My hair is starting to thin a bit, not noticable to people yet (i have short messy/spikey hair and obviously upset as everyday it needs quite a bit of wax etc to style. The last three days my head is really sore and tender and every time i run my fingers through my hair I see 7 or 8 hairs from the roots on my fingers. I have dipped my head in water and ran my fingers through it and again, I see the hairs in the sink - so basically Im reluctant to touch my hair. I have not been sleeping very well coz I waking up and keep looking back at my pillow and wonder wether my hair is sat there or not as I am sooo terrified of losing my hair, as like many of you are/have been.
Anyhow, moving swiftly on! I have been asked to attend a big meeting tomorrow and want to wash my hair tonight(havent washed it in three days as ive been too terrified too - just dipped in water and ran fingers through it)
Just wondering if I go all out and wash it tonight, will I have something to comb my conditioner through or will it all be sat at the bottom of my bath! I am due my 2nd chemo this wednesday so again will be wearing the coldcap as I did for my first one.
If not washing it is going to make you feel uncomfortable then do it! I would skip using the comb though and be very, very gentle. Maybe you should get up early and do it in the morning? That way you’ll be getting ready so will have a distraction if you get upset about it coming out…
I was of the opinion that if I couldn’t wash my hair and make it look nice then there was no point having it! I am a bit of a control freak Also, my hair got very greasy very quickly without washing.
Good luck with your 2nd chemo and hope the cold cap works out. I think it’s more effective with short hair.
I’d get a baby shampoo and wash it very gently - no rubbing etc, not hot water and just wrap it in a sft towel to take the water out. like Jo says though, do it in the morning.
have a great time at the meeting !!!
Tender scalp is the first signs it is coming out. Mine started 2 weeks to the day after first chemo. I did use cold cap but nurse never told me not to wash hair 48 hours before or 48 hours after cold cap. I learnt that here. Had second chemo with cold cap and am sure it is coming out less now have followed those rules.
I am currently sporting the Jimmy Saville look.
In response to your question, I reckon washing,combing etc will not worsen the situation because what comes away is not due to your rubbing or gentle pulling.
It is coming away from the inside. Having said that I no longer blo-dry mine.
Rest assured, wash your locks gently by all means, but do so asap if chemo on wednesday, or leave it to next saturday
Thanks for all your help ladies, I will be sure to let you know if i look like a plucked chicken for me my meeting!
Lee - Thanks for the big hug, I know I will need it if anymore of my locks come out!! I hope your doing ok after your first one and not having much side effects.
Its awful to see your hair in the sink or stuck all over your fingers. Look at whats left on your head, not what you can see elsewhere.
I used cold cap with FEC. Hair shed all the time, but I managed til 2-3 to look normal. Washed it every 2-3 days. Started really thinning on top after 3rd and then wore a hat out. Kept this going until the end -fringe and sides and hat.
Wash it in morning, enjoy it, look at whats on your head and go to meeting. With the cold cap I doubt it will all come out at once.
Although didn’t wash my hair for 3 days prior to shaving it off, I did wet it and comb it so so gently and yes, I did have clumps coming out, but it was still ok and not that noticable to others. Just me that knew it was getting very fine and felt yuk. If you wash it really gently and when rinsing, instead of pushing water through hair, I held my gently at the neck and just sort of tapped it til was all out and then gently patted it dry and combed gently. Didn’t dry it though or straighten it.
I just wanted to confirm that you should just be very gentle while washing it, use cool water, don’t rub it and if you can get away with not combing it that’s even better.
If you do lose any kind of substantial amount, do you have a hairband or anything? I disguised my loss with a hairband for a few days before I lost it all.
Hi Ladies,
I decided to not wash it and go with the 48 hr rule, however wet it this morning and more and more hair just keeps appearing on my hands…i know whats coming i just dont want to deal with it…
Well my meeting went well, didnt shed, well much. Because my hair is number two back and sides anyway, as its thinning you can see where its thinning from - and again, short and messy on top, the spikes are getting more and more spaced out!!
Due my next chemo 2morow with the coldcap again, as the cold cap is tightly placed, when she takes it off will my hair not just come out with it?
Will my hair continue to shed the day after do you think or with it being cooled down will take another few days till its thawed out before it sheds again?
Sorry all the questions, just wanna be prepared - says me whos to chicken to shave it off!!
Sorry about your hair. Glad you survived your meetin though and am sure no-one noticed really. We are more self conscious about it and think everyone else can see. Before I shaved mine off, was wandering around Tescos and felt everyone could see chunks hanging off, but they couldn’t. Can’t help with cold cap question, but you have to do what you feel best doing. If you want to save for as long as you can, go for it. It is hard to decided to shave, I really really didn’t want to, but as mine was very short bob, it was not worth keeping, as finding long hair all over the house, and my little boy was picking up with toys.
Its worth another try with the cold cap as if it’s going to fall out it will do it. It’s such an awful thing, but as many of the ladies here say, once it happens it’s strangely liberating, the worry as to whether it’s going to happen goes away as you just think, well that’s that then… One less thing to fret about in a way. From what I hear it does tend to go from the top middle at first.
Try the cap, you never know, it may pull the hair off when it’s removed but as I say that’s only because it’s going to happen anyway.
Sorry not very optimistic but I used the cold cap on my first chemo and the hair fell out in the following 16 - 20 days.
Glad your doin ok, glad your feelin a bit better than the last time. Im dreading it tomorrow, I am worried its just gonna come off in the cap - I have just thrown a jumper on to nip to tesco and my OH said there was hairs on the top of the jumper from when it went over my head. I just dread her taking the cap off and me being bald…
Having a low moment i guess…
I know its hard for us all, and i know i should be more positive but its hard for us all. I know at least its working, but i think after hearing about Jane Tomlinson today it kinda hit me and all i could think was well is this all worth it…
kicking myself up the butt big time to get myself out of this low mood but very frightened…i know i must shave it though as I havent slept for the last 4 nights worrying if i wake up bald! I dont think it would be so bad if i didnt work but hey lets face it I cant be a recluse!
I guess il go and have a glass of wine(i know night before chemo but upset and i think it may help)
thanks for the message, I guess i should take a baseball cap with me just incase…
I will try it again, however if it comes off i think i will just shave it, dont think i can do bald yet though, may try a number three and see where we go from there…
It’s really hard to know what to say, I thought my hair was the least of my worries but it turned out to be the most sad part of my journey so far. But I’m so used to it now, and it will come back! that’s the main thing. And like you, so affected by news of Jane Tomlinson tonight that I’m crying for the first time properly since… well since my hair fell out about 2 months ago!
Hi Lynne…yes I am feeling good this week… 2nd week after 1st. I hope I do the same each time… I wonder if u feel the same after each treatment or each one is different? Have u heard?
Were u the one asking about bandanas? I ordered some soft hats and bandanas from headcovers.com and have an extra brown one…duh I ordered 2 for some reason. If u would like it u r welcome to it and see if u r going to enjoy wearing them! Takes me back to my hippy years in the 70s. hehe
Hi Lee - I was told from my Surgeon that if the side effects are going to kick in its usually after the 2nd one, as my first one was a breeze looking back. Who knows, I guess everyone is different but I will be sure to keep you informed after 2morow.
Glad your feeling ok with it all though.
As for the bandanas ive just ordered some this morning from bandanashop.com but thank you so so much for the offer it was very kind of you. Hippy days eh? I was born in 1976 so i was kind of a Mod when I was growing up.LOL
Anyhow, im exhausted, but still quite sad at the thought of what the coldcap may bring off tomorrow so struggling to sleep but really should try.
Best wishes for you today Lynne… hope it is a breeze! I was hoping they would all be like the first treatment. My number 2 treatment is next thursday… I have a slight sore throat on one side for the past few days but other than that I am fine.
Best wishes for today Lynne, hope it all goes OK. My first and second chemo sessions went well with no side effects apart from the old hair. Try not to worry about your hair too much, you will get through it. It is a hard time, I was very emotional esp. when had it shaved, but doing OK now.
Lee good luck for next Thursday with your chemo, although sure will say this again nearer the time. I have a sore throat and runny nose today, had for about 3 days now, and starting to worry a little. But keep telling myself, better this week and then I have 2 weeks to get over it before my 3rd chemo.
Also, my hair got very greasy very quickly without washing.