Hi everyone, not sure if this is actually related to my BC treatment or not, but this afternoon I scratched my scalp as it was itchy and OMFG it hurt, it feels like as if I have a huge bruise on my head, as if I have hit my head on something or something has been smashed over my head, it is at the crown sort of on top but at the back, if that makes sense, should I go get it checked out or am I just worrying for nothing and it is a side effect of Chemo, I have only had one dose of Chemo and that was on the 19th July, with my next one due next Thursday the 9th August.... Has this happened to anyone else, is it common, is not common, should I worry??? Thank you in advance for any advice given...CheersWendy xox

Anything that gives you some control during this is a good thing.

I descibed the sensation like that of having your hair in a tight bun and letting it down. It hurts but relieved to rub it. It probably means your hair will start to fall soon. I found that after I clipped off my hair and gave it a good rub with moisturiser it was better.

If your hair feels dry and damaged, that's another indicator. For a week before mine fell out, it felt like it didn't belong to me. Hard to describe but not pleasant. I used to run my hands through my hair first thing in the morning. The first indication was a lot of hairs on my hands, but not clumps. I had already organised to get my hair cut really short and did it that day. Short hairs falling out are easier to deal with (practically and emotionally) than long ones. Shaving of course is the other option. Once it started, my hair went pretty rapidly. I had some sleep caps (helped with the sore head) and simply emptied it out over the bathroom sink in the morning!

@Schwen it's rotton no one warned you about this. I have no idea why the oncs don't ALL tell their chemo people this is likely. I rang my BCN frantic that I was having some sort of allergic reation--my head was so sore and I thought I'd pulls the skln off scratching at it. Once I realised it was my hair departing I got a friend to run the horse clippers over my noggin then shaved it. The funny thing is it continued to grow in patches, kind of. Parts of my head were silky smooth but others continued to need a bit of a touch up with the razor. The way you describe yours sounds like it is on the way out, maybe consider getting rid of it completely. A friend of mine let hers fall out bit by bit and the mess was outstanding.

Go to the barber's and have it clipped if you don't have anyone to do it for you. It'll be less painful coming out and you'll feel more in control. Well, I did, anyway.

Sore Head... | Online Network

Afraser
Member
7 years ago
If your chemo regimen is likely to
make you lose your hair, scalp sensations ranging from tingling to full on sunburn are common. Itchy, tingly, painful, it's the hair dying I'm afraid. Most people lose their hair approximately 2 weeks after the first dose. The only good thing is that the unpleasant feeling makes the hair loss a fraction easier because your head then stops feeling like someone blow torched it!

On on the other hand, if hair loss is not on your bc list, then best to get it checked out.

Best wishes
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Hi Wendy,

In my opinion it's the chemo. My head was SO tender, the slightest knock had me yelping in pain. I had TC and my hair down below started falling out Day 13, and the hair on top on Day 14. It was preceded by the extreme tenderness, itchiness, and irritation. As the hair fell out these sensations gradually went away. By the end of the second cycle they were virtually gone.

It's not pleasant but it will pass. Hang in there and don't worry! K xox
kezmusc
Member
7 years ago
Even though I was using the scalp cooler about day 10 after my first AC treatment I was in the shopping mall and I could feel the centre air conditioning blowing on my scalp. Christmas was day 14 and I was convinced I was going to wake up with no hair. (I didn't) It stayed ultra sensitive for the first 3 treatments. My husband thought it was weird when I said my hair hurt.
Schwen
Member
7 years ago
@Afraser, @kmakm @kezmusc....Not sure what you call my treatment in just letters lol, but it is Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide (which when i first read it i thought it was like fermaldahide lol)... anyway I haven't yet lost any hair day 14 today, well not sure of the nether region as it is shaved, but i just thought it was weird, and before i rushed off to the doctors only to be embarrassed by them saying oh its just a side effect from your Chemo, i would just ask here.... Thanks for putting me at ease...
Cheers
Wendy xox
Afraser
Member
7 years ago
I had A/C - which is the same, doxorubicin can be called adriamycin. Confusing isn't it, all these new terms. Not sure which bit does it, but it's pretty effective in some degree of hair loss. Everyone is a little bit different, so degree, soreness, what hair goes and when can vary. But seriously, never be embarrassed by asking a doctor. Most of us start off as bc virgins - we learn by asking, each other often, but very particularly our doctors. Ask often. And if you don't understand (it can be mind boggling), ask again. Ask for information in writing. You are entitled to know every bit as much as you want to. Take care and best wishes.
kezmusc
Member
7 years ago
The Doxirubicin and Cyclo. is the AC. and the T is the Taxol (Paclitacel) Close to fermaldahide lol.
primek
Member
7 years ago
I descibed the sensation like that of having your hair in a tight bun and letting it down. It hurts but relieved to rub it. It probably means your hair will start to fall soon. I found that after I clipped off my hair and gave it a good rub with moisturiser it was better.
Schwen
Member
7 years ago
@primek nope does not feel like that to me lol, feels like i forgot to duck when getting into the car quickly, and yes i suppose in way it does feel weird like a slight tingling sensation, I decided that I was going to wait until it started falling out before I got it shaved, my girlfriend would of left me if i had it shaved and it didn't fall out lol, I know for the last week or so my hair has felt dry and damaged, that the only way i can describe it... So another question.... does the hair fall out in big clumps or is it more like when you brush it the brush gets full??
Afraser
Member
7 years ago
If your hair feels dry and damaged, that's another indicator. For a week before mine fell out, it felt like it didn't belong to me. Hard to describe but not pleasant. I used to run my hands through my hair first thing in the morning. The first indication was a lot of hairs on my hands, but not clumps. I had already organised to get my hair cut really short and did it that day. Short hairs falling out are easier to deal with (practically and emotionally) than long ones. Shaving of course is the other option. Once it started, my hair went pretty rapidly. I had some sleep caps (helped with the sore head) and simply emptied it out over the bathroom sink in the morning!
primek
Member
7 years ago
I didn't clip mine until it started coming out rapidly. Day 17 for me. It started when I was washing my hair after a swim. Clumps of hair. I think it was a few days after it felt sore. I came home. Washed brushed and dried it and had a full layer of falling hair still hanging below the cut line. So I then contacted my hairdresser as I found this process distressing.