friends with my wigs from the very beginning. I now own 3, one human hair and the rest synthetic. They are all about the same color/style. I have worn "alternative hair" every day for a year now. Even my doctors have not seen me sans hair. I wore a wig thru my 3 recent surgeries. I don't know if that's kosher or not, but they didn't ask if I had on a wig, and I didn't tell.

    I had my hair cut really short right after I was diagnosed. I knew it would start falling out once chemo began and I did not want to stress over gobs of hair everywhere.



    Carlene
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #9
    Grandkids buzzed it
    Hi Chris, My hair also started coming out by the handfuls and I thought to myself... I am going to be in control. So I decided to have it buzzed. I have two grandchildren that live with me and I let them be a part of it. We just had a hair cutting party. They are 7 and 5 and I didn't want them to be scared or frightened and that is why I let them do it. They are so use to me now. I actually like my wig too. There was a hairdresser that asked me if it was my hair. She said she couldn't tell.

    Carlene, I am like you, if I have to go in for any more surgeries, I would definitely wear my wig.

    Chris, you will definitely like the part about not shaving your legs. We do get some perks.

    Linda
  • South Jersey
    South Jersey Member Posts: 89
    #10
    Chris,
    Like many of the
    Chris,
    Like many of the other girls, once my hair started to fall out, I had my sister, who's a hairdresser, cut it for me. I wanted her to shave it, but I think it was really hard for her to shave her own sister's head. Instead, she cut it extremely short. Well, needless to say, after about a week, I told her to shave it all off... even the very short pieces of hair falling out were so annoying and it was everywhere. When I was diagnosed, the thought of losing my hair really bothered me because I had a six year old. However, we told him my medicine would do a funny thing and make my hair fall out, and believe it or not, he could not wait for it to happen. So when my sister shaved it, he was there and we made light of the situation... We had many laughs about my bald head! While I was bald, I found the cotton hats to be most comfortable to wear when I was at home and sleeping. If I was out at doctor's appointments or running errands, I would usually just wear a scarf, but when I went back to work, I started wearing my wig. As soon as I had enough hair to work with, my sister shaped it up and I ditched the wig. You will find what is most comfortable for you and before you know it, your hair will be growing back.
    Take care!
  • confuzzled
    confuzzled Member Posts: 21
    #11
    Just call me Kojak :)
    When my hair started to fall out in huge clumps, I tried to make it look "nice" by wearing a baseball cap. Didn't work. So I had my fiance buzz it all off. I never did get a wig, I had decided to stick with cotton scarves. The only time I wear them is when I knew I was going to be in a building for a period of time with the AC on; and now that it's Fall, if it's too warm out for a fleece hoodie, I will wear the scarf. I don't like things on my head (hats, ect.) so I would tend to forget to wear even the scarf. I've been called "sir" a couple few times - LOL. I guess they forgot to look down at the boobs pointing at them :)
  • Chemo_Princess
    Chemo_Princess Member Posts: 105
    #12
    Hi Chris
    When my hair started falling out I buzzed it off and started wearing my wig. Then the itty bitty stubble on my head started falling out. After every shower it was stuck all over my face!! I used that 'silky smooth' as seen on tv hair remover on my head and it worked!! It worked to get the excess leg hair off too. It's like a piece of fine sandpaper, if you rub gently it doesn't cause skin irritation.
    Blessings to you!
    Natalie
  • RandiK
    RandiK Member Posts: 31
    #13
    hair loss
    my Mom's hair started falling out about a week after her first treatment. She had my sister just cut it off and leave about and inch or so all over. She told her it didnt matter how it looked. Mom started wearing scarves when she went out of the house. Well about 4 or 5 days later for some reason my sis, her husband and kids and me and my husband were at my Moms for coffee and Mom just couldn't seem to keep her hands out of her hair. She kept running her hands through it telling us, "just look, my hair will be gone by the middle of next week". Mom decided there, sitting on the front porch to just buzz her hair off. So my sister and I buzzed it off for her with pretty much the whole family there. Mom has several wigs, but she doesn't like to wear them because they do get hot. She had started wearing scarves and really did like that until somebody gave her baseball caps with lots of bling and shiny stuff on them. Now about 3 months since her last treatment her hair is starting to grow back, I'd say it looks like a boys burr haircut, maybe just a little longer.

Discussion Boards