Starting Chemo

I'm afraid losing my hair was most horrendous thing that could happen to me,my hair was my pride and joy long thick,I was at hairdressers every 6 weeks as I'm totally grey,getting it coloured cut and styled.My chemo oncologist recommended I cut my hair short as would lose my hair 7 days after first Chemo, my daughters cut a number 4 for me on day 5. Cry like a baby for hours was pretty much me that night.I now looked like cancer patient. Yes day 7 the rest washed of in the shower,again I cried like a baby for hours. I had a wig which I hated, fortunately I can sew,so I got a pattern and made some turbines and bought some funky scarfs.I learnt how to draw eyebrows( at 54 never worn makeup this was very new to me)I want say I fully excepted my hair loss but I learnt to live with it.

I have know finished chemo and radiation, my hair is growing back and have the best Afro happening, sadly its still grey. I have just had my second visit to hairdressers to have it coloured, not long enough to cut yet but getting there.

As with every thing else to do with breast cancer you have to just take it one day at time.

Good luck,

Janine

Thanks Melinda, it helps to hear from all the ladies on this site.

It is a huge shock absolutely! I wouldnt consider myself vain either, but losing my hair was difficult at first, I found the minute it started to fall, I shaved it all off, felt good to be in control. I got used to it very quickly. And admit in public I wore wigs, they were so good, nobody could tell, it was hard going but for synthetic they were so natural looking. Eyelashes were tough, I found that more upsetting. Having said that!!! Im 6 months post chemo now and had a hair cut and am blonde again LOL and its super curly LOL!!! Its a tough ride but so doable!!! just do a day at a time. You will have your hair back in no time!! Mine is thick too!!! Its ok to not be positive about it!!! you have to handle it the way you feel you can handle it. You will however, find little silver linings so embrace those, they will carry you through. We all know what youre going through. Hugs xo Melinda

Thanks Linda, my chemo starts on Wednesday 29th June.

Thanks Karen

Thanks.

Thanks Kath.

I like you, wasn't too happy about the thought of my hair going. Just before my second chemo it had started to fall out, so got my girls to shave it off using clippers on no. 2. So when it completely came out it didn't seem so bad. I actually quite liked the fact that I didn't have to worry about washing or styling my hair anymore. My scarves became my next best friend. I made sure I always had one to colour coordinate with my clothes. My eye lashes and brows fell out last with the last chemo and were the first to come back! I've just had my first hair cut in 6 months. A bit of a shock when it came back really curly as I was used to straight hair. I colour it using henna now.

Good luck with all your treatment. Keep us up to date with how you are doing. ??

Linda xx

I discovered being bald is quite nice, so easy to keep clean and to dry after a shower and no more bad hair days.  Now I am planning to keep it very short when it grows back.  I missed my eyebrows more, but adjusted to not having them plus you can draw ones on.  

Before we face something, like hair loss, it seems really difficult and upsetting.  Fortunately it often turns out to be much easier than we fear.  Good luck.  Karen

Losing your hair can be a shock , and a real curse when you have just got your hair how you wanted it!  I had just managed to grow out colour and was really happy with it, and three weeks later, off it goes.

But as others have mentioned, by the time it came to get the number 2 clippers, I was happy to see it go. Within a few days of starting chemo, my hair felt as if it belonged to someone else, a very unpleasant feeling. It looked OK, but it felt quite alien. I made an appt with my hairdresser to cut it off, bought a wig (great buy) took it with me and walked home with it on for the first time. A neighbour (who had no idea about my cancer to that stage) stopped to admire my new do!!  Can't tell you how that helped.

Turned out she had breast cancer a decade ago, wore a wig too, and we got to know each other a whole lot better.

Dread and anxiety walk in the door with cancer, but you can help boot them out. My hair grew back much less grey (after starting chalk white - don't panic!!) and it often starts growing back while you are still having chemo.

Good luck.