It's started!

I see you had to buy  your wig what are the alternative, will be looking to save money!

Reminds me of a funny moment before I left work when a lady came into the Pharmacy asking for false eyelashes as she was dressing up as Amy Winehouse.  One of the other ladies at work who has my sense of humour was with us at the time and as we are helping her she began talking about the wig she had bought for the fancy dress.  I will only wear it once she said, then I can lend it to people.  I said what a coincidence, I my just do that!  It was the thought of the type of wig it would be that made me laugh at the time, the big bee hivey do!

Guess you had to be there!

 

Also saw this comment.  One of the first questions I asked was can I drink wine?  Well having come from a grape growing area originally, my husband and I have enjoyed a bottle of wine with a meal, as a regular support for the growers and their industry!  As for coffee, well its like a brushing your teeth in the morning, the first pleasure of our day.  The fabulous hum of the coffee machine, the aroma.... the taste.

Im smiling, I have a big dry sense of humour.

So I guess I will be forced to behave myself and detox in a most full on way!

MMMMMmmm, note to self, must by a huge amount of comedy DVDs!

XX Bel

I couldn't have put it better than the other ladies; the treatment itself isn't 'fun' but you know that it's making you better. Why then do you have to say 'Goodbye' [even temporarily] to hair, taste-buds, fingernails . . . you name it! Yes, we get them back [eventually] but it just seems like such a long time [especially the taste-buds!!!]. 

I had long hair too, and was sure that I would be the exception in that it wouldn't fall out, but it did. I gradually cut it then went with a wig - scarves made me look worse than I felt [emotionaly] but everyone is different. Some ladies look fantastic with a scarf; many of my neighbors still don't know what I've been through over the past few months due to the wig. Some friends offered to shave their heads [so we could all be in this together] but just getting together, having a coffee and an everyday chat was great therapy for me.

If you need to chat call on your on-line friends wha have 'been there, done that' and I'm sure they can help you feel better. Know that you WILL get your hair back [and it's great trying new hairstyles] - you just have to get better first.

Keep well, take special care of yourself, you're not alone in this.

Special thoughts your way.

You know I had the same irrational thoughts about not losing my hair too. I somehow thought that because my hair was very thick it might withstand the chemo. But sadly no, right on cue it started to fall out fast, two weeks after my first treatment. For me it has been the worst part of having breast cancer. As you said, our hair is so much a  part of us as women.

I guess what has helped me was buying a nice wig. It's a bit annoying to wear for long periods - gets a bit itchy - so around the house I usually just wear a beanie.  But I never leave the house without it. Everyone has told me it doesn't look like a wig (hope they're not just saying that to be polite) so I do feel quite comfortable with it in public. It was expensive - about $375 - but well worth the investment. At least I haven't had to spend money on hair cuts and colours for a while.

 I finished my chemo back in Aug so my hair is growing back but it is a slow process. I don't think I'll be ditching the wig for a couple more months yet. 

It's tough losing the hair, no getting around it. But I guess we just have to think of the greater good ie eliminating the cancer and get through it as best we can. I hope your chemo treatment goes as well as possible. You're certainly not alone in feeling the way you do. Good luck and take extra special care of yourself right now. Janet :)

Well there you go there are two positives - cause not having coffee and wine for a while will certainly help you be more healthier if nothing else.  :-)

LOL, Mich xoxo

Oh Mich I think the drinks will have to wait until it grows back! I can't stand the thought of alcohol at the moment. Or coffee! My two vices...all gone for the moment! lol...will make it a celebration when my hair grows back.

xxx

Hey

You are not self centred, you are normal so don't worry about that.

I hope when it comes time to go the full monty you manage to have a couple of celebratory drinks to wish your hair bon voyage for now.

Good luck with it and stay in touch.

LOL, Mich xoxo

Hey

You are not self centred, you are normal so don't worry about that.

I hope when it comes time to go the full monty you manage to have a couple of celebratory drinks to wish your hair bon voyage for now.

Good luck with it and stay in touch.

LOL, Mich xoxo

Oh Mich...thank you! So very much for that. It is so good to share this journey with someone who has been there before me. Do you know how special you are for the care and concern you show? Yes I am planning on shaving my hair off. Was going to do it with a few friends to help in case of tears etc, but my hair is falling out quicker than they thought and they aren't available just yet! The other day I was thinking how this is all making me feel so self centred too...I'm not too comfortable with that!

T. xx 

Oh sweety, it is only hair and I promise you it does grow back. BUT in saying that I know how hard it is and it really really sucks.  I hated wearing scarves so never ever did, not even around the house.  I bought some cute lil hats or wore my wig and I got through.  At home I didn't wear anything but had  a lil hat by the front door should there be a knock at the door.

My wig was my saviour.  I have 50,000 scarves that will now go to the wig service for them to pass on to other ladies who are unfortunate to be in our position.  As soon as I can give up the bond I had formed with my wig that will also go to the wig council.  My hair is growing back and I get so many wonderful comments on how fantastic it looks and I should keep it just as it is which is a huge boost.  No more wig for me these days.

I am telling you this because I hope it will help you look to the future and even though he was a bloke he was right, it is only hair and it is only temporary that you will be without it.  All this BC crap we have to go through is only temporary but hard for us to grasp that.

Don't be too hard on yourself for feeling down and ripped off as we all do when our hair decides to leave us, I believe it is a bit of a grieving process we go through.  You are right in saying our hair is such a big part of who we are.

If I can suggest you take control like most of us girls did and shave your hair off to take away some of the discomfort and to feel liberated.  You probably won't like what you look like bald but you do get used to it or just learn to live with it.

I am sorry that you are having to go through this.  Thinking of you.

Mich xoxoxo