Hi, I have just had a wirlwind 3 week tour of being diagnosed with BC. Sorry, I still can't say the word. I had my lump out last week and pathology back today - it's happened amazingly fast (private health fund). Only 3 lymphs out - no cancer in lymph nodes stage 1 grade 3 so they want to go back into clear the margins on Monday - small op.on scar already healing. then have recommended 4 mths chemo then radiation. Very scared, trying to wrap my head around everything. Doctors says I will be ok, but seeing how scared my husbnd is and how he is handling it hurts. Any suggestions to get me through chemo? I was also thinking cold caps as a I have long hair which is devasting.

It's so hard to watch our loved ones hurting. As Marg put it, chemo is a tough gig but it is doable. There are lots of preventative tips to ease some of side effects, I recommend being proactive instead of reactive, it really does help. I lost my hair which at the time was difficult, but now 7 months after chemo, looking back, that was the least of my worries. I also got a wig from the library and I became very adept with scarves. Some of the ladies on her have made mention of the cold caps, I'm sure they can advise you, all the best and keep in touch, Hazel xx

thankyou marg and hazel. not sure what the wig library is. this is all new to me lizzie x

our hospital has a "library" of wigs that they lend out to you (borrow period is as long as you need) - mine was brand new and cost me nothing. I just have to return it once I am finished. I don't wear it that often, scarves/turbans more comfortable - but its great to have for special occassions. not sure about the cool caps - maybe some others can answer this. good luck Marg xx

hi shat. not sure where you are situated, but im in penrith nsw so finding a place that does cool caps will be a challenge. i dont know my chemo reime yet (monday) but it is suggested 4 mths so not sure how many rounds that is. my hair is very long thick curly down to my bra strap. thought of cutting it to shoulders then giving cool caps a go. have to find smoewhere that does this. but your experience isencouraging lizzie x

I know what you mean about watching those close to you struggle with all this. I think in many ways it is tougher for them because they feel so helpless. My husband and I spent a lot of time talking and I think being honest with each other helped. We both wanted to shield each other but it worked better for us when we were completely open about things. You do get through this (I had chemo and radio too) but you need support. My family, friends and this network got me through things. I had very thick shoulder length hair. I had it cut short before chemo started and my husband and daughters shaved it on day 14 after my first chemo when it started falling out by the handful. It was sad but for me it was minor in the scheme of things and I have since discovered that short hair is very liberating (I am not spending lots of time blow drying it!). I did use cold mits to prevent damage to nerves and fingernails. These were uncomfortable but definitely seemed to work. My chemo was in winter and I just could not have dealt with having cold caps on. Good luck with everything. Deanne xxx

Yep... I became a statistic! | BCNA Online Network

32 Replies

Liggyw
Member
11 years ago
I'm sure you look stunning. Highly recommend the Look Good Feel Better workshop. I attended last week and I was blown away with what I learnt, hats, scarves and even wigs which I was totally against but my mind has ben changed. I was feeling pretty rough on the day but I left feeling feminine, glamorous and best of all 'normal'. The volunteers were magnificent, I definitely recommend this program. :) Leigh
miss_lizzie
Member
11 years ago
well back from hairdresser. bob is ok. i have never had short hair in my life which was distressing. done now. waiting for rob to get home, he'll say he loves it. now to chemo nurse tomorrow then a day to do final stuff. then CDAY. this week will be a blast. just wondering whether i can run on friday after. i run 4 times a week normally not sure whether i am allowed. must ask nurse chemo. feel like this blog has become a diary.

lizzie
Liggyw
Member
11 years ago
Hi Lizzie I hope you love your new hair cut. Both my hairdresser and I cried after mine because it looked so good and I should have done it years ago. I hope you feel the same :). They used a canular in my hand first treatment as I had only just had a port a cath put in. Sounds like a toilet (port a loo) so my friends have christened it the 'cath and Kim' which is so much nicer. Saying that, I'm already anxious about it being used the first time and does it hurt. Oh well, i will find out in two weeks. What I've learned (in my very short time) is that you just take it one day at a time and celebrate that you got through another day :) Leigh
miss_lizzie
Member
11 years ago
hi liggyw, im the xmas girl. exmas eve treatment to be exact. i have my first treatment this thursday. scared of needles so i have bought a box of elma patches..lol i get my hair cut in 1 hrs time from very long to short bob. thats going to be just as traumatic. cant wait to get through this. calendar all my treatments to mark them off. and googling things to see what makes your hair grow back quicker.lol vain i know but need to get back to normal and feel normal asap. your one treatment up on me so looks like ours will be parellel worlds for a while.

take care

Lizzie
margiemoo
Member
11 years ago
unfortunately we all have to find it to fight this disease - we all have our down moments though. Hope you are going ok.

Marg xx
Liggyw
Member
11 years ago
I am in the same boat ie: newly diagnosed. I have only had my first treatment last week and I'm now anxiously waiting for my hair to fall out and freaking out. I did have long blonde hair halfway down my back but I had it all cut off prior to my first treatment. I'm anxious that when it starts falling out it will make the whole BC thing really real again. After reading all you lovely ladies comments - the common message that I'm hearing is that losing your hair is 'do-able'. You have all given me a much needed boost. I also took great strength from the lady who commented about Christmas. Didn't think about it before, but one bad, bald Christmas is a small price to pay in the scheme of things. Thank you ladies
Liggyw
Member
11 years ago
I am in the same boat ie: newly diagnosed. I have only had my first treatment last week and I'm now anxiously waiting for my hair to fall out and freaking out. I did have long blonde hair halfway down my back but I had it all cut off prior to my first treatment. I'm anxious that when it starts falling out it will make the whole BC thing really real again. After reading all you lovely ladies comments - the common message that I'm hearing is that losing your hair is 'do-able'. You have all given me a much needed boost. I also took great strength from the lady who commented about Christmas. Didn't think about it before, but one bad, bald Christmas is a small price to pay in the scheme of things. Thank you ladies
Liggyw
Member
11 years ago
I am in the same boat ie: newly diagnosed. I have only had my first treatment last week and I'm now anxiously waiting for my hair to fall out and freaking out. I did have long blonde hair halfway down my back but I had it all cut off prior to my first treatment. I'm anxious that when it starts falling out it will make the whole BC thing really real again. After reading all you lovely ladies comments - the common message that I'm hearing is that losing your hair is 'do-able'. You have all given me a much needed boost. I also took great strength from the lady who commented about Christmas. Didn't think about it before, but one bad, bald Christmas is a small price to pay in the scheme of things. Thank you ladies
shat
Member
11 years ago
Hi Dragonlover,

Yes its importatnt to do what makes you comfortable re cold caps because they might vary. The first cap is uncomfortable but after that my head just goes numb so its not like a constant ice cream headache (for me anyway). they are a bit heavy though after a while so a travel pillow is useful.

The thought of chemo is a very scary thing isnt it? It really goes against your natural instincts!! My first round was not great but the last 2 have been very tolerable with fatigue and a few aches being the main problem.

What chemo drugs are you having. I am on TCH (not to be confused with THC :) ). taxotere, herceptin and carboplatin.

I agree that it's nice to have something you can take control of and I think this helped my patrner too, to be able to actually help with something. We are off to round 4 now...the joys!

shat
JessicaV
Member
11 years ago
Hi,

When I was researching coldcaps, I read that some chemo regimes will make most of your hair fall out even with a coldcap, so you may want to check to see what the story is with your particular chemo regime. And for some people having to put up with the intensive "icecream headache" for a number of hours is worse than losing their hair.

If you want to continue to have lovely hair, you may find it worthwhile to look at a few other options and maybe set a Plan B in action .

One is to buy a wig that is just like your normal hair. Another option that sounds like it could be great for you is to get your real hair made into a wig, or into a half-wig attached to a hat or a scarf if you want something cooler, so you continue to have your own hair and it is not nearly as hot as a wig. One:

http://www.360-hair.com/makewigfromownhair.html

is listed with Cancer Canada because they have teamed up with Cancer Canada to make wigs with yr own hair. There are several places that do this, some faster and cheaper than others.

Perhaps to be realistic you might choose to do both.

I opted to lose my hair and am really enjoy growing it back now the Docetaxol treatment is finished. I bought a marilyn Munro wig and found it fun going around as a blonde!

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/cold-caps is a good webpage with the following to say about coldcaps:

It’s also important to know that cold caps don’t work for everyone. In two small European studies, cold caps were considered effective in about 50% of the women that used them. Women who got only anthracycline chemotherapy had better results with cold caps than women who got only taxane chemotherapy.

Adriamycin (chemical name: doxorubicin), Ellence (chemical name: epirubicin), and daunorubicin are anthracyclines.

Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel), Taxotere (chemical name: docetaxel), and Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) are taxanes.

Women who got both an anthracycline and a taxane in their chemotherapy regimen (combination chemotherapy) seem to have the worst results with cold caps, though some of them still kept some of their hair.

If you’re interested in trying cold caps, talk to your doctor about all the factors that need to be taken into account, including your chemotherapy regimen and any other health issues you may have.

Forum Discussion

Yep... I became a statistic!

32 Replies

Recent Discussions

Triple Positive HER2+

Feeling lost

Second Opinion

Inoperable

Recommendations-North Brisbane -Public v Private- Surgeons