Hair Loss & where to get head coverings
I start chemo 4/23. 8 bi weekly rounds Adriamycin+Cytoxin then 12 weekly rounds of Taxol. I've been asked to join the Avastin clinical trial but am still undecided on this.One day I say yes, others no. I'm triple negative so I qualify. The cancer clinic is 1 hour 15 minutes away without any traffic and chemo is scheduled for mid morning. By the time we get done we will hit rush hour so could end up taking 2 hours to get home. We have no friends or family in the area so an overnight stay is out of the question. Cannot afford to stay at a hotel. Heck, I'm almost (on May 1),3 months behind on my mortgage and have been battling to keep out of foreclosure since my diagnosis began in 2008.Anyhow, just hoping and praying I don't get sick on the way home.
I had my double mastectomy January 20th and my oncologist has said no reconstruction til after chemo is over.My daughters were great and helped out alot.
The worst thing for me though is the thought of losing my hair (and my nails even). I used to have long hair. When I was diagnosed I cut it to my shoulders and cried like a baby. I've decided to have hubby shave my head when we get home on the 23rd. I'll be a basket case. I cry all the time just thinking about it. I know I won't be a pretty bald woman ya know. I've put off getting head coverings. I don't know that I would even wear a wig since I hear it's itchy. I don't do itchy well lol. So I think I will be going the doo-rag way I guess. So I am looking for the cheapest head coverings I can find. I looked on ebay but they are around 17-20 each and I just don't have that kind of money right now.We checked walmart locally and they only have dude ones (with skulls and cars and pot leaves LOL) Any cheap or free ideas for me?
Tonya
Comments
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here are some sites people gave me.....
Seems that scarves are everywhere these days as it has become trendy to wear colorful ones around the neck......I bought a bunch of different ones, but have not been up to wearing them yet. I just get to hot and itchy with them on my head, so I have been going with nothing....so far so good.
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Call your local american cancer society - many have free wig clinics. If not, ask your oncology team for a list of local providers.
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Check with the onc and when you're in the chemo room, at least mine, there is a box of free stuff people contribute too, books, hats, wigs...even at my radiation oncology building there were a box of free hats/caps. Walmart has a section of every color of bandana for 99 cents each. That's what another gal did. I wore my wig mostly and finally ditched that last week as my hair is coming in nicely now.
I had the same treatment as you will get and I am also on the Avastin trial, when I was unblinded back in Dec. I was in the Arm that continues on once Taxol stopped. I just got back to work from my Avastin treatment today. It does GET BETTER! trust me!
PM me if you'd like, I will gladly send you a few items free! Anything to help a sister in need.
Your hair does grow back!
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As someone stated, The American Cancer Society will supply a free wig. Call your local center to make an appt. I called & am getting mine on Tuesday.
I did a search on the net for free wigs for cancer patients & so many of them came up. I emailed one yesterday & I will call others tomorrow. Good luck!
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In our area (Canada) they have a terrific program called Look Good Feel Good.
This is where i learned to draw on eyebrows, eyelashes and got so many wonderful tips to hide that washed out look.
I also received $300 in free product and we had so much fun , I almost got kicked out of the class.
This is where they turned me into a sassy red-head!!!
I had hair at the time and could not imagine me wearing this RED SASSY DO!!!!
I am telling you...........i ended up loving it!!!! And this one didn't cost me anything.
I never had so many guys stopping to let me cross the street before!!! ( If they only knew haha)
Since then I have bought a brighter red wig that is long....( Then a brunette, with blonde highlights)
I forget what I even look like anymore!!!!
when I am done ...I will donate all of them but for now...I am having fun!!!
good Luck
Ps You save so much $ not having to buy shampoo, conditioner, haircuts etc!!!
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Also...........our cancer clinic will sew the edges of fabric for you if you buy inexpensive fabric.....Only cost you a couple dollars......not to mention they have free ones at the cancer clinic
Bonnie
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giglgrl and rose47:
Thanks for the website links. I'll check them out today.
concernedsi and HelenNC and bonnievan:
I have an ACS advocate and unfortunately, no wig shop in my area. She had a heck of a time trying to find someone to measure me for a bra. There are only 2 and they wanted to charge for the measurements which really made her mad. I'm going without and told her not to worry. She is sending me a catalog and says that I can chose a wig for $50. In the meantime, I looked on the website and none look at all like my current hair. Not sure what to do. Guess I will have a whole new look! My oncologist wrote an rx for the head prostethis and I have yet to find a wig shop close to me or my treatment center. I just know I won't be comfortable in one anyway. I hate itchy LOL I haven't seen any free items or boxes at the clinic but will keep my eyes open when I go to the chemo room on Thursday. I am scheduled for the Look Good Feel Better clinic on May 18 at the local hospital.With chemo starting next week, I just hope I am up to it. Hubby thinks he'll have a heck of a time getting me to go anywhere with no hair and I fear he may be right. I just don't know.
kfinnigan:
My oncologist hasn't been very helpful in this area. Surprised me and hubby since it's a cancer clinic that I am going to. I was the one who brought up the Avastin trial with her. She's better than my surgeon. He never took the time to remember my name. Just called me Buddy each time he walked in. Pretty crappy since he has the medical chart in hand. I wanted to tell him "You're not my buddy, BUDDY!" LOL
I'll check walmart for just bandanas to see what they have. If it's not too much trouble I'd like to have one on hand for when we do the head shaving. I know I'm gonna hate it. I just wonder how weird my head will look ya know. I have a big nose, deep wrinkles on my forehead (didn't have them before my Oct 2008 diagnosis, and now will have no hair. I don't drink, but I think I may need one next week LOL I'll PM you with my address.
To make all this worse, we had qualified for medicaid and have gotten it from January to April. I just did a reapplication, and the caseworker says we exceed the annual income limit by almost $300 past the poverty level. If I don't get medicaid anymore, I don't know what we'll do. It's just hubbies income and we have our 2 daughters, and 5 cats! We'll be 3 months behind in mortgage come May 1, and I'm sure we'll get another "intent to foreclose" letter. I've gotten 5 in the last 9 months. Just can't get caught up those 3 months we fell behind. I just don't know anymore.
Everything is a mess. It feels as if it's all starting to unravel again and even though I know none of this is my fault, I can't help but feel if it weren't for me and this **** cancer, hubby and the girls wouldn't have it so bad. I know, stupid thoughts, but they still pop right into my head.
I'm sorry, I'm just having a really bad day. I've usually good about saying this is just another bump in the road but some days its just hard to remember that.
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Check out this thread about an organization called "Wigs for Love." I'm thinking of donating my three wigs to them -- I think they provide free wigs to women who need them and don't have insurance to cover the cost.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/63/topic/704282?page=1#post_1317789
My absolute cheapest head covering was regular old bandanas -- I think they were less than $5 each. If you pm me I'd also be happy to send you a couple of scarves, and I may still have a cotton sleep cap (I already gave some things away).
Let me tell you what I ended up doing - and why I didn't wear the three expensive wigs that I bought (two of them were covered by insurance). I just didn't feel like me in a wig, I felt fake. During the week that I was wearing a wig, I went to headcovers.com and ordered something called "hat with hair" which I lovingly renamed my "wiglet." It is a half-wig that costs about $35 (hair all around sides and back, bald on top except for some elastic holding it onto the head). When I put it on and stuck a hat on top, I saw myself in the mirror for the first time since losing my hair. I've always been a "hat person" so this became my "look" until I had enough regrowth to feel comfortable going topless (about 3 months after my last chemo tx). If this "look" works for you, you can easily find inexpensive hats in places like Target and KMart.
Good luck with everything -- to have financial struggles on top of bc is a huge amount of stress for anyone.
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LorenaB:
I'll do a search for the wigs for love. The link did not work when I clicked on it.I looked at the acs site for the catalog that the acs advocate is sending me and those bang things looked cute. I just don't know. I guess I will have to try things on. Hubby says I need to do something soon because I'll scare the cats if I don't start getting them used to it. Especially my baby, Stuart. He's not so little anymore but he's my baby and he is easily startled. LOL I feel bad already for the first time he sees mama with no hair or something foreign on my head.
I also PMed you. Thanks again!
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Heavenly Hats provides a box of free hats to those who lose their hair due to treatment. There is a form on their website to fill out.
www.heavenlyhats.com
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Yes bluedasher...I just received mine yesterday. Three really cute hats and two sleep hats.
TSmith...also go to franceluxe.com Laurie will provide anyone going through chemotherapy with a free headwrap or scarf. I didn't get my wig from a wig shop...when I called the American Cancer Foundation they gave me a list of beauty salons that particiapted in the free wigs program for chemo patients. I found a participating salon about two towns over and love my wig! Am embracing the bald also though and know it's not forever. Take care...
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If any of you knit or crochet, this is where I got the caps I knitted for my chemo: http://www.headhuggers.org/ (I liked knit pattern 10 - the "no hair day hairy chemo cap").
This is a knit do-rag I wish I had seen before: http://www.thinkingknitter.com/DoRagPattern.pdf
If you sew, these are more options: http://www.eastsidefiberarts.org/topics/items/chemo/sew.html
I found that knitting especially was something I enjoyed doing when I needed a distraction from all the bc stuff that seemed to take over my life. And you can make yourself some cute head wraps.
Sorry, but I'm a do-it-yourselfer, and when I was through with chemo, I donated most of my stuff to others (hoping I'd never have to use them again).
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Tonya so sorry you had to join us here but you have come to the right place. Had it not been for this site I don't know that I would have flown through to the other side as I have. I think I would have stumbled and fallen not being able to pick myself up. You'll find you can say things here you wouldn't want to talk about with well meaning family and friends.
You mentioned something about things popping into your head, which is the biggest and hardest part of this journey; fighting your mind. We create monsters there. Having made it to the other side I can honestly say it was nowhere near what I had imagined. I can also say I wasted far too much time worrying about things that never happened. Train yourself that when a thought pops in quickly replace it with a positive thought. If your mind won't let you fall asleep don't hesitate to ask your onco for Ambien or an equivalent.
Sorry I rambled on there and never even touched on what I originally was going to say which is: Here is a link to the wigs for love.
http://www.orgsites.com/pa/wigs/
I didn't wear a wig during treatment as it was during early summer and yes the wig was hot and itchy. As Lorena already stated regular bandannas are the cheapest way to go. Both A.C.Moore or Michaels craft store have the biggest selection at less then $2 apiece. Instead of tying them I would first fold one corner in about ½ to ¾ of the way to the opposite corner. I would place on head and then gather at the back of neck and put a matching ponytail elastic around it a few times. The little tail made it feel like I still had hair on my head.
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For TSmith!!!!!!
Please! There is hope! There is a federally funded program in every state for Breast Cancer & Cervical Cancer. It is FREE. I am in it. It is funded by the government & it is medicaid. It's called:
BCCCP program. I don't know what state you are in, but my Sister in Law is involved in this organization (she works for them) & she found help for me in North Carolina. If you cannot find this in your state, send me a private message & I'll ask my SIL to help you.
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HelenNC, that was the first option I tried. I am in Ohio. The woman in charge of the BCCCP program here told me I did not qualify for it because my original diagnosis was provided by a doctor who was not approved through their network. That my original diagnosis had to be through one of their doctors and since it was not, there was nothing she could do to assist me. I was like, can't we act like I don't know and you send me to someone and we'll do the test over. She didn't find that funny. She was the last phone call on a 7 hour stretch one day to find some financial assistance.
So many hoops. Its so aggravating because I've worked since I was 15, and hubby and I have been living on on our own since we met at 16 years old. We've held 2 jobs at times each, and until about 10 years ago (when we decided I would homeschool our daughters) it was always like this. Yet when I need help, I can't get it. Or worse yet, I got it for a few months and now am going to lose it.
I usually try to find humor, sometimes sarcastic and only I get it, but today, I'm just having a hard time.
I'm hopping offline, hoping to gather my emotions/thoughts and come back "in a better place" than what I started in today.
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I went crazy buying all kinds of headcovers and such. It ended up, the one I wore the most, was a very long rectangular scarf. It has to be thin so that it does not get bulky when you wrap it. It was gauzy and in black. I wore it constantly, or I wore nothing at all.
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Tonya - I'm on dose dense AC (4 rounds over 8 weeks), and then 12 rounds of Taxol, and I am participating in the Avastin trial. Regarding your hair, you might consider waiting to shave your head until it really starts falling out - it's not going to happen until about 2 weeks after your first AC treatment. Everyone will say that everyone is different, but it seems to be very consistent with AC (it's the Adriamycin that does it). I read on these boards to expect to start seeing a few hairs coming out here and there around day 15, which ends up being the day of your second treatment if your doing a dose dense schedule, and that is exactly what happened with me. On that day, it was just a few, literally like 2 to 3 hairs at a time and only if I pulled on them (which I did compulsively to see if it would come out - stupid). It was a Wednesday. I was fine through Friday, which is when it started coming out in small clumps. Saturday, anything I grabbed hold of came out, so I shaved my head at that point - I had clippers at home and just buzzed it myself standing over the sink with my dog watching. I had long hair, too, and I cut it short about a week before my first treatment, knowing it would be easier to have it coming out if it were shorter (and I'm really glad I did that). People do all kinds of things about the hair, but I just wanted to be sure you knew it would be a good solid two weeks before it starts to come out.
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I have a catalogue from the ACS that my onc gave me, and ordered really cute cotton headscarves from it. I also ordered a hat liner that I wear underneath to give it some more volume and make it feel comfortable. My head is shaved now and these scarves are so comfortable. I wear them all day at work for hours and hours and it feels great. My insurance covered a wig, which I have, but it gives me a headache so I'm liking the scarves for now.
www.tlcdirect.org
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Please check your private messages
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Also, Franceluxe.com - go to bottom of site where it says free headwraps for cancer patients. They are the most generous wonderful people in the world. They will even custom make you something and it is all for free. All of their scarves and headwraps are $72 and higher, but for you, a cancer patient,you pick it, they send it free.
Linda
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Thanks for all the tips. I emailed Laurie at Frace Luxe about the it's a wrap.I'm shaving my head on the night of 4/24/09 after hubby gets home from work.
I just have to remember that I cannot worry worry about things I have no control over.
I'm working on returning PM's now. Sorry to be late in responding.
I start chemo 4/23/09 so I need to read the chemo thread too on what I will need to help with the side effects on the A/C/T regimen + Avastin trial.
I am so freaked out right now, it's not even funny. Hubby just hopes he can get me into the car on Thursday for the hour + road trip. If he thinks that will be hard, should be fun for the first time without hair trip too LOL Poor Man
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TSmith, we are here for you girl! You can do this, it isn't fun and it isn't easy, but it is DOABLE! Those were the words to me before I started from another survivor.
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TSmith,
I gave myself a mohawk a few weeks after diagnosis. I figured, what have I got to lose? I agree with you that we can't worry about what we cannot control.
In my meeting with the oncologist I was feeling overwhelmed and in a moment of fear, I asked, "why do we have to lose our hair? Why do we have to lose anything? Why can't they make the drugs to cure cancer and also give us something beneficial like multiple orgasms." We had a good laugh over that one.
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Yes I agree with Janet. Having been thru chemo before I know that hair takes time to fall out. The chemo affects the follicle and causes a temporary weakness. When this grows to the surface, maybe over 3 weeks, it will start to break off. Not all the hairs though. Between chemo sessions it grows normally, so its always falling out and regrowing basically every few weeks.
I've known some women who have hung onto their hair for quite a while by carefully shampooing without rubbing and towelling. This would be easier if the hair was cut shorter before chemo. Just a thought. I tried it for a party. worked OK but I got fed up after a while.
I was loaned a wig from our hospital "wig library". It looked great but felt prickly and strange. I wore it about 3 times over 6 months of treatment.
At home I preferred bald or soft beanie depending on weather. Head sweats a lot with chemo. But for social occasions I nearly always wore the same favourite batik scarf, wrapped into a dutch cap style and pulled down low over my ears and forehead. I once had a woman ask me how I'd tied my scarf she thought it so attractive. Had no idea I was bald! Best to choose a scarf about 30-36" square if possible.
After I completed my chemo two women of my acquaintance (not personal friends) had their heads shaved because they liked my 'look'. So....beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Take heart, you'll look great, maybe quite exotic, who's to say. And it wont last forever. I found my hair grew back with a temporary curl. This is quite common...Something to look forward to???
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Theres a company called franceluxe and the people there are so nice. The company works with hundreds of different silks and cottons. If you contact via email Laurie she will send you a beautiful silk wrap. She believes in helping people who are undergoing or experiencing an event where a woman is losing her hair. There are two options at this time; a scarf (which can be a bit cumbersome for some) or a headwrap called "It's a Wrap". She will send you one at no charge. You can check out her website at http://www.franceluxe.com/, click on the Good Wishes logo in the upper right hand corner of the page
You can email laurie at laurie@franceluxe.com and she and her staff will work to get it done for you.
The sent me the most beautiful black and white scarp and it felt so good on my head and it made me feel good.
Here's a picture of the one I got. -
I've been bald since December, and now wear a few favorites. I found some great cotton headwraps in a rainbow of colors at http://radwrapz.com/solidheadwraps.htm - it is a biker website, but they are cheap and comfy. They even have "chemo sizes" for full coverage, I got the regular ones, but I have a big head so their XL's were great! Going into summer cotton is great - comfy for the noggin. Best of luck to you, I remember how it felt starting out, it is strange now to be almost done with this part of the rollercoaster. Hang in there, chemo can be a wild ride, but you can do it!
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I contacted laurie too and I am waiting for my wrap to arrive. I also want to purchase a fedora. I always loved the way the looked and hope to find the perfect one soon.
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I received my wrap & it is indeed beautiful! I asked for a solid one & she sent me a deep Champaigne color!
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TSmith,
I am sorry you have found so many roadblocks. I am in northern Ohio, and there were a few places for me to go to for free wigs, or had scarfs. I actually got a new one, because my insurance paid for it.
How about looking at a thrift shop for some scarves. I would have gladly sent you my wig (but I mailed it to someone from this board over a year ago.). I also sent a box of scarves that were given to me to another lady with bc.
I bet if you put a post up for anyone that might not want their wig anymore..you will get some women who would gladly send it your way. That's what several of us did, that wanted to give away our wigs. I had long hair, cut it shorter, then when it was falling out..shaved my head. So..I went with a shorter wig. It was ok...I wore it for work, mostly. It bugged me..the itching. I usually wore the scarves and ball caps.
I wish you all the best on your journey!
Lisa
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