Hair loss

Feel ya! I had my hairdresser come to my house with my family around me to give me the support I needed. I literally broke down as she put the shaver on the table. Went to my bedroom had a good cry then composed myself to get the job done. This was the next hurdle of my journey! Yes I had tears as she shaved my head but my family supported me & tried to make me laugh & smile & told me how fab I looked. After the 1st week of looking in the mirror & getting use to my new look, I embraced it! I took photos & some funny ones & even uploaded a few on FB. This actually empowered me! Sharing it with others, & putting awareness out there which I did throughout my journey! TBH I thought I looked better than my bald husband haha! It’s an emotional time, it’s your next hurdle BUT You’ve got this! 💪👍🏻 💗

Here is our Kojak photo ❤️

I lost mine only a few days after my second chemo, spring 2021. I remember sitting on our verandah, and I pulled it out in big clumps, and didn't stop until nothing more came out in my hands. I threw it into our garden, and through some tears, watched the little blue wrens come and take it away, to line their nests with it. Bitter-sweet. Confronting to see it come out. Nice to see it being used by the little birds.

And the super-unfair bit is that it was only the coloured hair that fell out - all my grey ones stayed put! On what planet is that ok???

I felt it too. I had my first chemo and when I went back my nurse said ‘I thought your hair would be gone by now’. Sigh. The next day it’s started falling out. Waist length and long. I couldn’t Believe I had so much hair. I got my daughter to cut it to me chin for me and I felt that enabled it to be an easier process. But I still cried as it fell out. I wear hair coverings now. Hope you’re okay with it all now !

Hello ladies just wanted to wrap a big hug around you.   I felt all the same feelings you are having when I lost my hair.   

It does get better and it does grow back.   I had some soft bamboo hats I would wear.  I had a few in different colours.  My thoughts were if this is happening I'm going to look good and fashionable. 

I think when my eyebrows went was hard for me.  I ended up getting an eyebrow stamp and after a few dodgy stamps I was happy with end result.  Xxx

Hi @JulesAlive, I felt exactly the same. My hair loss started 18 days after my first chemo session and I was was a wreck. I found some beautiful scarves on a Melbourne instagram account braveryco, my friends chipped in to get me a couple and I love them. They have some great little videos on how to tie a turban which has provided me with a bit of fun.  I've also registered to attend a look good feel better workshop in Feb which I hope will help with my loss of confidence and getting my head around looking "sick".
Hope you are doing well  <3

I feel your sadness.  My hair started coming out two weeks after my first chemo treatment.  I had my hair cut short (not shaved) before starting treatment, and had been to a Cancer Council turban/wig session where they gave me some caps/scarves and ideas on how to wear them.  I didn't like the wigs but a friend of a friend gave me some wigs that she had and they seem to suit me better.  Hair loss has been THE emotional trigger for me - I've faced up to a shock diagnosis which resulted in lumpectomy, which revealed an undetected tumour, which turned into full mastectomy (thankfully no lymph nodes affected) and now undergoing chemo, with hormone blocker to follow.  But it's dealing with the loss of hair and associated managing of that which has triggered the biggest emotional response.  I'll be half way through chemo treatment after my next session so I'm trying to focus on moving through the processes and that there will be an end to it :).  I'm having a specialist Oncology Massage in between chemo sessions, which make me feel so much better.

Thanks everyone  <3 So good to have this forum and I appreciate all your good wishes. It makes such a difference to find other people who just get it x

@Keeping_positive1 - Yes good suggestion - I attended a Look Good Feel Better workshop, it was helpful and I feel more equipped to deal with loss of eyebrows etc. And I'm chuffed with all the free makeup we got!

@Julez1958 - yes I'm another Julie (but the only person who actually calls me Julie is my mum and then I feel like I'm in trouble haha). I've linked in with a counsellor which I find helpful. There's a lot of grief and loss involved in all of this.

I went and had my hair cut really short yesterday - clippers #2 - I don't recognise myself so it'll take me a while to get used to it. But I wore bright colours today and put make-up and a cool beanie on and it wasn't so bad. @pinkhope my hair started falling out on sunday and by yesterday it looked really thin and there were some bald patches starting to show and big clumps coming out every time I even touched my hair. Although getting it taken off was confronting I actually feel less distressed than when it was all coming out. I'm booking myself a massage for this weekend as a bit of self-care. Maybe you could do something too to look after yourself when you have your hair clippered? Sending you good wishes and take care x  

Hi All. I am sure we will get through this too. I have just started losing some hair since yesterday and was wondering if the hair loss is gradual or will I loose it all suddenly? I am planning to get it cut very short ( number 2 probably on the clippers) . Any advise would be great.

Hi @JulesAlive.  I also cried buckets and when I walked past a window I would think, who is that person, that’s not me.  My hair started growing back about 2 weeks after my last chemo session. The best thing is that I got back my “red” hair that was fading with age. And like others, I never have to shave my armpits 3 years later, and only do my legs once a month. Your hair is a part of your identity, there is absolutely nothing wrong with mourning the loss of it. All the best xx

Hi @JulesAlive ( love the name - assume you are another Julie 😊).
I didn’t have chemo but did have a lot of pain after my mastectomy and was taking Endone for a number of weeks and got quite down - I had a couple of sessions with a psychologist who specialised in cancer related distress and it really helped ( and the pain went away eventually) so if you continue to feel down it is something to bear in mind.
I wish you all the best and take care 🌺