When to cut off my hair?? Need advice ASAP.

Ann360

My hair has started to come out, maybe 30 or 40 hairs at a time, and I'm sure it'll soon be 100 hairs, and then clumps.  I have an appointment in a few hours for a haircut.  At that time I must decide whether to get my hair cut very short (maybe an inch long all over, or even less), or whether to go ahead and get it shaved.

Wrestling with the decision and would appreciate advice from those of you who have traveled this path before me.  If I have it cut, how much longer will I have hair and how big a pain is it when it's clumps that fall out?  And if I have it shaved, how big a shock to my psyche will that be?

I had my first T+C infusion on 11/16 and am scheduled for the second on 12/05, so it's not like there is anything standing between me and hair loss.  I know it's coming.

Thanks for advice.

ann

pteney

Hi Ann,

I've been down that road a couple times - first time 8 yrs ago, it was definitely going to come out, but i got a nice short stylish hair cut (from shoulder length to short, but not too short).  That was a week after 1st infusion (Adriamyacin/Cytoxan), and by the time I went for my 2nd infusion it was really coming out, so my husband gave me a buzz cut and the night of my 2nd infusion it sprinkled down like pine needles.  It started coming back for the Taxotere infusions.  The 2nd go round 3 years ago i had just Taxol and tho some fell out, and I did let my husband buzz cut it, I wish I hadn't as it never all fell out.  Maybe a short funky style would have been better.  It's a tough call to make.  I did have a laugh with my tall son who told me there was hair up an down the hallway leading to the fridge ... I said, oh my, I guess i'm standing there at the open fridge swinging my head to and fro: what's to eat, what's to eat??? LOL.  We cut my hair then, lol.  Hugs from Canada, Patti

momof3boys

I did not get my head shaved. I got my shoulder length hair cut into a pixie style. My hairdresser said that I may not loose 100% and I didn't. I lost almost all, but, when it started growing back, I kind of had a head start. I can tell you that my hair has grown back incredible thick and healthy looking. It was very fine before. It's actually much better. I did TC x4.

Good luck. Drink LOTS of water w lemon.

sewingnut

When I was diagnosed I had my hair cut into a bob.  About day 16 it started coming out by the brushful so my hubbie buzzed it to 1/2".  Cut it before it starts to clog up the drains =:0)

Ann360

Thank you SO much for your advice.  I think I'll get the very short haircut, like a really short pixie, and then if it just gets thin at least I'll still have a little hair.  If I lose it, I can always go back and get it shaved.

It really pays to ask the experts for advice.  Thanks again.  Ann

yellowdoglady

I had my hair cut a few weeks before it would have fallen by itself.  I donated it to Locks of Love and moved on.  If I couldn't enjoy it, maybe someone else could.  Everybody loved my "new look" with that cute little bob.  I used it as an icebreaker.  Told them not to get too used to it because it was temporary.  As a matter of fact, in three weeks, I will have no hair at all, but it will grow back, maybe better than before.

I think it was good to have the conversation with coworkers and neighbors and people you see a lot but who are acquaintances rather than friends.  Being frank about it and letting them know you don't mind fielding questions if they have them because it really isn't such a scary deal as they may believe (even if you feel otherwise) makes a difference.  That people have come to me for advice before getting busy themselves tells me that there is not the bad stigma associated with getting sick that existed in my parents' and grandparents' time, especially if they know someone who did or is doing okay.

PS  I donated 19 inches of hair to Locks of Love and still had a bob that hit my shoulders.  It will take a while to grow back to where I started, but four years later and a few haircuts, I'm well on my way.     

SelenaWolf

I had my hair cut into a very, very short pixie (see my avatar) a few weeks prior to starting chemotherapy.  I knew that I was going to lose all of it (Adriamycin was the first culprit, Taxol was the second) and I'd read somewhere that it makes it just a little easier if it's shorter.  I'd had very short hair a few times in my past, so this wasn't a new thing for me.

As it turned out, I held onto my hair a lot longer than expected.  I was told that it would begin to fall out after the second infusion; mine didn't start to shed until the fourth.  And, then, I lost it all in 48 hours.  It was a bit of a relief, to tell the truth; I was beginning to be concerned that they were giving me the wrong drugs!!!

For me, the hard part wasn't losing my hair.  The hard part was waiting for it to grow back.  I didn't notice "fuzz" until 4-6 following my last infusion.  Then, it seemed to stay in the "fuzz" phase about 2-3 weeks more before real hair started to grow in.  And what wonderful hair it was!  Virgin hair!!!  Thick and strong (no product/styling damage), and so much more of it than I remembered.  However, I loved the very short pixie so much, I'm keeping it for awhile.

So, I guess I would say, just get it cut short for now.  You may keep it longer than you expect or you may not lose it all.  You'll know when it's ready to go when your scalp starts to feel really tender and sore.