Hopeful Hair TCH

kqteaches

Hello Friends-

Everyday I wake up and thank God for my surgeons, oncologists, and lord especially the nurses who are helping me get my health back.  I am on day 10 after my first taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin (TCH) round.  When we wake up my husband always asks, "How you feeling?"  I respond that I slept with no pain, feel smiley, and I have no hair on my pillow...so it's a good day.  When does the hair thing happen.  I have everything ready for when the time comes, but is it unrealistic to be hopeful that the hair will stay.  I don't even get any on my comb when I comb out my wet hair every a.m.  My TLC "hair" is rockin'.  I just got it in the mail today, but I hope it can stay in it's little box.  Any input for people on TCH about when the hair started disappearing.  To me it's a small price to pay for my health...but it's still kind of a bummer. 

AmyIsStrong

From what I remember from my own experience and the TCH thread (which I know you are a member of)...it seems like around day 17. BUT with TCH, often not ALL the hair falls out. I buzzed mine when scalp became very sensitive, but DID NOT SHAVE.  It was (in my opinion) actually UGLIER than being truly bald. BUT - when it came time to grow back, it came back faster because I had a 'head start' (excuse the pun, lol).   I had my final TCH on 7/31 and I remember going out to dinner in early Oct as my first time going 'topless' in public. It was a VERY short GI Jane look at that point, but I just put on makeup, big earrings, and held my head up high and pretended I was a super-model. (HA!)  So that's only 2 months or so after the final chemo.  I think for the women who have the cueball-smooth head, it takes a few months longer.

Get some cute scarves (bandannas, etc) and baseball caps (get the climate-cool type for when it is hot) - you may find the wig itchy and uncomfortable (I did) and not want to wear it much (I sure didn't).  I lived in my Adidas white climate-cool baseball cap. I thought I looked like a jock. (At least I pretended.)

I'm GLAD you are feeling good each day.  Sleeping well, waking up feeling smiley - those are good things even when there IS hair on the pillow

I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences/timeframes as well.

Amy

sewingnut

Mine started coming out around day 16. First a few strands at a time, then my hair started to hurt. How does hair hurt? My whole scalp ached then the fallout began big time. I didn't want to clog the drains so I had DH clipper it to 1/2".  A week after clippering it short I developed red itchy bumps all over. Folliculitis!! I used Nioxin shampoo and triamcinole cream on the largest itchy ones until they healed over. Finished # 4 TCH and still have little hangeroners all over my head:)

pejkug3

Mine started shedding later than most - Day 21.  The evening of my second treatment.  I had my DH scissor it SHORT.  I never shaved it.  It had shed and thinned out, but I am most certainly not completely bald.  I'd say that I've lost 50% of the coverage, but I don't really have any completely bald spots.

I just completed TCH #4 yesterday.

CarylC

I was just thinking about the same thing this morning.  I'm on day 11 and so far nothing.  I keep waiting, I almost wish it would just happen and get it over.  I keep thinking it will start falling out at work or something!  The onc's office told me 10-14 days on TCH.  

SpecialK

I am also on TCH - cycle 4 of 6.  My onc said I should see most hair gone by day 18 but it was not until day 24 that I had major fallout.  I made the 2nd cycle of chemo without a wig.  On day 24 I lost enough that I was not comfortable leaving the house without a head covering so I had my DH clipper it with a 1/2 inch guage.  I continued to lose for the next few days but have not lost any more since then.  I probably have 1/3 of my normal hair amount. 

kqteaches

Day 17...I had a few strands come out today after my shower while I was combing my hair.  It's an icky feeling to feel hair on your hands and shoulders after a nice clean shower.  sigh!