A little cheese with my whine?

Anonymous

Just a little light hearted whining I start my chemo on Dec. 22, and have been warned by my Onc that my lovely, shoulder length, gray hair, which I worked so hard to grow out without coloring, will soon be a distant memory. So I decided to go ahead and pick a cute little short hair cut and enjoy it for as long as it lasts. I went to my fav stylist armed with plenty of photos of my chosen style , really excited for something new! ((Sigh)) She totally whacked off my hair as if she was there behind a chair in the hair salon completely by mistake. I left crying...somewhat uncontrollably, but I did leave a nice tip. Anyone else have a similar heart break?

Skittlegirl

I also got a short hair cut as a transition step. I hated it, but it really helped my kids with the transition. So I don't regret it, but I wore a hat when out and about for the 6 day period between short haircut and hair falling out.

Anonymous

SkittleGirl, looks like you had the same meds I'll be starting soon. How long after your first chemo did you start losing hair? Was it quickly? Just wondering. I imagine it was quite a shock to your precious little ones. Take care ♡

MsPharoah

hi, birdie....so sad that your hairdresser disappointed you and to top it off, you have to deal with this ugly disease. My hairdresser was sooooo sweet and wouldn't let me pay for my pre chemo "do". The lady who was supposed to help me pick out my wig was the most insensitive person I ever met, though. The shop came highly recommended?? I ended up going to a pretty tawdry "costume" shop and was treated so nice....got a great wig, too.

You should expect to start shedding 14-17 days after your first infusion.

Skittlegirl

Two weeks and 1 day after my first infusion was when my hair abandoned ship.

Anonymous

Holy moly SkittleGirl! Total mutiny after only 2 weeks?! Bless you and yours on this journey. Heidy

Anonymous

Thank you Ms Pharaoh.

Angtee15

I started weekly Taxol this past Monday and chopped my long hair into a pixie cut the weekend prior. Even though I took a Xanax before I cried a bit in the chair:) My stylist was an angel--wanted to talk a bit before the cut and gave me a free cut and color. I felt better prepared for the next stage after that. Also got a glimpse of what I hopefully will look like a few months post treatment! I will likely shave it when the shedding starts.

Hang in there ladies!! We'll get through this.

PS: Nose hairs seem to have already fallen out. They wasted NO time lol.

Anonymous

Angtee, I nose hairs never crossed my mind, lol! Take care.

Anonymous

Thanks kayb! I bet you had 2 weeks of adorable! I've decided, to help my 3 yo grand daughter with the shock of Nani's baldness, to let her help cut and shave the stragglers when it's time. Of course I need to make it very clear she's NOT to cut her own, lol!

Meadow

Birdie, that's a great idea to have your little one help shave the stragglers. I am sorry your fav stylist turned out to be a dud. Maybe after you are bald (and LOVING IT I might add) you could go back in to her and let her know how it made you feel. I do hope you embrace the baldness...I found it very liberating. I always had a lot of hair...red, flowing lovely curly hair....my husband said, "How will I pick you out of a crowd if you don't have hair?" But honestly, it was just one less thing to worry about while I fought the Beast. I was like you, bald in the winter, so hats and scarves were easy. I did not wear a wig, I also involved my granddaughters, age 3 and 7 at the time. I did not want it to upset them seeing me bald. The 3 year old said, "That's just silly, Nonny!" They take a cue from how we handle it, focusing on our faces for reaction. If we are ok, so are they. I have kept a pixie cut and doubt I ever want to grow it back, just love it that much. Best wishes sent your way.

Anonymous

Meadow, you gave me a much needed smile. Thank you! And in reply to your sweet hubby asking how he will find you in a crowd without your pretty, red hair, I'm pretty sure you probably give off a lovely, soft and glowy aura that he would easily find. I sorta felt it from here.

Meadow

Thank you Birdie, made me have tears....

mustlovepoodles

Birdie, I just have one question--why in the heck are they starting chemo THREE DAYS before Christmas?? Can they not wait until the following week? The reason I ask is that I too was scheduled for chemo (#4) on Dec 22, but when I objected my MO was happy to change the date to Dec 28. Not a big deal at all. I think sometimes doctors don't think in terms of the calendar. They just get a plan in mind and go at it like gangbusters.

Speaking of chemo, I lost my hair on Day 17. I knew it was coming so I had my shoulder-length hair cut in a short bob. When I picked out my wig, I chose a cute strawberry blonde, which was about as far apart from my naturally graying hair as could be. But it is soooo cute! DH was with me and he suggested that I get it, because it really brightened up my complexion and he said it made me look happy (he's a keeper!) On our way home, we stopped at Target and he bought me a box of hair dye to match the wig. By the end of the night I had a strawberry blonde bob!

Then on Day 17 I woke up shedding hair like a Saint Bernard, so I went to Great Clips to have it buzzed. They have a special program for people who are undergoing chemo--she buzzed it off for free (I gave her a nice tip, though.) It has taken some getting used to. I am not at all comfortable with my bald head and I wear a beanie or my wig at all times. I still have some hair, but it's fuzzy like a baby chicken--not attractive at all! And I got a lot of fuzzy white facial hair. Gross! Shaved that off as soon as I saw it and it has not come back. My nose hair has gone, so my nose drips, and my eyebrows & eyelashes are thinning. I haven't waxed my brows since early Oct. The hair under my arms is non-existent and the hair on my legs is growing slowly. I think I've had to shave my legs twice since starting chemo in Oct.

Beatmon

Birdie: you won't need ant bikinie waxes for a year either

Twirp26

Birdie, I am sorry about your hair experience. I am scheduled to get mine cut short on Friday. I had my first treatment on December 2nd so I don't know how much more time I have with my hair. I didn't want to cut it prematurely but I also don't want to pick it up off the floor. I am pretty sure I won't be happy with it no matter how I get it cut but have heard that it makes it easier when it is time to come out. Hope that we can all still feel beautiful regardless of how we look on the outside. I am trying to view this as a new beginning. We will all get brand new hair when it's all said and done.

HappyHammer

Birdie- Did just what the others said about getting hair cut in a cute bob and also got a cute wig (hate it- hot, itchy and isn't comfortable for me- donating it as I have only worn it one time) Hair started coming out week 2 and in handfuls by day 17. On night 19, when taking a shower, I washed my hair and then, just took it out. It was something I am glad to have done- gave me complete control and privacy about it being gone. I warned DH and DS that I might not have much hair when I came back after showering and nope, it was all gone. They were just precious with me... did keep some fuzz along the chemo journey. Lost eyebrows and lashes completely twice- still waiting for them to finish growing back in.

The nose hair is what people do not mention...it came out and I didn't know it until my nose started to run and I couldn't get there quickly enough with a Kleenex Still do not have that back. Hair is growing slooowly but all over head for which I am grateful. Still doing Herceptin until June so am thinking it is slow due to that.

Hoping you have an easy go of it. If I could stress anything, it would be to be very careful with yourself as your immune system is very compromised. I got a minute splinter in Aug and got a HUGE staph infection...almost lost my finger and still do not have full range of motion, feeling or control of that hand. CRA.ZY!!

Take good care, take help when offered and REST when you can! Hugs to you.

Claire_in_Seattle

I had super long hair before all this started. I went to a funky hair place and had them do a bob, which was the style I would grow into post chemo. I rocked this for about 3 weeks. Donated the long hair to Locks of Love because some poor teen obviously needed the hair more than I did. Important to have an idea of what things would look like eventually.

I wore fun, funky wigs during treatment. Went the cheap route (same salon), and then rocked micro locks as soon as things started up again. Now, I have a stylish bob, which was way overdue.

Still use the same fun place, but forego the arm pit hair dying!

All normal lady grooming needs are back, alas.

One thing I will mention is that you feel much more naked without any hair. The guy I was seeing at the time didn't mind at all.

Something that did help. Another guy friend mentioned that unlike his hair.....guess what, mine would grow back!!!! And it did. - Claire

mustlovepoodles

rose50, all I can say is "waaaaaah!" They don't prepare you for not ever getting your hair back.

Anonymous

Thanks so much for all the info and stories. Tomorrow is my port insert surgery...I'm a nervous wreck. Poodles, I'm starting before Christmas because I want it OUT! Immediatly if not sooner! I want this thing out of me. I'd have started the same day I met my Onc if I could've! Take care sweet ladies. I'll let you all know tomorrow goes

mustlovepoodles

Well, I don't think anyone would argue with that, Birdie. Hopefully, your chemo will go well and without many side effects. I'm not sure how many treatments you'll be having, but I'm just about to finish up mine the Monday after Christmas (chemo #4). I had treatments every 3 weeks and I have been pleasantly surprised that it has been for the most part uneventful. Oh, sure,I had a couple bumps in the road (fever, infection) but other than some diarrhea, fatigue ,and changes in taste it really hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be.