I still have hair

dorion
dorion Member Posts: 183
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi Guys
Well it's been almost two weeks since my first chemo and I still have every hair on my head! What's up with that? I know it's going to happen but when? I just want this part to hurry up and get over with! What was everyone else's experience?
Linda

Comments

  • lady342008
    lady342008 Member Posts: 82
    Hi Dorion, I have my first consult with a GYN Oncologist on the 13th, so I haven't been through any of that. But, I heard not everybody loses their hair and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. ;-) I never have heard anybody say any time frame that it happens. My Mom had 3 Chemo treatments and then stopped treatments. She never lost any of her hair with the 3 treatments. I'll be watching this discussion to see what the replies are.
    Hope you're having a great day. :-)
  • carol1945
    carol1945 Member Posts: 7
    Dorion: I had 9 treatments and started losing my hair after the second one. It came out in clumps,so I just shaved it off. That was hard but it was over and done with and you get used to no hair. I have a wig, but I found it to be too itchy and bothersome, so I just wore hats, scarves and bandanas. It is traumatic, but maybe you won't lose your hair. My prayers go out to you. Hugs and more hugs. You will get through this.........
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    Linda - my hair started falling out about 3 weeks after my first treatment. Just came out by the handful so I shaved it off. I think it also depends on what chemo you are taking - and maybe you'll be a lucky one! Something to smile about if that's the case. My girlfriends had a "scarf" party for me and I ended up with about 100 different scarfs - never wore a wig. Just didn't think it was me.

    Hope you are doing well. Hugs!
    Kris
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  • curlyq1971
    curlyq1971 Member Posts: 56
    Hi Dorion,
    My hair fell out at the 17th day after my first treatment, and I just shaved it all off. I chose not to wear a wig or bandana, I chose to walk around bald, and I actually received compliments at how good I looked with no hair. At first it was a little distressing losing my hair but I got used to it. If you do lose your hair, it will be weird at first looking at yourself in the mirror but after awhile you get used to it and it is kinda nice not having to do your hair, there is no fuss, no muss. I lost every single hair on my body too, I had very little eyebrows left, but all the arm, leg, nose, under the arm, eyelashes, and pubic were gone. It was kinda nice not having to shave but just so you know the eyelashes and eyebrows grow back rather quickly. Also to let you know, I now have darker and natural curly hair, before chemo treatments my hair was as straight as a pin and a medium brown, I feel like a brand new woman:) If and when you lose your hair, just try to look at the bigger picture of things, and it will grow back, and when it does start coming back in, your head will itch as well as everything else. Let us know what happens, maybe you will one of the fortunate few whose hair doesn't fall out.

    Take Care,
    Leslie
  • lady342008
    lady342008 Member Posts: 82
    carol1945 said:

    Dorion: I had 9 treatments and started losing my hair after the second one. It came out in clumps,so I just shaved it off. That was hard but it was over and done with and you get used to no hair. I have a wig, but I found it to be too itchy and bothersome, so I just wore hats, scarves and bandanas. It is traumatic, but maybe you won't lose your hair. My prayers go out to you. Hugs and more hugs. You will get through this.........

    carol1945, where did you get your wig? I've always wondered about this kind of thing. I donated my hair to "locks of love" years ago when I got 16" cut off.
    How long does it take for hair to start growing back? You have to be done with all your treatments first, right?
    I hope you're doing well. ;-)
  • well thats good you still have your hair! not everyone loses it, and sometimes it just thins out alot. I have a wig, but it gets annoying sometimes so i have lots of hats/bandanas/scarves, to go with all my outfits! it got quite cold without hair, but you definatly get used to it! I lost my hair two weeks after i started my treatment. The whole top part of my hair came out but the lower sides and back of my hair stayed i ended up just shaving it, i looked so funny, like the way an old man looked. well keep us posted! your in my thoughts and prayers
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    Dorion, so good to see your post. How is chemo going?

    As far at the hair fallout, it is usually between the 1st and 2nd treatment. I cut mine really short b4 it started falling out and then once it started I shaved my head. The falling out process was worse than being bald.

    Now what I do is shake my head outside, I like the thought that the birds are using it to line their nests. :-) Then I shave my head.

    Pray you and Meghan are both settled in and doing well.

    Hugs N Prayers Bonnie
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    carol1945 said:

    Dorion: I had 9 treatments and started losing my hair after the second one. It came out in clumps,so I just shaved it off. That was hard but it was over and done with and you get used to no hair. I have a wig, but I found it to be too itchy and bothersome, so I just wore hats, scarves and bandanas. It is traumatic, but maybe you won't lose your hair. My prayers go out to you. Hugs and more hugs. You will get through this.........

    Everyone is different. I don't think I would have lost all of mine but the mess was bad if I didn't shave it. I head started itching badly when it started to fall. I wear wigs, scarfs, and hats. whatever the mood and have fun with them. The bandana is the most comfortable with the hot flashes.
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183
    Hello Ladies, gosh thanks so much for all the information that you guys supplied, it's all very helpful. And Hello Bonnie Girl, it's been a while eh? Well it will be two weeks tomorrow for my first treatment. But after reading all the replies, I want my hair to fall out, I want nice curly hair!! LOL I want to look like a brand new me. So I can at least have that to look forward to. The only thing I am worried about (gonna sound stupid) is my brows, I've always maintained them and took a lot of pride in shaping them, I know that they'll never grow back in the way I had it. But I will cross that bridge when I get to it. So I'll more than likely shave like you guys said, I'm ok with that I think. Basically I don't care about the hair as long as I get the results we all pray for, so it's all for the good cause. Right? Well I'll keep you posted on the hair situation, I've heard from several people how the wigs make your head itch. I have an appointment with "Look good feel good" on Thursday so I'm looking forward to that, they might be able to teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks again Ladies and I look forward to seeing you soon.

    Linda
  • curlyq1971
    curlyq1971 Member Posts: 56
    dorion said:

    Hello Ladies, gosh thanks so much for all the information that you guys supplied, it's all very helpful. And Hello Bonnie Girl, it's been a while eh? Well it will be two weeks tomorrow for my first treatment. But after reading all the replies, I want my hair to fall out, I want nice curly hair!! LOL I want to look like a brand new me. So I can at least have that to look forward to. The only thing I am worried about (gonna sound stupid) is my brows, I've always maintained them and took a lot of pride in shaping them, I know that they'll never grow back in the way I had it. But I will cross that bridge when I get to it. So I'll more than likely shave like you guys said, I'm ok with that I think. Basically I don't care about the hair as long as I get the results we all pray for, so it's all for the good cause. Right? Well I'll keep you posted on the hair situation, I've heard from several people how the wigs make your head itch. I have an appointment with "Look good feel good" on Thursday so I'm looking forward to that, they might be able to teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks again Ladies and I look forward to seeing you soon.

    Linda

    Dorion,
    I also went to the Look Good Feel Good class and it was alot of fun! You will receive a big box of makeup and skin care items for your skin tone. The makeup is really nice, my box had clinique, mary kay, and loreal in it, Nice Stuff. They were also very helpful to the women who wanted to purchase a wig too. They will teach you how to draw your brows in and how to wear your eyeliner (if you wear it) so it looks like you have lashes, it was really cool. I had the same attitude as you have about losing my hair, as long as the chemo did its job it really didn't bother me. Chemo wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I think it is the fear of the unknown that makes us scared and TV and the movies portray it much worse than what it really is. Hang in there and we are all here for you, and please if you have any other questions or concerns ask away that is what we are here for.

    Take Care,
    Leslie
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183

    Dorion,
    I also went to the Look Good Feel Good class and it was alot of fun! You will receive a big box of makeup and skin care items for your skin tone. The makeup is really nice, my box had clinique, mary kay, and loreal in it, Nice Stuff. They were also very helpful to the women who wanted to purchase a wig too. They will teach you how to draw your brows in and how to wear your eyeliner (if you wear it) so it looks like you have lashes, it was really cool. I had the same attitude as you have about losing my hair, as long as the chemo did its job it really didn't bother me. Chemo wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I think it is the fear of the unknown that makes us scared and TV and the movies portray it much worse than what it really is. Hang in there and we are all here for you, and please if you have any other questions or concerns ask away that is what we are here for.

    Take Care,
    Leslie

    Thank you Leslie you are a sweetheart along with all the rest of the wonderful ladies in this chat board, I love all of you. Yeah this appointment is tomorrow but I still have my darn lashes and brows...lol...I don't know if they are going to send me away with a box of make up for free, that place looks pretty she she and he was a bit of a snot, I can't afford their wigs, they start at somewhere along the lines of 300.00 I just can't get my head wrapped (pardon the punn) paying that for a wig, if I had all the money in the world I would, but money is an object for me that's for sure. But I"ll let you know how it goes, thanks again for your response and advice. I pulled out a bit of hair tonight, it's not as traumatic as I thought, because it's coming out like 10 or 20 strands at a time...not clumps as you say they portray in the movies eh? Love to all of you.....

    Linda