Oh Nicola dont lol I seem to have quite a few grey roots just now! One of my friends was laughing at my surprise to have them and she kindly pointed out that I’d had grey hairs for a while and that was the reason for me dying my hair so what colour was I expecting to come in? Good point! Not to worry, better having grey roots than no roots
That’s a shame your blood wasn’t strong enough, have you not been feeling good?
We had sleet up here today! This week’s been a bit wild with flooding and high winds, the joys of Scotland lol!
I will be starting chemo to try to shrink the tumour on 23 December. It will be EC to begin with (6x) then 2x Docetaxel. Has anyone used the cold cap successfully with this regime?
I’d be interested in the answer to Mujum’s question too. I’m on a similar regimen but starting with E and then having CMF after the Tax, I started 2 weeks ago and used a cold cap because I wanted to keep my hair till mid December and then deal with it over Christmas. It seems to have worked pretty well; I’m losing slightly more hair than usual but then I’m not brushing it as much as usual. If I really thought it would leave me with a decent head of hair in 6 months time I would be tempted to keep up this horrible experience. However if I’m going to be left with 50% of my hair in patches and just delaying using my (very expensive European hair) wig then I think I should ditch the cold cap for the next session. Has anybody had such a good experience with the cc that they were happy to go out with no sort of cover up?
Mujum - I had 2 x FEC and 4 x Docetaxel. Most of my hair loss was with the FEC and re-growth started whilst on Tax.
filosofie - I’ve never heard of CMF so I’m not really sure but your BCN should have an idea of how it would be with the CC. As far as I know FEC is the worst for hairloss. A lady I started chemo with has managed to use no cover up for her hair althoUgh it’s a lot thinner than it was - I think because she’s blonde it’s not so noticable with her.
CMF is simply the C and F from FEC with extra added methotrexate (whatever that is). I’m just have the E (epirubicin) on its own first, but I think this may be the active hair loss ingredient for FEC as some informations sheets about it state baldly (!) you will lose your hair. So I could just use the cold cap for the first doses then give it up when I go onto Tax. However then I might acquire a rather odd look if my own undyed and rather nice hair thins and new hair comes through looking like a brillo pad and/or sheepskin.
I’ve been lucky to keep my hair colour into my mid 50s but fear it will come back grey. If it the cc will only stop some hair loss, then I’m still in a quandary. Aargh horrible disease, horrible treatment.
Well I persevered through cold cap through 3 sessions now, and although it’s the most unpleasant thing I think I’ve ever had dne to me, including ops, i do still have most of my hair. A couple of you were horrified that I washed the conditioner out immediately after chemo, I know you’re not supposed to butthe nurse told me I could and actually I don’t thinkn I’d have been able to stand having it in for a couple of days, and I’m so COLD afterwards I have to dive into the shower as soon as I’m home. Luckily i live moments from the unit…so I’m in the shower bout ten minutes after the treatment! I’m losing more hair than usual I think but I hardly brush it and wash my har about twice a week. Well I say wash, I actualy I squeeze shampoo onto my head and press it in a bit, then shove conditioner on and thats it…I can’t wait to really scrub my scalp…
Thanks for the tip abou the coloured conditioner…I’m going to try and get it online…too tired after last chemo to go out yet, but should be better in a couple of days…
just thought i’d share what i’d done today…i used a wash in wash out hair dye, i was feeling a wreck and i also looked a wreck, with terrible re-growth. i left it on for probably not even 5 mins, but it sorted out the roots and has made me feel better in myself
My hair has been thinning, and it seems to be in 1 particular area, to the side on one side only, and its the side i lie on to sleep (used to be other side until mx) At the moment it’s underneath so not obvious at all
i shall let you know if the hairdye has any effect to the rest of my head
Thanx Gill, yeh please let us know how you get on and what you used as my roots are looking bad now. I am same as you and no hair underneath but not noticeable, just wont be wearing ponytails for a few years !!! Still, so very lucky and thank ful.xx
well the hair dye i used, has had no adverse effect to my hair. it’s the same as it was before, quite a bit of hair did come out when i was washing the dye out but has not made a noticable difference, my scalp is a bit of a mahogany colour though as didn’t want to rub it too much
i’m glad i did it, its made me feel better.
the dye i bought was from Superdrug and it was a little bottle enough for 3 applications, can’t remember what make it was, and i’m too lazy at the moment to go upstairs to check, sorry
i’ve looked now, and there no obvious name on it?? so i’m guessing its Superdrug own brand, and it’s in a shampoo style bottle, let us know how you get on
Thanks for the tip Gill - I think I may give it a go. My roots are now really staring to show although my hair growth has slowed down. Usually after almost three months the line between my grey and my dyed colour would have been much lower down my head. But I’m now really conscious of my grey roots so I must do something.
I ordered some spray on hair colour which has none of the chemicals that are supposed to damage your hair but it hasn’t arrived yet. But I may go to Superdrug and find that hair dye!
Have third session on Friday and dreading it. Although now seem to have developed peripheral neuropathy - pins and needles - in my hand so I have something else to think about now!
just thought i’d share, about 10 days following chemo no3 head was sore and tender. it lasted for a couple of days but doesn’t really seem to have made me loose anymore hair.
i was just wondering if this will happen after each session? xx
This photo is 3 months past my final chemo. It makes me cringe as I have put on so much weight that I look really wobbly round the old chops! But I will be getting rid of that in 2012! It’s also a bit fluffy as I’ve been out in the rain.
Anyway - I just wanted to remotivate coldcappers out there as a few have PMed me as I obviously keep raving about the cold cap! I had 4xAC and 4XTAX. About 25 days after my first AC my scalp was REALLY sore and lots and lots of hair fell out in handfuls. I was convinced I was going to be bald by the time I looked in the mirror - but had just thinned. Another girl I met on was having the exact same regimin as me - but 2 days earlier than me - and all of her fell out at the same time. She wasn’t using the cold cap, so I used her as a good gauge that the cold cap was working for me. However, I came on here in a panic to ask if I should give it up and just cut it all off and some past coldcappers came along and told me to persevere. I had to wear mini headscarves or clip my hair up as bits of hair would just fall out, and I had mini-sheds each time I washed it after each chemo infusion but the hair that I lost at the beginning grew back during the rest of my chemo meaning I am now 3 months past chemo - but have the equivalent of 6 months growth and some of my original hair and have a proper hairstyle. I have also been naughty and have had it dyed 3 times! But nothing happened - it just looked healthier and shinier (and less grey!).
And its still working for me too, i have No 4 comiing up on thursday, and like Sandytoes i’ve had a few PM’s from people who had been watching my posts about how well my hair was hanging in.
I seem to shed after each session and after no 3, i was convinced that it was all coming out, but again like Sandytoes by now it seems to be growing back in the thin patches
Ive had all my hair chopped off in prep for starting chemo on 10th jan.
Have had it in my head not to bother with the cold cap but reading your posts now im wondering( that is if its available to me)
Ive bought two wigs already and i kind of love them :))
Im more concerned about feeling poorly than loosing my hair at the moment but maybe that will change?
Today ive had hair cut no 2 into a v short crop lol, like halle berrys( pretty short)
You guys have definately made me think
I have my hair too and returned to work today and colleagues none the wiser!
I would not have had the confidence to do that if i had not kept my hair.
Bit bald behind the ears but SOOOOO glad i persevered.
Wineoclock (love the name), if you’re not that bothered about the hair you might think it’s a bit of a fuss as you have to spend longer on the ward, but I was terrified of losing my hair and having everyone know I was ill. That, combined with the length of time it takes to grow back afterwards, made me stick with it. Good luck with the chemo. Just remember that there’s loads they can do if you do feel poorly. I demanded the best antisickness from the start and never felt more than a little queasy (never enough to stop me eating, mind!). It is no way near as bad as you are probably imagining it is.
Teecass - so glad it’s working so well for you as you sounded like me at the start - wanting to keep some privacy and not having the telltale baldness. You’re on FEC75 aren’t you? A lady got in touch with me on that regimine to ask about the cold cap. Can I put her in touch with you? Also, I saw your news!! Many, many congratulations!!!
Hi ladies I am so grateful for each and everyone of u who has posted on here, your posts have given me hope!! i’m due to start my FEC regime on 10 Jan a week today I am so scared, I am 30 married with 2 kids aged 4 and 1. worst part for me is thought of losing my hair, and their reaction. I am definitely giving the cold cap a go will post again soon. Don’t get a chance to come on here as often as i’d like but thanks again for making me feel I’m not just vain because of the way I feel. x x x
thankyou - I’ll be asking them for the strongest of everything!
sadly for me my phobia is sickness - im crapping myself
I cant even watch it on tv without having a hissy fit so god knows what im going to do if it gets me!
I just want to say that I think you ladies are wicked! xx and thankyou for sharing your experiences. xxx
