what did you do with your hair during chemo?

vettegal

what did you do with your hair during chemo?

vettegal

Having a hard  time thinking about my hair falling out. Thinking about going real short when i start chemo so i won't have chunks of my hair everywhere. How did you handle this? what is the most important thing that helped you get thru this? I thought about hats..looking at wigs.i work with the public and i don't want to look sick..is that sound bad?it's probably a dumb question but any input helps me....thanks!

meliaanne

Hi Vettegal,

I worked during chemo too and had the same concerns. What I did was choose a wig, go to my hairdresser on a Friday, have her cut it really really short, and then showed up at work on Monday in the wig. My hair fell out in clumps a couple of days later, and I shaved my head. That was the hardest few days of the whole hair loss thing.

I didn't mind the wig much although not everyone feels that way. Right now, five months out from chemo, I am ready to toss it. I wear it to work but next week am gettting my hair shaped again, and then will return to work after xmas with my real hair. Since I only told my bosses about the cancer, I will just tell my co-workers that I decided to change to a short style.

My bosses didn't think I could pull this off, but I knew I could. I wanted one place in my life where I was treated normally. Work was that place.

Good luck!

Melia

vettegal

did your hair come back a differnent color or texture?I hear about people who had straight hair and now its curly....i would flip out!

Anonymous

Hey veggiegal....Like Melia, I wore my wig throughout my entire bald period. I did get my hair cut fairly short before the fallout and then, around day 17, it started and I went and had it buzzed and then clamped the wig on. I even bought special double-sided tape to use inside the rim of the wig so that it wouldn't move about during vigorous activity. I did chemo throughout the summer and it gets very hot here in the South; nevertheless, I was adamant about appearing "normal" since it make me feel much more in control. Everyone needs to go with their gut on this issue, just as she does on all of the other ones.

And hey, before you know it, you'll be joining discussions on all of the best hair styling products!

~Marin

Amy1971

Gee Veetegal,

I hear you loud and clear. I also should be starting Chemo soon I will find out for sure on Dec 21 and I am not looking forward to loosing my hair. Hubby says just cut if off before hand but I am not sure what to do I have always had long hair and just cut it is killing me.

However some people have told me not to jump the gun that not everyone looses their hair anymore depends on the cocktail.

I have a friend who has 3 chemo treatments done and never lost a hair? someone also told me about a gel cap to ask the oncologist about it and I will for sure.

well I am also looking at it that I can get a wig and become a diffrent person for a while maybe I will get on thats hot and wild lol!!!

Hang in there and big hugs.

       

meliaanne

My hair was very wavy, and now that it is so short, it seems curlier. I think it's too early to tell though. And believe me, I am so thrilled to have it back that I don't care a bit if it's curly or straight!

Amy1971

My hair is straight as a board and I would welcome some curls wont even hold a curl now so that wouldnt be such a bad thing really.

As long as it doesnt go frizzy how picky we are eh????? lol

Amy1971

Meliaanne---If you dont mind I have a few questions for you.

I am so gald to hear that you are doing better. How was it working while doing Chemo..I am not sure what to do? how sick did you feel?

did you take the next day off work. I want to go back to work cause I  havent for some time since my mastectomy its been 5 weeks and still waiting on all the scans for mets so I am really going nuts not working and would like to try to while getting the chemo. Any advice you could give me???

hugs 

vettegal

the doctor said "you will lose your hair"

my hubby said he would shave his off and he got some real nice hair it would kill me to see him with out his hair. Everyone knows him with the hair!!lol I told him I didn't want us to both look like we have cancer and he just laughed the hair thing has got me in a rollercoaster ride...do I, don't I...crap! I never thought I would be doing this at age 42. I really thought in my 60's.

Amy1971

I feel for you Vettegal,

 I am 36 and it never ever crossed my mind either well at least not until i was much older

I am also doing the do I....dont I......need to dye it but should I bother??? if its gonna fall out anyway???? Its about to the middle of my back.... Hubby says he thinks it would be less tramatic if it falls out when its short rather then huge long chunks

what to do what to do??? 

meliaanne

Hi Amy,

Work ... I took 2 wks off for the left mastectomy. I had six months of chemo, 4 ac three weeks apart, then 12 weekly taxols. I was very careful to take all the anti nausea meds exactly as instructed and no, I never really got sick. I would come home from chemo, pretty much go to bed, then get up in the am and go to work. I work 6 am - 3 pm so did chemo after work. I was just lucky it all worked out logistically, and really blessed to have such supportive bosses.

By the time I was into taxol, I was very fatigued. I had my husband take over all the errands, shopping, etc. I went straight home from work, relaxed on the couch, did dinner, in bed by 8 or 9.

I need to stress, though, that I have a desk job. I think it's key to figure out how physical your job is before you decide what to do. I could not have done a very physical job, just did not have much energy towards the end. Nursing or teaching, for example, would be much harder. I do travel a lot for business but not during the spring, which was when I had chemo. It all just worked out.

I loved being treated normally at work. It was the only place where I felt myself. It was very good for me psychologically. But that is very individual, and you need to make your own choice. Just know in your heart that you will be ok. Trust your instincts.

Hope that helps. Good luck and ask any questions you want!

Melia

Determined1

So I'm talking to my dh about the hair issue and wondering aloud if my hairdresser would come to my house to shave my head (not sure I could handle having it done in public) and he says, "why would you shave your head?  Don't you just wait for it to all fall out?"  I'm thinking he has a learning curve to deal with before I even get to the conversation where we actually exchange valid opinions on the hair thing!  I might be jealous of those SOs you all have... 

D1

vettegal

here is my plan..if it works(i don't know)

I will do the first chemo mid jan...I will ask my doc how soon does the hair fall out if he says soon..its getting buzzed. I have a shoulder length bob and I have ALOT of hair, my hairdresser says i have enough for 4 people.(yikes) I can't see myself losing hair at work/home/anywhere without flipping out. so it will be a short do when i start and it shouldn't be dramatic. we did look at wigs on line last night and they had some really cute styles i think short chucks of hair is better then long chunks of hair.

sahalie

Last year after first chemo on day 19 my hair began falling out in strands if I ran my fingers through it.  I shaved my head by myself (as I stood there crying in disbelief) then the next morning I went really early to a neighborhood salon and the lady shaved my head to make it even.

I wore base ball caps, all different kinds, during the hairless stage.

My hair is usually straight and it came in curly.  I loved my curls.

It is going back to straight now with just a hint of wave to it.

My children are happy to see Mom with straight hair again.

We just recently returned from a wonderful vacation to French Polynesia where all my curls popped right back into place again.

Humidity does that.

Good luck.

crystal1

Hi all,

Mon. will be my second chemo treatment, and so far, no hair loss. However, my Doc told me in no uncertain terms that I would lose my hair, so I bought a wig that is very close to my natural hair color, and cut my own hair short. I had been told by friends who had been there that it's easier to deal with it when it starts to fall out if it's not long chunks...At first, the thought of losing my hair really freaked me out. After my mastectomy, I thought, "Heck, I lost a breast. Hair will grow back!" so it's not as much an issue for me now. I wanted the wig because I teach and I didn't want to frighten my young students!!

Good luck to you all!

Crystal

wishiwere

My own hair was bugging me this summer (was down to my waist) and I had decided I was going to donate it this fall before winter set in.  I thought it had to be a certain length to donate.  As it turned out I was diagnosed with BC in late september and had a masectomy in late october.  I cut 14 inches off just before surgery to make it more manageable after.  I still haven't donated it but it's boxed and ready.

Had I realized I would be doing chemo (A/C and the nurse says, I WILL LOSE IT), I would have cut it even shorter, but hindsite....

Now I'm on day 8 and reading it's normally 2-3 weeks after the 1st treatment. Although it doesn't say whether that's the beginning or complete loss at that time.  I keep hoping it won't start till day 21 which would get me past Christmas to start it all?  One can hope huh?

If only there were any definites in this area, we could make more informed decisions beforehand.

vettegal

the only definate thing i got....

was this web site and all the sisters that are on here..that is a definate

Kara

My hair was short before I started Chemo.  On about day 14 after the 1st tx, it started coming out in the shower.  There was a lot of hair in the drain.  When I'd run my fingers through my hair even more would come out. 

When my husband came home from work I had him shave my head with a home hair cutting kit (about $20).  He was afraid to cut it too short so did it in stages.  I think he started with 1" and then I got him to do it to about 1/2" all over.

Once it started coming out, I was ready for the head to get shaved.  I haven't lost all of the hair yet and probably won't but it's really thin on top.  I still have most of my eyebrows and eyelashes.

Now I wear a baseball cap around the house.  And I have a nice wig for going out when I want hair.

If you're going to get a wig, make sure you go before you lose all your hair.  That way you can match the color and possibly the style at the wig shop.

loopyloulee

Hey All!  Mine started to come out on day 14, which was this past Monday!  Lots of hair in the drain.  I have curly hair now, and it is maybe ear length.  When I run my fingers through my hair it now comes out in clumps!  My hair also hurts!!!  I will wash tonigh and see what happens.  i think a lot will come out!  I will then have my hubby buzz me!  Wigs are on the way, and should arrive tomorrow!

My advice is to order that wig!!!  If you don't need it, you can donate it!

Lou

vettegal

i am so worried about the hair on my head, i forgot about my eyebrows and eyelashes..is their any other hair i need to be concerned with?

Kara

Well, you probably won't have to shave your legs and underarms for awhile. And your pubic hair will fall out too.

Raye99

vettegal -

I cut my long hair off about a month prior to chemo to get used to short hair. 19 days after my first chemo it started to fall out in the shower, then on my pillow, in my mouth, everywhere - so I had my mother shave my head. After that, I wore wigs with hats every day to work and when I went out. I got three wigs: two blondes and a reddish brown (I am naturally dark brown) and had fun with it. It made it much easier to deal with.

Around the house, I wore little caps.

Best of luck to you! You will do fine.

Raye

Raye99

oh, I just saw your post about other hair. Eyebrows and lashes, yes. But you can put eyeliner on the top lids and no one will know the lashes are gone. Pencil your brows in lightly (you might not lose them until after chemo - as stupid as that sounds and is). Both come back rather quickly.

The other hairs? Nothing to worry about there. Yes, you will lose it all, but it's quite nice really, no shaving, no unsightly bikini line to shave.

Take care.

lvtwoqlt

At the point when my mom's hair started coming out, she called her stylist and went in on the stylist's day off. She washed mom's hair until no more fell out then set her up and cut the remaining off. Mom had purchased a wig that matched her color and style and Martha put the wig on her and helped her to style it. Mom showed up at my job and at first I did not realize that it was her wig. She only wore it about 2 dzn times, she preferred hats and scarves to the wig.

She also went to the 'look good, feel better' program at the local wig bank where they showed her how to pencil in her eyebrows and eyelashes. as well as techniques for scarves.

vettegal

love all the responses. i just saw the look good feel great seminar..trying to see if i should go before or after chemo starts. No hair anywhere...that is going to be interesting. I am italian and i have lots of hair....lol

Determined1

Okay, I have to throw this in.  My sister had chemo 2 years ago (hodgkin's lymphoma--she has cancer envy of the bc!!) and lost all of her hair--except on her legs!!!!  Can you believe the injustice of that???!!  She still had to shave her legs.  Ima be po'd if that happens to me!

D1

vettegal

I would be po'd if hair went away every else except the legs... Don't we all hate shaving our legs. Remember epilady? back in the 80's i tried that once and it hurt like heck ripping the hair out!! I could never do it again.......LOL

TerryNY

D1, I was the same way, had leg hair all through chemo, the injustice of it all!  LOL   I did lose everywhere else but legs and arms.   Go figure...

suz45

Here is an odd one. My hair is on the long side and I have a lot of it. Since it has been dyed and processed too many times over the years its not good enough to donate. I was told when the time is right, put it in a pony tail or 2 and cut it off. Then use quality carpet or fabric tape and make hair hats, Add bangs, a pony tail, hair at the back or whatever works. I will probably elaborate a bit and try fabric tape and my sewing machine. Then attach to hats with small hooks or velcro. Tip came from a cancer nurse.

I just dyed mine for the last time a week ago. So now I just watch and wait. I have one barely ok wig but need to get out and have another either made or buy a quality one that looks nice. I think I will lose mine sometime between Christmas & New years. Take care all!

Hugs, Suz

vettegal

i think i will cut my hair short right before chemo starts soi can get used to it then when it falls out, it falls out. Did you all get a couple different wigs one more playful and one for work? I am thinking of 2 wigs...My hubby wants to know what is in the chemo that makes the hair fall out and why? and i have no idea what to tell him.....