Question about tender/sore scalp

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smilingdeb
smilingdeb Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi Sisters,

I have two questions and I hope you can help.

1. I have just finish my second weekly sesson of taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin out of four and my scalp is still very tender and sore esp. after treatments. How long does it last? I still have hair but it is very thin now. My RN told me that I will lose all of my hair becasue two of the chemos that I am taking is one of the side effect. Will the tenderness and soreness go away after all of my hair fall out?

2. What is your favorite kind of wig? The real hair or the synthetic?  Living here in South Texas and summer is coming it sure does get very hot and I want to be as comfortable as I can.

Any information or advice you can give me would be wonderful.

Hugs,

Deb

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  • judyfams
    judyfams Member Posts: 148
    edited June 2011

    MY scalp soreness gradually went away after my hair fell out.

     I live in northern NJ and had my chemo from May - Sept last year - over the summer.  I wore a synthetic wig but only when my grandchildren were over. 

    The other times I wore stylish baseball type caps with brims that were very comfortable and stylish and not hot.  I got them from the website www.headcovering.com  I had 2 or 3 different color caps with different designs.  You see many women wearing "caps" and not all of them are chemo patients.  It is the new style of headcovering for women!

    I also had a scarf, but didn't know how to tie it and also found the rounded headcoverings looked very "chemo-ish", but the baseball type hat looked very fashionable!

    Good luck,

    Judy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    My scalp only hurt around the time my hair fell out - I've had my hair fall out three times with chemo and the "aching hair roots" are very predictable for me.

    When I was first diagnosed, I had a human hair wig made to look like my real hair - really well done.  I only wear it now to go out to dinner, etc.  While I'm doing yard work, I'm in my natural state.  If I make a trip to town, I usually wear a scarf - I really don't like the heat.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited June 2011

    Yeah, the sore scalp thing will go away gradually. I chose a synthetic wig, just because it was prettier than the one real hair wig I got to choose from (free from ACS).  The real hair one seemed to be heavier to me.  I never wore my wig except for special occasions it was never comfortable to me and I'm in NC so I know about the summer heat also.  Best wishes on completing tx.  

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2011

    Hi Deb,

    Ouch!  I remember that feeling.  Just before my hair fell out my scalp actually hurt all over.  And yes, once the hair is gone it does go away.

    I had a beautiful real hair wig someone lent to me that had gone through this a few years ago.  I don't know about the other ladies, but I also was one that really only wore it when I was going someplace nice or to my part time job.  The inside of it seemed snug and a bit irritating.  On other days I pretty much wore a bandana w/the back tucked in with or w/out a baseball cap.  I wasn't and am still not a "scarf" person.  I usually slept w/some sort of knit cap as well since the bandana would have hurt.

    Keep us posted on how you are doing!!!

    Sharon

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited June 2011

    Yeah I remember that as well...just be thankful its not a cold blustery winter day. Yes knit cap at night helps but it will stop when your hair falls out...unfortunately.

    As far as wig I LOVED my real hair wig...although it was VERY hot as I was also wearing it mostly in the the summer. I had a synthetic one that I hardly ever wore because it was sooooooo itchy. My real hair wig i styled so many ways...I cut it...colored it. Loved it! But I am glad to have my hair back. You'll be through it all before you know it. Hang in there!

    Diane

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  • tlundy
    tlundy Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2011

    Same to report on the soreness as the other ladies - went away after my hair was completely gone. 

    I have only had synthetic wigs, the most comfortable being one from the Rachel Welch line.  The first week I wore a wig ALL of the time - even was sleeping in one!  It didn't take long to get tired of that and I started wearing the wigs less and less.  I became much more comfortable with gauze cotton scarves.  You can find really good deals on them in a variety of colors, patterns, etc., and  they breathe really well making them comfortable to wear in the heat.  I only wear my wig now on occasion as I have become very happy dressing up or down with the scarves.  

    There is a thread called "Hair, Hair, Hair" which is quite lengthy, but is informative and interesting in case you want to check it out.

    Sending you hugs and positive energy as you make your way through treatment!

       

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited June 2011

    I had 4 wigs but really only wore two of them.  One was from ACS and looked pretty bad on me and the other was from the ACS "Look Good - Feel Good" seminar/class which was red and really wasn't me.  But all of them were synthetic.  I agree with Tlundy about the Rachel Welsh line -- there are some very nice wigs that I found for about $125.  I was working full time so it was important for me to look natural.  I also wore a wig cap underneath.  My was nylon but I'm sure you could get a cotton one.  The webbing inside the synthetics can be very open which would definitely help with staying cool.  So when you're shopping make sure and check out the inside along with the outside.

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  • lifelover
    lifelover Member Posts: 553
    edited June 2011

    Hi Deb,

    When my scalp got really sore and my hair started coming out in clumps, I got the feeling that my hair was weighing things down and if I cut the hair shorter the soreness would go away.  It worked for me: I cut it within an inch of it's life (about 1/8 inch) and the soreness went away within 24 hours.  Now, I've shaved it off although I still have some patches of hair here and there.

    I hope you feel better soon!

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  • Fitz33
    Fitz33 Member Posts: 243
    edited June 2011

    I also had tender sore spots when my hair was falling out and after that as well.  Wearing glasses also hurt for awhile which includes sun glasses.  It eventually went away but I remember using soft pillow cases like satin ones that helped.  As far as a wig, I only bought one synthetic and it worked great.  Many people said they like it better than my own hair.  Too bad because I'm hoping they'll see my real hair again within the next 2 months or so.  It's been growing now for a couple of months.

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited July 2011

    Same. Sore scalp during hair loss. It went away after most of the hair was gone (didn't lose quite ALL of it).

    Interesting: I finished chemo 3 weeks ago, and my hair is starting to grow back, and lo and behold: sore scalp again!  Can't complain this time!

    I got a synthetic wig but have only worn it once. It is definitely hot.

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