Chemo ?
Comments
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I was on the same. I did
I was on the same. I did not lose all of my hair. In fact, you could hardly tell I lost it. I used hair spray and clips to cover and thin areas.
If you want to get a wig, you might want to call your local Cancer Society. They often give these to you for free (along with other supplies.) I returned my wig when my hair came back completely.
By the way, where are you located?
Lizzy0 -
Johnstown , Palizzydavis said:I was on the same. I did
I was on the same. I did not lose all of my hair. In fact, you could hardly tell I lost it. I used hair spray and clips to cover and thin areas.
If you want to get a wig, you might want to call your local Cancer Society. They often give these to you for free (along with other supplies.) I returned my wig when my hair came back completely.
By the way, where are you located?
Lizzy
Thank you
Johnstown , Pa
Thank you0 -
I was on the same chemo, didlizzydavis said:I was on the same. I did
I was on the same. I did not lose all of my hair. In fact, you could hardly tell I lost it. I used hair spray and clips to cover and thin areas.
If you want to get a wig, you might want to call your local Cancer Society. They often give these to you for free (along with other supplies.) I returned my wig when my hair came back completely.
By the way, where are you located?
Lizzy
I was on the same chemo, did not lose my hair. I bought a wig to look just like my hair and never had to use it. For me, I had to have one ready to go just in case, so it was like an insurance policy, i spent alot of money on it and never had to use it!
Kathy0 -
Not much losskhl8 said:I was on the same chemo, did
I was on the same chemo, did not lose my hair. I bought a wig to look just like my hair and never had to use it. For me, I had to have one ready to go just in case, so it was like an insurance policy, i spent alot of money on it and never had to use it!
Kathy
I was on the same chemo and my hair thinned but never bad enough to need a wig or hat or such. I wear my hair short anyway and had a nice spikey cut done right before I started chemo.When a section thinned I could gel it and run my hands through it and zap! the thinning didn't show.
Good luck with your treatments.
-Pat0 -
The Inclined Planebraelee2 said:Johnstown , Pa
Thank you
Johnstown , Pa
Thank you
My wife's family is from Johnstown. We haven't been out there in ages but it is an interesting town. Of course there were the floods there too. My mother-in-law was there in the flood of 1937(?) and other members were there for the big one in the late 1800's and again in the 1970's. Most of her great Uncles worked in steel mills in the area.
We took rides on the Inclined Plane, pretty cool view0 -
Thinning no big loss
Hi Braelee,
Like the others have said, when I was on the same chemo combo (which is standard for the first chemo for colorectal cancer), I did notice hair thinning but not to the point where others noticed. I had very thick hair, so to me it was very noticeable, but friends who have known me for years marveled at me being on chemo and then 6 weeks of radiation and how I never lost any hair (ok, my hairdresser noticed too, but he worked with what I had and my idea of a lot of thinning was someone else's idea of a healthy head of hair).
I was all prepared to shave my head if need be because I was not going to walk around with large clumps of hair missing... but that never happened.
What was a bit distressing (hit me in the vanity department) was that colouring my hair was highly discouraged. The chemicals in the chemo combined with the chemicals in the hair dye could have made my hair so dry and brittle that it would have damaged the hair to the point of it being brittle and breaking off in clumps (which then would probably be blamed on the chemo when in fact it was because of the hair dye). So alas, I had to let my mousy brown mixed with gray hair grow in and I HATED it... to the point where I waited for 6 months but finally couldn't stand it anymore so coloured my hair with still 2 months of chemo to get through (and my hair didn't end up breaking off... although it did feel considerably dryer... so I went for the deep conditioning treatments at the salon).
Hope this helps
Cheryl
PS: Don't go by the look of my hair in this picture. It was taken in the wee hours of the morning after some heavy duty partying and it was hot, so my hair is wet and stuck to my head. Not my most attractive look! LOL!0 -
I was allowed to color during chemoCherylHutch said:Thinning no big loss
Hi Braelee,
Like the others have said, when I was on the same chemo combo (which is standard for the first chemo for colorectal cancer), I did notice hair thinning but not to the point where others noticed. I had very thick hair, so to me it was very noticeable, but friends who have known me for years marveled at me being on chemo and then 6 weeks of radiation and how I never lost any hair (ok, my hairdresser noticed too, but he worked with what I had and my idea of a lot of thinning was someone else's idea of a healthy head of hair).
I was all prepared to shave my head if need be because I was not going to walk around with large clumps of hair missing... but that never happened.
What was a bit distressing (hit me in the vanity department) was that colouring my hair was highly discouraged. The chemicals in the chemo combined with the chemicals in the hair dye could have made my hair so dry and brittle that it would have damaged the hair to the point of it being brittle and breaking off in clumps (which then would probably be blamed on the chemo when in fact it was because of the hair dye). So alas, I had to let my mousy brown mixed with gray hair grow in and I HATED it... to the point where I waited for 6 months but finally couldn't stand it anymore so coloured my hair with still 2 months of chemo to get through (and my hair didn't end up breaking off... although it did feel considerably dryer... so I went for the deep conditioning treatments at the salon).
Hope this helps
Cheryl
PS: Don't go by the look of my hair in this picture. It was taken in the wee hours of the morning after some heavy duty partying and it was hot, so my hair is wet and stuck to my head. Not my most attractive look! LOL!
Cheryl, I was allowed to color during chemo, just not during my infusion week. Natalie, ask your dr, if that is a concern for you.
I'd actually hoped to lose my hair so I could stop coloring without worrying about that half and half "skunky" look! Now that I'm allergic to hair dyes, I no longer have a choice - grey is "in".
Alice0 -
Colouringabrub said:I was allowed to color during chemo
Cheryl, I was allowed to color during chemo, just not during my infusion week. Natalie, ask your dr, if that is a concern for you.
I'd actually hoped to lose my hair so I could stop coloring without worrying about that half and half "skunky" look! Now that I'm allergic to hair dyes, I no longer have a choice - grey is "in".
Alice
Hey Alice,
I think the jury is out on when to and when not to colour. The chemo is still in our systems for a good month or longer after one stops so it really depends on the individual and how sensitive their hair may be to chemo and hair dye. I wasn't willing to damage my hair anymore than colour normally damages, so I did wait 6 months (longest 6 months ever!) before I finally broke down and had to colour it. Mind you, I did change the kind of colour I used. Prior to chemo, my colourist was using L'oreal products, but since I was still on chemo, I changed to an Aveda salon which is all natural products. And I didn't have any problems. I think everyone's mileage may vary... some won't have any problems, others will have bad problems... and everything in between
Cheryl0 -
coolPhillieG said:The Inclined Plane
My wife's family is from Johnstown. We haven't been out there in ages but it is an interesting town. Of course there were the floods there too. My mother-in-law was there in the flood of 1937(?) and other members were there for the big one in the late 1800's and again in the 1970's. Most of her great Uncles worked in steel mills in the area.
We took rides on the Inclined Plane, pretty cool view
I'm only like 2 mile from the Incline plane. Believe it or not I only rode it once and It scare the crap out of me. lol0 -
thinning onlyCherylHutch said:Colouring
Hey Alice,
I think the jury is out on when to and when not to colour. The chemo is still in our systems for a good month or longer after one stops so it really depends on the individual and how sensitive their hair may be to chemo and hair dye. I wasn't willing to damage my hair anymore than colour normally damages, so I did wait 6 months (longest 6 months ever!) before I finally broke down and had to colour it. Mind you, I did change the kind of colour I used. Prior to chemo, my colourist was using L'oreal products, but since I was still on chemo, I changed to an Aveda salon which is all natural products. And I didn't have any problems. I think everyone's mileage may vary... some won't have any problems, others will have bad problems... and everything in between
Cheryl
l done 9 rounds and only thinning but not massive loose !
l m loosing much more now after my scone round of folfiri!0 -
I was on the same chemo too,pepebcn said:thinning only
l done 9 rounds and only thinning but not massive loose !
l m loosing much more now after my scone round of folfiri!
I was on the same chemo too, just thinning and it's rare, according to my ONC. Your hair may hurt after awhile, I know mine did, even the breeze that would make my hair stand up, made it hurt. Like when you wear a pony tail all day then let it down. I colored my hair.0 -
I'm on same regimen
I'm on same regimen and all my hair didn't fall out. I'm on 11th of 12 treatments (I was stage IV, dx about a year ago, have had two surgeries to remove primary tumor and met to liver). Hair has definitely thinned (it's alarming to see so many strands in sink after I dry it), but to others, it's not noticeable. I've cut it a bit shorter and use some volumizing mouse. Going bald is probably way down the list of things to worry about.0 -
no hair loss, just lots of
no hair loss, just lots of tingling/numbness in hands & feet. Your blood levels also get screwed up.
Good luck!0 -
Chemo
Had that same type and didn't lose all my hair it just thinned out really bad, but I've had always really thin hair. Most people do just fine with the hair. The only problem that affected me was the oxi, but most people get through that too. Just keep coming to this board when you have any questions, as a lot of us have had this "cocktail." Good luck and keep us posted.
Kim0 -
FYI
I did loose hair. I was told probably would not which is norm, but had tremendous reaction after 7th session and taken off folfox chemo. That was June, hair fell out within the next month. Just letting you know that it can happen. I kind of paniced because everyone led me to believe it would not happend and I was a little shocked. It was really ok, because it comes back, but that intial panic was the worse, because I didn't expect it and thought why just me......Just a FYI in case. Pat0 -
ClumpsLifeisajourney said:FYI
I did loose hair. I was told probably would not which is norm, but had tremendous reaction after 7th session and taken off folfox chemo. That was June, hair fell out within the next month. Just letting you know that it can happen. I kind of paniced because everyone led me to believe it would not happend and I was a little shocked. It was really ok, because it comes back, but that intial panic was the worse, because I didn't expect it and thought why just me......Just a FYI in case. Pat
Same meds as you and my hair was coming out in clumps. It was way too emotional for me so I decided to have one of my best friends shave my head. I did get a wig not for me but for my then 11 year old who was scared and told me I just "didnt look like her mommy" Gosh, gonna cry just thinking about it.... Just wanted to share my experience
Smiles,
Dawn0 -
ClumpsLifeisajourney said:FYI
I did loose hair. I was told probably would not which is norm, but had tremendous reaction after 7th session and taken off folfox chemo. That was June, hair fell out within the next month. Just letting you know that it can happen. I kind of paniced because everyone led me to believe it would not happend and I was a little shocked. It was really ok, because it comes back, but that intial panic was the worse, because I didn't expect it and thought why just me......Just a FYI in case. Pat
Same meds as you and my hair was coming out in clumps. It was way too emotional for me so I decided to have one of my best friends shave my head. I did get a wig not for me but for my then 11 year old who was scared and told me I just "didnt look like her mommy" Gosh, gonna cry just thinking about it.... Just wanted to share my experience
Smiles,
Dawn0 -
ClumpsLifeisajourney said:FYI
I did loose hair. I was told probably would not which is norm, but had tremendous reaction after 7th session and taken off folfox chemo. That was June, hair fell out within the next month. Just letting you know that it can happen. I kind of paniced because everyone led me to believe it would not happend and I was a little shocked. It was really ok, because it comes back, but that intial panic was the worse, because I didn't expect it and thought why just me......Just a FYI in case. Pat
Same meds as you and my hair was coming out in clumps. It was way too emotional for me so I decided to have one of my best friends shave my head. I did get a wig not for me but for my then 11 year old who was scared and told me I just "didnt look like her mommy" Gosh, gonna cry just thinking about it.... Just wanted to share my experience
Smiles,
Dawn0 -
Most people do not
Most people do not lose all their hair on FOLFOX (5-FU plus oxaliplatin). The short name for what you are on is FOLFOX and that is what you will see people write. So anyone that mentions FOLFOX is talking about the same chemo that you will be on. The FU is short for flouracil, and it is kind of fitting. It says FU to cancer cells! Everyone on 5-FU gets leucovorin to help you metabalize it - it is a form of folinic acid, not really a "chemo" drug, but an enhancer for one. So that is why it doesn't get added into the chemo short names. Some people on it don't lose any hair. Some have a little thinning. And then there are the rare ones like me, that lose more. I had very thick hair (probably three times as much as most people have), and lost 9/10 of it. If I'd been normal to start, I would have been very bald. It kept thinning and receding till about 6 weeks after I was done with chemo. Then it started growing back in - much softer than it was before.
I'm starting FOLFIRI and Avastin (5-FU with Irinotecan) next week, and most people have a lot of thinning or lose it completely on that. So I'm betting I will lose mine.
I wouldn't do anything drastic, like shaving your head or getting a wig. Even with all my hair loss, I didn't get a wig. But I might now with FOLFIRI. One of those "false" things that most people believe about chemo is that it always causes your hair to fall out. But some of the drugs don't usually do that.0 -
The same region as my
The same region as my husband did.My husband didn't lose a lot hair,just thinned out a little.But I think there is no harm to have a wig just in case,because each individual is different.Good luck with the chemo.Take care.0
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