Thanks for all Your help 
Iāve downloaded the leaflet too cheers cx
Thanks Anne I start tomorrow, dreading the pain but hope I can bear it. I will be following everyones advice x
Hi, Iāve had 4 of my 6 EC chemo cycles and have used the Paxman system. Like others I had my long thick hair cut ear length before it started which, although a wrench, Iām glad I did. It is painful and the first 10 to 15 minutes especially so. Also this pain seems to have increased as my hair has thinned and I too have gone down a size in caps. I estimate Iāve lost 50% but evenly so itās not obvious to those who donāt know me. The condition is not good,very dry and brittle, and I may be overdoing the conditioner As my scalp is flakey or thereās residual conditioner - not sure which. Is it worth it? I have a wig tucked away in a cupboard which I canāt bear to look at despite my partner and friend telling me itās fine. Iāve got this far so Iām going to continue. But I do wonder after all this is it actually better then to cut it off to allow the,hopefully good condition hair, afterwards to grow. If not Iāll have soft hair near the scalp with my current fuzzy stuff at the end!Ā
Hope this is useful, Sue
Hi, Iāve had 4 of my 6 EC chemo cycles and have used the Paxman system. Like others I had my long thick hair cut ear length before it started which, although a wrench, Iām glad I did. It is painful and the first 10 to 15 minutes especially so. Also this pain seems to have increased as my hair has thinned and I too have gone down a size in caps. I estimate Iāve lost 50% but evenly so itās not obvious to those who donāt know me. The condition is not good,very dry and brittle, and I may be overdoing the conditioner As my scalp is flakey or thereās residual conditioner - not sure which. Is it worth it? It has been for me - have a wig tucked away in a cupboard which I canāt bear to look at despite my partner and friend telling me itās fine. Iāve got this far so Iām going to continue. But I do wonder after all this is it actually better then to cut it off to allow the, hopefully good condition hair, afterwards to grow. If not Iāll have soft hair near the scalp with my current fuzzy stuff at the end!Ā
Hope this is useful, Sue
Hello, Iām new here. I life in Belgium and here many breast cancer patients get 4 EC dose dense (this meens concentrated and every 2 weeks) + 12 weekly Taxolās.
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Normally only patients who only need to have Taxol can have an ice cap. I convinced my oncologist with recent studyās to use an ice cap in my case but they have no idea how long it should stay on. (Paxman cooling machine) So they have put it on for half an our before the chemo and 90 minutes after, as they do for Taxol. Please, can any of you who has/had a combination with EC (FEC e.g.) tell me how long it has to stay on? Sue124?
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I had my second dose of EC 9 days ago. I started losing a lot of hair on day 19 after washing it very gently with baby shampoo as they recommed me. And Iām still losing a lot of hair. I think Iāve lost already 50% evenly and I have a bad feeling it wonāt stop. In 5 days I have my third chemoĀ :mansad:
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To anser the question: Nevertheless I think itās worth the pain, cold, headache, feeling of nausea! For me itās not about keeping all my hair or not having to use a wig. I would be enormously happy if I had a little bit hair left to camouflage the short hairs afterwards. But I donāt think Iāll be so lucky.
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Cath
I start fec-t on July 4 and Iām doing the paxmam cold cap. Can anyone recommend a dry shampoo without too many chemicals for use between washes? Thanks
Hi Iām day 15 of my first fec, lost no hair as of yet. When should I expect my first big sheās? Iāve got total hair anxiety waiting and wondering 
x
*shed not sheās
Hi Melia
I hope youāre coping okay with the chemo. Mine starts next Tuesday at Gateshead. Iām also trying the cold cap. My bc nurse says to expect to start losing it around week 4 to 6. She also said most of the ladies she knows who cap lose around 40%. That doesnāt actually sound too bad. ?
Did you get a back up wig? I remember how determined youāve been from the beginning to keep your hair.
Are you using a dry shampoo between washes?
Angela. X
I just wanted to encourage you cold-cappers; I shed quite a bit of hair two and a half weeks into my first FEC but that was really the bulk of the hair loss throughout 3 FEC and 3 Docetaxal. I kept about 40% of my hair and now, 8 weeks after final chemo am wearing headbands just to keep it and the new hair in order as its quite fluffly and unruly. I did find it very uncomfortable, although as others have said its the first 10-15 minutes in particular, and I always dosed up with paracetamol beforehand. By chemo 6 I was unsure I could face it again but I did, and with hindsight Iām so glad I did. So donāt be discouraged by early hair loss ladies !
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Hi angela, still not been offered a voucher from my chemo nurses and reluctant to ask again. Iāve got an appointment at a wig shop on Monday so Iāll get a fair idea of prices etc though im hoping I wonāt need one at all. I go from feeling totally positive and that Iām not going to lose a single hair to Iām going to look like friar tuck! As most say thatās where they lose it. Iāve not started shedding yet but dreading it Iāll freak out if it falls out in handfuls. Iāve only washed my hair twice 16 days since chemo With the help of my mam, I havenāt used the shower but used a jug like when I was a kid! I did put dey shampoo on last week as the grease was horrific and I had to go to a party I just sprayed it and left it overnight as didnāt want to rub itā¦ and combed out Next morning. My hair better bloody survive as itās getting treat really well haha. Also the chemo has been fine apart from really tired for a couple of days. It was the low moods I struggled with more, this doesnāt seem to be listed as a side effect but everyone Iāve spoken too said they suffer thisā¦ so just to prepare you. I think itās the steroid come down. Good luck for starting let me know how u get on with the cap. Kathryn x
Thanks for the encouragement slowski.
Melia, Iām relieved youāre not finding the chemo too bad. Well done for managing only two washes in 26 days. ? If I go two days I look like Iāve been caught in the rain. Iām going to buy some dry shampoo but Iām worried about the chemicals. Really struggling to find any info on what brand I should buy.
I want a real hair wig and apparently Gateshead wonāt give me a voucher towards that. I have an appointment Monday morning at a salon that does them. Have a feeling itās going to be pricey. Kind of pleased my hair is short now as it might not cost as much. Cancer is expensive. X
I didnāt know that about the dry shampoo, I used Batista. I donāt know of a chemical free one. Why wonāt they give u a voucher for that surely itās up to you what you buy! Itās a total nightmare trying to get anything from them isnāt it. Where are you going for it In going to a place called tribeca in Boldon, supposed to be really good xx
Can anyone remind me what the cold cap times are for fec, I know itās half an hour before. Im.jjst sitting here thinking and sure mine was only kept on an hour after the drugs, is this right or should it be an hour and a half ? And is this just to ādefrostā the cap wasnāt stuck or anything and slid of easily after the cap x
Hi Kathryn.
Yea, nightmare getting anything. I came away from mastectomy without even a softie. Had to ask what I needed on here and buy everything online. I didnāt have a clue.
Apparently I canāt have a voucher towards a real hair wig. Only the hospital recommended fake ones. And yes, Iāve got an appointment at tribeca 9am Monday before my chemo ward visit. ?
Iāve heard heās really good too. I know a couple of people who have had his wigs and say theyāre fantastic. X
Feal the fear are you having your treatment at QE? Iām starting mine at Freeman on 10th having my assessment and ward thing on Monday I couldnāt have a voucher either Iām trying cold cap but well aware I could end up looking like gollum so would still shave it off if I end up with baldy patches all over! Not allowed a voucher when cold capping!
Iām also there on Monday but at 11.30 has to change it from 10.30 as have pre chemo or I would have probably seen you! Seems it varies with different hospitals with how helpful and how much you get! Trust us to get the **bleep** stick being in the north east! I had my recon done at the qe and Iām really pleased with the way my boob looks though the scars seem a lot redder now im on the chemo xx
Forgot you canāt swear on hereā¦ shame haha. The word bleeped out Is sh*t
Haha. I feel like bleeping all of the time
Kathryn. Obviously im having fec-me instead of fec-t. ?
Hoping tribeca does wonders for us without clearing out the bank balance. ??
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