Hi Everyone, am going camping at the weekend but don’t know what to do with the wig situation. I wear it all the time outside the house but am SO hot in this weather. Going with family and friends (one friend had BC last year) and children but don’t think I can face them with just scarf on. Haven’t even let OH and children see me without wig or scarf as I only have straggly bits of hair at front and back but when I wear my scarf it looks like I have hair. Getting anxious thinking about what to do. Any tips anyone???
Thanks,
Kiti.
Hi, I felt the same when I first had my wig (& I loved it!).
I was totally bald by July & very hot with my wig on !!
We went to France & Spain & it was even hotter, so I decided it was time to take it off, basically because no one knew me, except for my 3 sons(youngest 19!). What a relief…no heads turned & I felt so relaxed & also very proud of what I’d been through mainly for them.
Unfortunately, we went to a party (with my wig on)at home about a week later & so hot, I decided to take it off & left it behind.
I never did find my wig, but hope it went to some charity eventually.
In answer to your question, I would say do what is comfortable, don’t be ashamed of losing your hair.Being bald is cool(weatherwise & up to date)…it does come back & why not let everyone know how brave you are,especially close family & friends…they will understand & love you for it xx
Morning. All I can say is don’t worry about other people. I never got into wearing my wig just head scarfs and buffs but even that was too hot for me. I shaved all my straggly bits off and just go bald most of the time. I returned to work 2 weeks ago as a teacher and started wearing the scarf again for the sake of the kids but they could see I was too hot and it’s them that told me to take it off. I haven’t worn it since and not one of my kids has acted any differently, almost nicer as they can see me as I am. Kids are much more adaptable and accepting than sometimes we think. The people that love and care for you will accept you however you are and just be happy you can go camping with them regardless of what you have on your head. Fairplay to you for being able to wear your wig, i have a lovely one but didn’t gave the confidence to wear it.
Em x
Morning. All I can say is don’t worry about other people. I never got into wearing my wig just head scarfs and buffs but even that was too hot for me. I shaved all my straggly bits off and just go bald most of the time. I returned to work 2 weeks ago as a teacher and started wearing the scarf again for the sake of the kids but they could see I was too hot and it’s them that told me to take it off. I haven’t worn it since and not one of my kids has acted any differently, almost nicer as they can see me as I am. Kids are much more adaptable and accepting than sometimes we think. The people that love and care for you will accept you however you are and just be happy you can go camping with them regardless of what you have on your head. Fairplay to you for being able to wear your wig, i have a lovely one but didn’t gave the confidence to wear it.
Em x
Hi
Although I was always comfortable being bald at home and around my family, I also have a great wig and wore it for a while when I was out or at work, but now find it too hot and uncomfortable. Now I tend to start the day in a scarf and take it off when I get too hot. No one minds at all and a number have commented on how much younger I look. I know that it is a very personal thing, but if you have the confidence to try it a few times I am sure that it will get easier and be more confortable over the summer. Enjoy your camping trip,
Jacqui
I was camping in 2003 3 weeks after my fist chemo .My hair fell aout during this time, but I had lest my wig at home. I only took a head scarf and baseball cap with me as i didn’t really know what to do. My family were fine with this and no one else knew me. Don’t forget nights can be cold camping, so maybe a wooly hat for night time might be a good idea.
Have a lovely holiday
Love Maria
Hi Kiti, faced the same dilemma, but had a little chat with my boys (9&10 and eldest 20 home from uni) and they were baffled I was so worried, they just said “we don’t care, you are our mum”! Wear wig sometimes, but mostly buffs, hats & caps. Chemo and heat don’t mix and being comfortable is important. I don’t like the way I look with the current hair situation but I think of it as a temporary state. It’s a challenge but I try not to let bc take all the normality away, not easy when facing the looks on the school run but in the end do I really care if they are so shallow? My husband just wants me well, hair etc is a non issue for him. Go camping, enjoy the family time with your kids, leave the wig at home. Big Hug, Tina.
I didn’t go camping but I did go sailing!
Like you I started by wearing my wig at all times outside, but it was no good at all for sailing, so invested in some nice hats (peaked caps worked well) and soon forgot all about hair etc, too busy enjoying myself.
In the end I really regretted that I had been so embarrassed about the baldness initially, and wished I had started from day one with hats etc. I found buffs were great (I am not a scarfs person, made me look like a fish wife) and have since seen surburbanturban, wish I had known about that! I couldn’t quite bring myself to manage with nothing, although I really admire those who do and wish more would. So many people with cancer or bald for other reasons, I hope one day everybody can be much more open about these things
Sarah
Hi Kiti
I haven’t been camping but do have a touring caravan that is sited on a caravan site.
I haven’t been to it since I shaved my hair 2 weeks ago. I like you don’t like to let my kids or anyone else for that matter see me without a scarf or bandana on. At first I used to wear wig but feel more self conscious in wig at home so wear a bandana most of the time.
I’m going to my caravan this weekend and am also debating whether to take my wig or just wear the bandana. My family and friends say that if anyone minds then it is their problem and not to bother what other people think. But I can’t help feeling self conscious knowing that I have no hair.
I never used to wear make-up but now find that I won’t leave the house without bronzer, mascara and lipstick on.
It’s how you feel at the end of the day not what other people think but I still can’t help feeling self conscious.
Do what is best for you and most of all enjoy yourself
Chris xx
Hi Kiti,
I never managed to wear my wig I hated the feel of it. I generally wore a buff for the first 3 months of treatment and then I gave up wearing anything. I felt better not wearing anything, I felt that peole stared at me more when I wore my buff. I went camping and it was one of the first times I went out bald it seemed easier than trying it at home. Take a buff or hat to sleep in coz it gets cold at noght without one. My OH shaved my hair off for me when it started to fall out, my kids were much more resiliant than I thought they would be. At the end of the day there is no right or wrong way to deal with any part of your treatment sometimes you have to allow yourself to deal with things a bit at a time, what suits you now may not in a couple of months time. Happy camping! Jano