@hc1973 @mlp74 i had my long hair cut short (pixie) before my first EC, my hair is quite thick however noticed these past few days ( now day 16) a sore scalp and the starting of hair loss when I put my fingers through it. Hope this helps, however expect again it’s quite individual.
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Hi @hc1973 @bettysmum @pollyanna1 thank you loads for your replies! It’s so individual but also something we all have to think about.
I’m day 21 round 2 was Monday (every two weeks). My scalp is sore and if I touch it it comes out. Think I will enjoy today of having hair and get it shaved off tomorrow. It’s quite emotional, eh? I look like I’m a person going through treatment now. But it’s also a step closer to finishing treatment!! 
sending love and good vibes to you all!
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My scalp was sore also, I found this bit very emotional also and felt exactly like you feeling like a cancer patient. I know it sounds silly because that’s what I am. I’m just over a week with no hair and I’ve got used to it. I think each stage we go through on this journey is like a tick box until we get to the end. We’re all stronger together xxxx
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Thanks so much for sharing @pollyanna1 @bettysmum @mlp74 I had my hair cut short to a bob before I started my first docetaxal and cyclophosphamide i didn’t have all the docetaxal as had a reaction but then had the EC last Thursday so not sure when it’s going to happen! I know what you mean about feeling like a cancer patient. Or at least I can imagine as our hair is so much of our identity isn’t it. I’ve got a wig and some scarves ready and like you guys I think I will probably just shave it off when it starts coming out a lot. Sending you all a big hug today and remember we are all in this together and actually whilst it’s pants that we are losing our hair it’s a step closer to all this chemo being finished. H xx
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Hi @mlp74 my hair is coming out all the time now 
When I comb it the comb is full but even without touching it there are hairs dropping onto my clothes, the sofa and inside my hats. However, there are only a couple of places where there is a bald patch, mostly it’s just very thin and could be positioned to cover the scalp (don’t breathe!) At the moment, I’m not planning to shave it unless it really is uncomfortable. I’m seeing the BCN tomorrow and will ask her opinion about continuing cold cap and whether there comes a point when all hope is lost but I feel that as long as there is coverage then the cap will probably continue 
This, of course, is only my opinion 
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Morning everyone! Well I don’t know what’s happened to me, I’ve gone from being upbeat, trying to be perky and get on with life and then last night when I went to bed couldn’t stop crying. I’m a very positive person and a bit of a control freak in normal life. I started reading about how to deal with hair loss last night and it just sent me off the cliff. I’m super organised I’ve got a wig I know it’s going to happen but I just can’t shake the feeling of just being really sad today. I don’t usually get sad much either so I don’t like it! I know that’s such a strange thing to write! My close friends know about the cancer but a lot of distant friends and aquantainces don’t and I think the thought of people seeing me as ill with no hair especially my two children fills me with dread and I know it’s only around the corner. I’m so sorry for this mega rant, whilst I am extremely lucky to have a lovely family and lots of friends Im the sort of person who will always say I’m fine. In fact I thought at the beginning of this breast cancer journey I would never go on a forum as I wouldn’t want to talk or share and now here I am saying everything and avidly reading all the posts. I know that we are all in similar points in our journey and I really hope that what I have written doesn’t upset anyone or trigger anyone either. I’ve just looked in the mirror and said to myself Helen, it’s fine everything’s going to be fine but it just seems hard today xxx
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@hc1973 please don’t worry about sharing your thoughts on here. I find this forum a huge support knowing we are all going through similar thoughts, experiences and coming to terms with this awfulness. There are days we are strong and positive, but it’s also ok to be sad and think it’s unfair because it is. I still sometimes think it must be a bad dream as how on earth can this possibly be real. Last night my thoughts were also racing.
The visibility of the hair is such a big thing. My wig arrived last week but looked like I was on stage (definitely not subtle!) so I’ve asked for it to be thinned out and hoping it returns fairly quickly. After my pre-meds reaction on round 1 they had to remove my cold cap and have said I can’t use it now that it was removed part-way through, so I know the hair loss is imminent. I don’t feel ‘ready’ at all emotionally for it.
Hang in there!
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@hc1973 virtual hugs winging your way. You are bound to get days when it’s all too much, this journey is an absolute bugger, one we’ve just been dumped into, and there’s so much to get used to, and so many unknowns. Hair is such a major issue, as it marks us out as cancer sufferers. Which we all are, but don’t want the world and his wife to know. We went to the theatre on Saturday and I wore my wig, it still feels OTT to me, and so obviously a wig, but do you know what, a few folk who don’t know said how much they love the new style and colour! I was about to say “oh it’s a wig” but stopped myself and just said thank you. Every day we do is a step nearer the end of the journey. So hang in there, you’ve got this, not that we have a choice but we’re in it together xx
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Thank you so much for your support @isthisreal and @gromit12 it was just what I needed to read! I now realise the benefit of using this forum and sharing with people who are going through exactly the same as me. Thanks again Helen x
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Am totally with you here. 2 off my close friends are now doing race for life pretty mudder in my honour to help raise money, flood gates opened & that was me all Saturday crying at anything. However yesterday & today I feel not so bad. We will all get these fillings at some point which is fine & why we are all here to help support each other.
I’m super pleased with myself as have managed to do my own injections which was a massive thing for me, last night I had major stomach bloat as had issues with the loo 
today am pleased as this “issue” has been resolved 
chemo belly is such a thing & not really spoke about. However I feel that my sleep patterns changed massively as still awake at half 3 this morning 
hopefully things settle back soon.
Have a good day everyone L x
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And that is the reaction you need, I bet your wig looks amazing.
Has anyone booked into the look good feel better courses at all ? I have booked into a skin care course in May, I feel that I could benefit from going, not that I wear much makeup, but the fear off loosing eyebrows & lashes has got me, its these things that frame your face & without them its obvious that am going through treatment
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Yes I’ve been taking 2 lots of laxido since Thursday still nothing arghhhhhh
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I’ve just booked into one at Maggies in Southampton on the 13th!
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I’m so glad you had a nice night out and your wig sounds perfect xx
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@hc1973 I also had a meltdown about hair last night. I was talking to a close friend about how worried I was about losing it and she said ‘it will grow back’ which was not what I wanted to hear. I then felt really isolated, as though only people with cancer going through chemo could know what it’s really like. Like you, I don’t want my children to see me bald - it just seems such a significant symbol of having cancer and being ill! I also feel rubbish today, so tired that I can hardly drag myself about. Thank goodness for this forum - at least I know you all understand how I feel xx
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I managed strawberries, grapes, broccoli & cauliflower yesterday so hoping this helped me, but I will still take a laxidol each day until everything is “back to normal”. Can you try something else ? Glad you’ve also booked into a session, I feel this will help massively xx
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@hc1973 I went up to laxido 3 times a day for a couple of days before the poonami happened 
I will be more proactive this week- chemo on Thursday - and start the laxido the evening of chemo as I now know that the ondansetron now causes constipation. It really is a juggling game isn’t it, you take one thing to solve something, but then that causes another!!!
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Hi all you lovely ladies, I can totally relate to all your posts. I also thought I was so postive going through this but felt very weepy at times and then the next day ok. I think it’s just like an emotional rollercoaster. One day I’m so grateful for getting chemotherapy and getting well, my family are so supportive and this has me crying they have to watch this.
I never imagined I’d use a forum but this has been my lifeline this last few weeks. Most of us have experienced similar thoughts and side effects and this is what keeps me sane. None of us are alone in this journey and I’m so grateful for you all. 
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@ivegotthis01, I’ve booked for the skincare course on the 7th May. I’ve noticed skin has become very sensitive to my normal creams so maybe the course will be helpful
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I know exactly how you feel, you’re right it’s a total rollercoaster. However I feel so lucky to be able to share and rant on this forum 
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