Pondering if I should shave my head? Need Advice

Hey, I am another Bonny, only with a Y.  My head started to hurt when I would wash my hair and I could pull it out quite easily so I went ahead and shaved it. I truly think that was one of the most traumatic moments, but you get used to it.  I never wore anything other that a bandanna or baseball cap.  I now have hair and you can't tell I have ever been sick.  I say whatever you feel most comfortable doing.  I shaved minr on Thanksgiving morning before going to the in-laws for dinner.  Good Luck, you will make it.  Bonny

I too had the same thoughts as you.  But I decided that the cancer and treatment decided on everything I did but for as my hair I took control and shaved it.  I thought this is my choice and I wasnet going to let the treatment decide when I lost it.  It made me feel powerful (i guess).  I hope this helps

Hugs and Prayers

Lori

Hi Pixie,

I think shaving is the better alternative. I was wearing my wig (which, by the way, I loved because it was so easy and it looked so good) to work after my first treatment. As I was speaking with someone, she reached over and brushed my neck - pieces of hair were drifting down from under the wig. I decided right then that I was going to shave my head. First I had it cut very close to my head because I didn't want to have it shaved at the hair salon. The I went home and the next day shaved it off. 

I started my chemo in July 06 and wore my wig until February 07. My hair, which before chemo was thick and straight, grew back thick and curly.  I looked like a poodle. Now it's September and the curl has relaxed so now my hair is wavy. I keep it short now and it's so much easier to deal with.

There was a women who posted on this board who had long hair which she didn't cut. She was driving one afternoon with the window open and ran her hand through her hair. Out came a fistful which she tossed out the window. She continued to run her hand through her hair and let the strands be drawn up by the wind.  It sounded kind of romantic but then she looked out her window and saw big clumps of her hair on someone's windshield. I got a good laugh out of that.

 Good luck with your treatments - remember, you will get through them even if it feels like hell for the short term.

Stacey,

Of one thing, you can be fairly certain, if you delay making the to shave or not to shave decision, the chemo will take care of your dilemma.  I've not run across anybody who did not lose their hair as a result of AC.  I briefly thought I might be an exception, as it took a little longer than predicted for my hair to fall out.  At one point I regretted cutting it short (buzz cut) thinking that it may not fall out at all.    Yeah, right.  It fell out.  Once I came to grips with not being exceptional, I shaved it.  The wig was much more comfortable on a bald head.  On the bright side, my hair started to come back during the Taxotere course of treatment.  It seems to be sticking around and not affected by the current Carboplatin regimen.

It falls out but it comes back.  In my case, my hair came back very very curly.  It'll be interesting to see whether it straightens out.  I feel like lil'Orphan Annie.

I LOVE my new white hair....it's only 1/4 in long, but so cute....

I decided I was going to take charge and make it more a fun experience for the family and friends. First I invited my sister, mother-in-law, nephew, friends , and my teenagers friends over for a headshaving party and barbeque. After eating, everybody took a swipe at my head with the shears and we did a mohawk. We even sprayed it neon pink and green and took a bunch of pictures.  I figured why not! How  many times in my life would I ever have the guts to rock a mohawk! Then we continued with the rest of the shaving. It was actually very empowering! You feel like you have so little control over any part of this disease but I could control the mess of when the hair was gonna go and how I chose to handle it.

My 17 year old daughter laughed and said she wished we did this when she was little cuz she didn't see any eyes in the back of my head!

It started growing back after my AC was over. 11 weeks later, its not looking bad. I don't see any grey. My hairline is even better. Before it was getting receeding on the sides and it is not now. I think by Christmas I might need a haircut! Many people talk about it coming in curly. Mine has not come in curly yet. The Dr. seems to think its still going to curl, we'll see!

Sharon

Had to share my curls.  My hair was mildly wavy...now it's corkscrew curly.  It did come back grayer than it was but nothing that a little drugstore dye job couldn't fix.

Yes, Twink, your hair is beautiful!

Tina,

Thanks for the info...  I just assume that any hair color is bad for me, since I have had bc...  and hair color has been known to cause cancer... 

The guy at the wig shop shaved mine to about 2", so it was still short, and falling out everywhere.  It is still falling out, but it hasn't gone bald yet.  I had the 'receding hairline' thing that guys get, but that filled in with white hair.  Now I am mostly white all over, with a little dark brown?, I'm not sure what color it is...

Thanks! 

Harley

Michelle -- One thing I found is that my hair didn't fall out as fast as I thought it would.  I got mine buzzed the day after tx #2 because some strands were coming out in my hand, but it came out slowly after that.  Other women have had it coming out in clumps soon after the 2nd treatment.  So it's hard to predict what your experience will be.

Eventually my hair all fell out with the exception of a few strands along the edges, but I was glad I got it cut early.  It made the hair loss a non-issue for me.  To me it would have been harder to see my longer hair disappearing bit by bit.  Plus it seems it's more painful when the hair is long, from what I've heard. 

Abbi,

Hope your 1st Taxol tx goes well! 

Post when you feel up to it!

Good Luck!

Harley

Hello,

Today is day 14 from my first chemo treatment and when I went to go wash my hair which was just below my shoulders in length, it started to fall out and my scalp hurt and was sore.  I didn't think it would happen this quickly.  My mom took me for a haircut and the ladies at the shop thought I should just get it cut a bit shorter but not to do anything drastic so I cut it shorter.  But I'm not sure from everything I'm reading that it is short enough? It's just about the length of my ears.  I'm not sure I'm ready for this but guess I have no choice.  My second treatment is next week.  Will I have any hair after next week or is it different for each person?

Susan

I first donated to locks of love. Then got a short cut, then a buzz, then shaved.

I wanted to have all healthy hair, and I wanted it to grow out even.

Plus the pain got really bad. I couldn't keep my hands off my head.

It will feel cold, even when you sleep at times. I wore a stocking cap, looked ridiculous, but it worked.

Hi - My second treatment is this Wednesday (today is day 20 from first cycle).  Although my hair is coming out by the handfuls, I still have enough to pull back into a small ponytail.  I can't come to grips with the shave yet and I want to get to my second treatment (cytoxin/taxotere) with some hair intact.  I guess my way of trying to hold onto some control.  I do have a very nice wig and a baseball cap with a velcro hair piece attached to it and a few scarves when the time comes to do the shave (which I think will be sooner than I care to think about).  The soreness, itching and shedding is getting to be a bit much.  I thought about cutting it to about 2 inches (pixie) but not sure about that either.  I know its a very personal decision but I am really struggling with when to finally shave it all off.  arghhhhh!  tough one . . .

T2N0 ER+