Well, It’s been 14 days since i had my first chemo and so far my hair is still intact.Every morning i wake up and expect to see chunks of hair on my bed Anyway I don’t know whether to leave my hair until it does eventually start dropping out or just get it shaved off and have done with it. There is no point getting it cut short because i would be in the same situation…I am absolutely petrofied of having my head shaved tbh…i think it will really upset me. Guess it’s got to be done though.
I am also a bit nervous about wearing my wig…will people know its a wig? it does look like my hair but will people notice?..
Hi KB,
No-0ne notices mine is a wig unless I choose to tell them…I think sometimes it’s down to how you wear it. I just act like its my down hair and try not to tweak, adjust and pull at it when I’m out. If you wear it with confidence no-one will guess. As to shaving the head, I was terrible and hung on to the last few strands for weeks until I got bitten under my wig by some midges and then I let the OH shave it off xxxxxxx
KQ
Xxxxx
Hi KB
My onc told me i’d start losing my hair between days 14 - 21, bang on day 14 it started falling out, within 4 days I couldn’t stand the stress any longer, hair was everywhere so my husband shaved it off. It was so hard and felt so completely wrong to hear him hacking at it with the scissors and then the clippers and my mass of lovely hair around my feet, i sobbed for hours, but within a day or two I was fine with it, it’s amazing how quickly you adapt. I don’t wear my wig, just feel too self concious in it but have a few lovely hats from Surburban Turban and everyone compliments me on them. Let me reassure you about your wig though, no one will notice. I put mine on one day when my aunt was coming round as she’d never seen it, I’d had it on half an hour and she hadn’t even noticed, she’d completely forgotten i’d got no hair as i looked so much like the old me.
Take care
Lydia x
During a recent visit to the Drs with my s-d I passed out and ended up on the floor, I’d banged my head on the way down and so they wanted to examine me to check no serious damage. As the Dr stepped towards me I said ‘do you want me to take my wig off’ she just looked at me really puzzled and said ‘sorry I didn’t realise’ she couldn’t believe how good it was and on the upside it must have cushioned the blow as no damage done
As for whether to shave or not, I found by day 17 my head got really sore and it felt like pins being stuck in my head. I don’t know why but I wouldn’t let OH shave it for me (got really cross/upset when he said he’d do it) so when I was alone I got the clippers out and did it to a No.2 it felt so much better and once I got used to looking at myself it quite suited me and I didn’t have to suffer the clumps falling in my food etc. I’d say do it if/when you’re ready, I think it was better to shave as I felt in control of what was happening and I saved it all and put it out for the birds to use for there nests, ironic really as my hair is now keeping the young blue tits warm
My hair started to thin out around the 18th day after that I would tug it all the time and big strands of it would come out, nobody in the family would shave my hair off they said it would make them to upset, so when it got too painful and it does, feels like if you have ever had a ponytail and you take your hair out of the elastic band and your scalp feels sore, anyway I clipped it off myself on a number one, I never lost all my hair still had some on the top and it started to grow again by my third chemo, about to have number 6 today, and my hair is about a quarter of an inch long so I am glad that I never shaved it right Down, I still will be wearing my wig for a while.
Oh my goodness, this issue drove me loopy for weeks! Prior to chemo starting i went and bought 3 wigs, very expensive ones as couldn’t bear the thought of anyone ever saying "look at that woman, wearing a wig’.
I was obsessed.
Hair started to fall big time for me on day 18 and my head felt very bruised. So day 19, sat on a stool and got OH to shave it, got showered, put on make up, posh suit, heels and wig and went out to work. I looked fab. All the stress of loosing it just went.
Now, i wear the wigs but also have some beautiful scarves and have learned different ways to tie them. I don’t miss my hair at all. It is so easy getting ready of a morning, can see why the likes of Joan Collins et al are wig devotees.
Tomorrow i am back in hospital for some more surgery and am deliberating whether I wear a wig to theatre… Or a hat, a scarf…
It really is okay KB, we all go through it and so quickly it is over and we are just getting on with the next thing.
Much love
Pixie xxx
Ps - ladies, i am selling happy bags for cancer research, they are £2 each and gorgeous, please message me for details
Just an add on to pestering pixies message,ive received my happy bags and they are great,fantastic idea which raises money for much needed cancer research,well done pixie,hope you sell loads more,they make a great little gift.x
Thanks once again for your lovely comments. Well, i have got to make a decision havent i?..i did find this AM that when i brushed my hair there was some coming out in my brush but nothing major…i wonder if this is the start of it??..i think i will try my wig on again and see how i feel but everytime i try it on i feel like i look like a cancer patient…does that make any sense??..i think its all in my head coz it’s a damn good wig,it’s even got roots in it lol…and it isnt all neat and straight…it looks like there are split ends in it, that is is realistic. Also i keep hearimng people say that wigs are uncomfortable, is this true?..
Hi Kb
This is such a hard time; you really know that you’re on the chemo route…
I went and got a wig on week 3 after my first chemo when my hair was falling out, knowing that my hair would all be out soon, and that I wouldn’t have the energy/inclination to choose anything the following week, and I’ve worn it once! That was to Tesco the Saturday before 2nd chemo when it really was sparce and patchy. Since then I wear scarves & for the cold weather (like now) berets.
It’s may be a lot to do with what you’re doing in the day - I’m off sick, so no meeting strangers or presenting a ‘work front’, so the scarf is fine. I have the most wonderful friends, one who said he never said he wanted to see me in a wig, as all our friends know what I’m going through. My OH is the only one who see’s me head-cover less. And OK, I hate seeing my head at bedtime in the mirror, but in the daytime it’s alright.
Good luck with the rest of your treatment
xx
Hi all
Good to read this discussion as I am wondering the same thing. Start my chemo next week and as well as the terror of ‘will I get sick’ I’m wondering about shaving head and wether to wear scarves or a wig. I like the idea of a scarves better but I don’t like the idea that people who see me in the street will label me as a cancer patient. oh this is all so hard…x
hi VJ, i so know what you mean about the headscarves…this is why i am wearing a wig Although i can imagine a wig will be a bit uncomfortable at times. I have bought some hats but then if i wear hats people will wonder where my long hair has gone…meaning my wig…
Good luck with your chemo…you might not be ill with it, i haven’t been ill so far but i might be when i have my 2nd lot…
Speaking of which…its now 22.04 and i am finally starting to loose my hair, if i pull it, fine strands are coming out so i think it head shave day tomorow…i am sooooh nervous about this.It’s got to be done…I can’t hold on to it any longer, so i guess it’s goodbye hair, hello wig which is going to be with me for some time…
I had long, curly hair before I started chemo in January. It started to come out on day 18 after the first chemo session. I phoned a hairdresser friend of mine who had said she would cut it for me when the time came, but, unfortunately she couldn’t cut it until the next day. I couldn’t wait that long, as far as I was concerned I had to have it cut there and then. My oh was at work so I got in the car and went to our local barbers who works on a first come, first served basis, and sat reading newspapers in a waiting room with 3 other men until my turn came. The barber was lovely with me, I told him I was having chemo for breast cancer and that my hair had started to fall out. I asked him to cut it as close to the scalp as possible as I wanted to donate my hair to a charity which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatments or alopecia. The charity is the little princess trust, I cried when I visited their website and saw a young girl getting her first wig. I didn’t feel so bad about losing my hair after seeing that. The barber cut my hair as requested and placed it between two sheets of tissue paper for me, rolled it up and gave it to me saying “no charge, you’re doing something for someone else, this is a donation from me”. He then finished my new do by shaving my head on a number 2 setting. Just before I left, he confided in me that his wife had just been diagnosed with the same disease as me but he hadn’t told anyone yet. Small world isn’t it?
Good morning hero67, what a lovely email…thank you.How lovely of you to donate your hair. Knowing it’s actually going to a good cause is really wonderful. I think you were extremely brave going to a barbers too. I dont want anyone seeing me with my head shaved. As soon as i have mine shaved my wig will be going straight on. I do see a lot of ladies who have photos on here with no hair and i think it’s amazing that they are brave to do this. I admire them tbh…xx
Hi Katsteer,
I too am wearing a wig, I took my friend with me to choose one. On the plus side it’s long, glamorous and the same colour as my natural hair, on the minus side it’s itchy and hot! I don’t mind people seeing me without it as long as I am at home or in a place where I feel comfortable going without a wig. In fact I get a rather perverse pleasure in ripping it off and seeing the look on people’s faces!
Hi Ladies,im struggling with the same prob at the mo.I had my 2nd chemo today and im feeling good,my hair started falling out on sunday when i washed my hair wich was really upsetting for me.Since then its just falling like a tree in autumn shedding its leaves.Im trying to hold to it as long as i can,will have to get it shaved very soon.My thaughts are with you as i know exactley how you are feeling.We are strong we can do this,big hugs ladies.
take care
Donna xxx
Hiya Donna,thanks for coomet…i know what you mean…mine is doing exactly the same…i am so scared to wash it.i just dont know what to do…i will cry when i have to shave it off, it will affect me quite badly tbh…i need to try and overcome it…xx
