Pondering if I should shave my head? Need Advice

About that head-shaving decision: 

I have been doing sort of an experiment.  Against the advice of everybody on this board, I have not shaved my head.  Thirteen days after my 1st Taxotere/Cytoxan tx, it started to come out in small tufts when I pulled on it.  The next day, there were more tufts, and I could get a handful by running my fingers through it.  On day 15, about 75% of it came out in the shower, all at once.  But my scalp never has hurt--not at all.  It occasionally itches a little, kind of like when you go on a camping trip and don't wash your hair as often as usual.  It's not bad, though.

I am now on day 21 of my first TC cycle, and I have just a little bit of hair left.  It was straight and only chin-length to start with.  After I lost most of it on day 15, I trimmed off another inch or two to even it up.  I still have some bangs, and there's hair on the sides of my head, although it's very, very thin.  The top is pretty much bald.

My onco chuckled when she saw me today.  She said I wasn't "brave" because I had not taken control and shaved my head.  I don't know about that.  For me, "taking control" is deciding what I want to do, and how I want to deal with all this.  Yes, chemo is stealing my hair, but some of it seems to want to hang on for awhile longer.  So I'm leaving it there.  Actually, it has worked out pretty well, since the small amount I have left sticks out under a cap and looks kind of like a short "fall".  A store clerk who checked my driver's license yesterday said she thought I'd cut my hair very short--she didn't believe I was nearly bald.  We had a nice conversation about BC and chemo.

Maybe it will all be gone in another 2 weeks, since I had TC tx #2 today.  Oh, well.  We all end up at the same place in the end I guess.  I've just found it easier to pick up hair that's 3 inches long, than hair that's just stubble.  A lint roller works well in both situations.

YMMV.

otter 

Hi all,

I had very thick hair that had just gotten to a length and style I liked when I got my diagnosis, so I decided not to shave my head. I did buy several wigs, but have been clinging to the vestiges of my former glorious hirsuteness.

I've now been through three treatments, and still have hair, albeit very thin and straggly. My hair is usually light golden blonde; what remains is more platinum (actually, a self-comforting euphemism for silver). Yet, I can still tie it back with a scrunchy or squeegie or thong or whatever the he** it's called. My niece would know.

I wouldn't go on campus with my head au naturel because it would be too much of a change for students and colleagues. At home, however, I run around with my skinny hair. I even take out the trash that way, and get the mail at the mailbox (collective boxes down the street) with my wispy locks floating on the trade winds.

So my vote is -- NO. Don't shave your head. Why not enjoy each strand as it continues to cling? It also keeps your head warmer than nothing at night, under the fan.

Hugs,

Annie

jen, I'm on pretty much the same schedule as you - first TCH treatment 14 days ago, and most of my hair is still there. I'm with Annie and Otter - I think I'll hang onto every strand as long as it wants to stay with me. I did get a wig I really like and wore it to work the last few days - nothing like my own hair which is ash blonde, fine, straight and thin. I got reddish with blonde highlights and my high school kids were all very complimentary.

Many women like the sense of control shaving gives them. But some of us apparently want to hang on to what we've still got for as long as possible!

Sue

I had decided I would not shave my hair and was just going to let it fall but I think on day 17 or so, my head was so itchy and hair started coming out in my hands, that at midnight I had dh come and shave my hair case I could not deal with the sensation on my scalp anymore . I am on AC and Taxol.