Can-uk you can do it! If you are determined you can do it. Think positive. I will second what Tina has already said. I finished mine the same day as Tina and we were on the same ragime. Also lost about the same amount of hair.
Also will add I kept my hair long (past bra strap) and plaited it each day and night. I found it helped to slow the hair falling out. It was less knotty and so less tangled when brushing, and so less stress on hair and less came out.
Good luck xxx
I second that Marli! Definitely coming back quickly xx
Hi Lynn
Welcome
I was diagnosed February 12th 2016 and my right breast nipple areola complex removed skin sparing March 10th with immediate reconstruction with an implant to spare my breast skin to which in a year from now will be having a Diep flap performed. My diagnosis was Grade lll aggressive invasive fast growing cancer hormone producedā¦ The minuscule cells was all over my breast tissue removed within the veins and so is travelling through my blood stream. 3cells were present in the nearest sentinel lymph node but the other two nodes taken were clear but was told the cells are most probably invading the rest of my body hence the chemoā¦Radio ā¦and hormone therapyā¦
I started my first round of chemo May 6th 2016 I was very scared but the nurses were brilliant. I had my pick put in the top of my arm and tube was inserted through the pick into my vein and fed through to my heart area for the drugs to be administered it was very painless ā¦I was then weighed blood pressured and temperature take ad then asked to go wet my hair and put loads of conditioner on my hair for the cold cap to be put on as this makes better contact for the gel that is used to freeze your scalp ā¦ The cap was donned and then The hat on top really tight and snug like a straight jacket came to mind as was very very tight ā¦the machine was switched on and for the first 20mins Iām not going to lie was absolute evil and very painful indeed but I persevered and did the whole 3 hours it did become bearable in the end but did cry constantly in the beginningā¦ I felt OK the day after and then bang for three days was fit for mouthing listlessā¦ Tired , banging headacheā¦ Earache, feeling sick and feeling sorry for myself after that Iāve picked up and two weeks later still have my hair but time will tell ā¦ Next Friday I have my second dose and will let you know how it goes hope this helps , lots of love Aā¦ Xxx
Hi. Regarding hair care is it recommended to use a leave in conditioner or should I stick to my simple combo? Just want to give it the best shot as I can while cold capping.x
I had my first chemo last Friday and tried the cold cap. I was told to take paracetamol before using it so bad 2 before I left for the hospital. Anyway I didnāt think the cold cap seemed that cold. The nurse and my husband kept assuring me it wasā¦I also didnāt have ice on my hair afterwards which people have said they have had. My hair did feel cold though. Iām just worried it hasnāt worked. I have thick hair. I guess Iāll find out in 2 weeks by feel a bit deflated about it and preparing for full hair loss. Did anyone else experience this? The worst bit for me was the chin strap. It really dug in and was so uncomfortable but as for the cold I didnāt really feel very coldā¦
That makes me feel better knowing you washed your hait every 3 days! I donāt feel so bad now. Is there a reason why no conditioner ? Iām literally dreading my next capā¦yes I agree I didnāt actually feel cold as such and didnāt realise i was until the last hour when my legs at first started uncontrollably jerkingā¦I asked why n the nurses said its the shivers. ā¦I then progressed to my whole body. ā¦ no amount of blankets and hot drinks (which were hard to drink anyway due to that bloody chin strap) stopped it until the cap was off and20 minutes after that. And then the ice burn on my foreheadā¦lolā¦ what a state I was! Iāve bought 3 different headbands and a piece of moleskin for next timeā¦fingers crossed xx
Hi .i lost some hair on chemoā¦coldcap paxman worked well for meā¦take a paracetamol before it goes on helps with headache ā¦after fifteen minutes its doableā¦take care sharonx
Those of you that the cold cap worked for, did you have ice on your head afterwards? Iāve been so deflated since having chemo last week that it may not have worked as wasnāt cold enoughā¦I guess Iāll find out next week. Really hoping I hold onto some hair
Thanks for your reply Marli. The machine was switched off for about 15mins before I took it off. The nurse said to leave it on so maybe thatās it x
Thats reassuring as im due number2 tomorrow and im shedding quite a bit. Im sick of people (mother in law especially) sayingā¦its only hairā¦not important! It is to me im afraidā¦i look so dreadful because i cant style my hairā¦its not the type you can just leave n look okā¦its v unruly and although im coping with pretty scarves and a cap i hate headwear fullstopā¦its such a relief when i can take them off as long as I donāt glance in the mirror! I do have a wig but its an absolute last resort as i find it v v uncomfortableā¦also it needs cutting to my style. Im absolutely dreading tomorrow evenmore than my 1st time! Im hopefully more prepared thoughā¦several options to cover my forehead under the cap as that was the worst part for me. ā¦ Ice burn on my forehead! The pain stayed the whole time. Painkillers to take beforehand and a hot water bottle. Wish me luck. Ps any tips for that lovely chin strapā¦i kept pulling it down to releive the pressure xx
Hope it goes well today Tina - try a piece of gauze under the chin strap, or if you have any soft fabric/felt lying around the house take that with you. I found the strap really itchy and kept pulling it down - I did wear it on the boney part of my chin rather than on the fleshy part under the chin which strangled me!!
Hope it goes well today Tina - try a piece of gauze under the chin strap, or if you have any soft fabric/felt lying around the house take that with you. I found the strap really itchy and kept pulling it down - I did wear it on the boney part of my chin rather than on the fleshy part under the chin which strangled me!!
Thanks both. Just got home. Endured the cap againā¦ Gauze helped under chin strap and i packed some under my templesā¦seems thats always the part that bothers me. Ive been shedding since day 16 and its driving me crazy. Ive only got to touch it and a handful comes outā¦really hope it slows down soon. Although ive got mega thick hair it still worries me. Just got out the shower and hair ball the size of a flaming hamster was left in the plug! I dont know if im doing wrong by removing the loose hairs or just leave them to fall on their ownā¦if im going to do this i dont want to do anything wrong.
And no shivers this timeā¦i think the dressing gown three blankets and two heat packs might of helped hahaha x
Thanks marli. Yes i use satin pillowcases. It was the nurse who said wash it once home. My only real āpainā is the temple area . i did take a tramadol and paracetamol beforehand but didnāt really help. But heyā¦its my choice so i cant moan. Onwards and upwards xx
Hubby just told me i have a bald patch! Will it affect next cap? Its right on the crown : ( x
Okā¦is it normal? I only envisaged thinning. Not a happy bunny x
I cold capped. Lost 60% of my hair. It was very thick to start with and I am actually pleased with what I kept. I too had a bald patch on my crown. It was due to a session where the nurse badly fitted the caps. I kept telling her they were too big but she didnāt listen! Didnāt affect next capping other than that spot felt colder. Nurse didnāt advice or ask if I wanted gauze on it or anything. Wasnāt too bad. Just as usual as hair thins it feels colder. Hence cap 6 was a tad uncomfortable but I geeād myself along and made myself laugh by asking if my fiancĆ© could have a cap on for a few minutes to see what itās like. He has thick hair and had it in for 5 minutes and was like oh my god how do uou put up with that! It actually made me feel so much stronger to carry on. Take a friend or relative for torture ?
Xx
Hi. Thanks for that info. Ill ask for gauze to cover the spot. Im tired of touching it and it coming out in my hands. Is it best to not touch it at all as i fear im making it worse. I know its all loose but should i pull it out or leave it to fall? X
I kept around 50-60% of my hair with 14 cold capping sessions. Did lose the girly bits first, then legs and finally arms - still had to shave armpits! During the week after chemo finished my eye lashes rapidly reduced until I only had 3 on one side. Still kept my hairy toes and belly button!!! Just so glamorous.
Thank you all. I will persevere even though even the thought of it churns my tummy. Im going to phone up tomorrow and ask about surgical paper hats. ā¦then take it from there. Ive bought some loreal colour root spray today and its actually goodā¦v happy. Cant be without headwear but feel more confident if like today my scarf slipped off while i was trying to discretely try a hat on in a shop. Was mortified but probably only me that noticed!
Got oncologist appointment tomorrowā¦are there questions i should ask? Xxx