I know I am being slightly delusional, but…
I cannot believe how little hair I have lost so far and am almost beginning to believe it may stay on, although I know medically that is nonsense. I think I am looking to be told not to be so daft! I have had 2 lots of epi with the next due next Thursday. I expected to be bald 3 or 4 weeks in and now that I am nearly 6 weeks in you would not notice a difference. I have had some hair loss, but only very little. I did use the cold cap for about an hour and a half but I could not bear the cold. Maybe that has slowed it down slightly…?
Hi Sinclair
I kept most of the grey ones - kept thining not as grey as I thought I was as I inspected hair that came out. Then I realised that they were still on my head. They never disappeared and altough I had a number 6 they kept growing. Looked like a dandelion clock. Speaking of which hubby bought me a dandelion clock paperweight as a reminder.
Hope you manage to keep most of yours.
Marilyn x
Hi Sinclair
There is a small chance you may not loose your hair at all. I spoke to a lady a few weeks ago who said her hair had thinned and it was life less but she was supprised to keep 80% of her hair. The good news she did not have cold cap, but I don’t know what treatment she had. Keep you fingers crossed.
I had my first FEC last week with out cold cap ( too gruling from what I heard) and am eagerly anticipating waking up one moring with it all in the bed. My biggest dilema is what to do as soon as it starts to fall out, should I go the whole hog straight away and have a number 1 or persist until it needs to be done.
The other thing is I have two small children 2 and 4 and I don’t want to freak them out so I was thinking of letting them help me shave it off, has anyoner else done anything like this.
Hi All
THought would join in quickly.Had my 2nd FEC on Wednesday and having hair shaved off tonight, as falling out in clumps and can’t cope anymore with it. I also have a 3 year old and a 9 month old. 3 year old wanted me to buy a pink wig, as she is a pink fanatic. Bit worried about Jack pulling my wig off, would be awful, but hopefully he won’t realise after a while.
Will let you know how it goes tonight, hopefully won’t shed too many tears, but really scared about donig it.
Good luck to all. Take care
Love
Dawn
x
Dawn,
I prob wont get chance to log on now until Monday, but good luck with the hair shaving tonight, I know how upset you have been, but hopefully once its done you may feel a little better.
Strange though, after yesterdays conversation about hair, i was putting wax on mine this morning and quite a few appeared in my hand so i guess im starting to shed!!! I dont even wanna think about it at the minute!
Anyhow, good luck with tonight.
Take Care.
Lynne.x
Sinclair - have you lost your eyebrows/lashes?
Dawn
Good luck with the head shave tonight, will be thinking of you. I don’t think I will be far behind you, I did use the cold cap, and am due my 2nd FEC next Tuesday. I started shedding my hair on Wed this week which unfortunately was my OHs 50th birthday, so I tried to keep quit about it!!!
It is not a nice experience is it?
Good luck tonight, keep thinking positive thoughts.
Kim x
Eyebrows and lashes are there. Without wishing to give too much information…the biggest change has been down below! Would certainly not grumble if that was all that went, but I suspect my head is just going slowly. There were a few hairs on the pillow this morning so it is certainly thinning.
Good luck with head shaving. I was all set to do it as I thought it would be the best way to stay in control so do understand why you are going for it. Once it is behind you (and you have allowed yourself to cry about it) you can move on to scarves etc. Lots of girls look great with them, but it is still a big thing.
Will keep you posted on the hair front.
Thanks!
Hi Sinclair,
Yeah keep us informed please, I have had 1 EC and due my next one next Wednesday. I wore the coldcap and today I was putting wax on my hair and a few hairs came out in my hand(you cant notice) but I had shaved my legs and underarms last week and they have stopped growing because I just have a fine stubble.
I guess we just have to wait and see, but please do keep me posted.
Lynne.x
Just to add my tuppence worth in…
I had AC and started losing my hair (despite using the cold cap) 14 days after my first treatment. It came out such that I ended up with a big bald patch on top of my head and it came away at side of head too. I took the bull by the horns the day before my 2nd treatment and shaved the rest of my hair as it was coming out so dramatically. The tears were pouring down my face when my OH did it but it really didnt take long to get used to it (and I never thought I would hear myself saying that). Unfortunately its just one of the hurdles many of us have to go through. I now wear beanies or bandanas and am quite comfortable with them. Got my wig cut yesterday and its pretty close to how my hair use to be but to be honest I cant see myself wearing it (and again I never thought I would hear myself say that!!).
The plus plus side is down below and legs and underarms - havent had to shave in weeks - its great. Still have brows and lashes at the moment which I desperately hope I keep but trying to be realistic about that!.
Take care all
Fiona
Hi girls
I’m new to this site so hope you don’t mind me intruding! I shaved my head 2 weeks ago and just wanted to let you know that it was nowhere near as horrible as I was expecting it to be. My hair started coming out noticeably on the Saturday and by the Thursday I was ready to take the plunge (by that stage it was coming out in handfuls). I was washing, blow-drying and straightening it every day though which I know didn’t help.
I still have what you would technically call a skinhead but am now extremely thin on top! I didn’t use the cold cap for my second chemo because it had already started coming out so much and I decided I wanted to take control.
Sorry am rambling now but please try not to worry about it too much. The days leading up to actually getting the clippers out were so much worse than doing it for me.
And… Once you get used to people noticing you a bit more than before (if you choose headscarves like me) having them being “extra nice” to you because of it, is not at all unpleasant! Quite sweet really and not annoying as I thought it would be!
Dawn - will be thinking of you tonight. Hope it goes ok for you.
Jo x
p.s. If you have thick hair and lots of it, it’s meant to help. My hair is quite fine and with the amount it was thinning I was scared I would look like Homer Simpson with an elaborate comb-over! If you’re lucky enough to have thick hair it might not show even if it does thin…
Hi All
Dawn - Good luck tonight girl. Thoughts are with you. xxxxx
I’m not quite there yet but know it won’t be long, trying to hold on for one more week as going to a concert next week that I have been so looking forward to and would be great to have my own hair along for a last outing.
Any advice on what to wear at night, I know a satin pillow case has been advised but unsure what to go for on head, I do get hot. I even got hot when I had the cold cap on!! any info appreciated.
Take care all,
JulieL
xxx
Hi All,
After my first chemo (EC) I had my OH give me a grade 3 with his clippers, and have to say it was surprisingly good - I felt I was taking control, and also it felt very intimate. Quite the opposite to what I was expecting, we both really enjoyed it, and I can’t say I’ve missed it!!! No worries about morning hair, or having a bad hair day. I was a bit self-concious the first few times I went out, but have some funky hats, and have also been out without anything. I don’t expect everyone to feel the same, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my hair for years, but even for me it has been a happier, more empowering action than I thought it would be.
Good luck to all considering it, fingers crossed for you Dawn, here’s to bright pink wigs!
Shannon
xxx
Hi all
Thanks for messages of support.
Good luck with hair shaving tonight dawn I’d be curious to know how your 3 year old reacts, keep us updated.
best wishes
liz
Hi Sinclair
I can’t help with regards to not using the cold cap because I did but if you decide to keep going with it, try putting a bit of wadding between the forehead and hat, I found it didn’t hurt as much. I also found the more they wet the hair and plaster it in conditioner the less hair that thinned out afterwards. I also didn’t wash it until three days afterwards just to avoid damaging it, apparently it is at the roots where it breaks. I had thick hair to start with and having just finished my sixth session of FEC I still have a full covering of hair, but much thinner. People looking at me wouldn’t notice but I certainly do, however it looks better for it but I would like it to stop now…!
The hair I have left has been growing throughout the treatment. It will be interesting to see if the hair I have lost grows back curly and a different colour - I’ve been told this happens. I may end up looking funky or a right dork and still have to cut it off!
Poppy
Hi All
Well head is now bald, was not a good night last night as got emotional after the event, but least not during. My 3 year old came back from the shops with Daddy, just before the shaving commenced, and she watched and was really ok with it. Said it looked nice!!! My 9 month old just sat in his highchair watching and getting in a right mess with a choccy biscuit. So they were both fine with it. And even when I had the wig on they were both ok. Just me that was a mess!!
Then OH had his cut/shaved shorter (needed it), and my 3 yr old was saying, “don’t cut all daddy’s hair off too”, so we had to tell her he was just having a normal cut. All in all, think it was good that she saw it happening, as wasn’t too much of a shock, and she loves my pink hats and has said to me this morning, “mummy, you got to put your hair on yet” as still sitting here with towel round my head.
Anyway that hurdle is now over, gotta get use to it, and then its onwards and upwards and we will win this fight.
Take care all and thanks for all the support you have all given to me. Hope you are all having fun weekends and catch up soon.
Love
Dawn
x
Hi Dawn
Well done and really hope your feeling better today. I’m sure a lot of people’s thoughts were with you last night and going forward. Trying to see if my OH will cut his short (he has hair just beneath his shoulders) not shaved but just so he can’t tease me with ponytails etc when mine goes. My 3yr old still thinks the wig I have ready is a cat but hey ho.
I hope you and your family have a fun and fun weekend. I’m sure the wig/pink hats look fantastic. Take care Dawn and speak soon.
Love
JulieL
xxx
Hi Dawn
Was thinking about you this morning. I hope you’re starting to feel a bit better about it now and that it doesn’t take too long for you to get used to it. You should go and treat yourself to some pretty earrings and new eyeliner/lip gloss. That’s what I did - any excuse to spend!
JulieL - your comment about your 3yr old thinking your wig looking like a cat make me giggle 
I don’t have children but I do have a cat and have to make sure I keep my wig out of his reach. I can just imagine him curling up in it or ripping it to shreds!
Shannon - You were so brave. I wish I’d had the courage to do that…
Hope you’re all having lovely weekends. I’m having my wig trimmed by my hairdresser this afternoon so I will let you know how that goes.
Take care
Jo xxx
Hi All
Well just got back from going to shops with the family and it was OK. Although I was really self conscious, my hubby said I looked fab and no one was looking. And it is true, think it is me being so self conscious as I know its a wig, just need to relax and not worry. But I have made the first step out into the big wide wicked world and was not as bad as I thought. Forgot to buy eyebrow pencil tho for when/if eyebrows fall out. Got my eyelashes waiting.
Am OK now though, just feels a little weird, and think my head is a little tender, but hopefully over the next few days will calm down and I will get use to having a wig on. Just hope never gets blown off by the wind!!!
Shannon, you are a braver lady than me, no way do I think that I could go out with nothing on my head, but maybe over time this will change, but doubt it. I am sure you look stunning though and must be so much easier if you don’t worry about it all.
Hope everyone enjoying their saturdays and having lots of fun.
Take Care
Love
Dawn
x
Hi Girls
Thought I’d add my comments too (although I seem to have taken over this evening and have posted a million messages - have to get off after this one as the kids are wondering where their tea is !)
I didn’t go for the cold cap, and my hair started coming out after my second chemo. Once it started blocking the sink and falling in the childrens dinner, it had to come off so my hubby shaved it for me. Eyebrows and eyelashes did hang on that bit longer, but I’ve just finished chemo and have to admit to being completely hair-less - all over. But its not so bad girls ! No hair to wash/condition/blowdry/straighten (in my case), no legs, armpits and bikini line to shave (therefore leading to no more arguments with OH as I always nicked his razor). Must admit I was gutted when I lost my eyelashes, but still use eye-shadow and eyeliner (unfortunately fake eyelashes were a no-go for me as the chemo I was on gave me pins and needles in my fingers - I just cannot do anything fiddly now!). I did buy a wig, but never used it, preferring bandanas instead.
Dawn - pleased to see your post, and that you’re ok, have been wondering how you are doing. I know its scary going out for the first time but you do get used to it, and no-one stares.
Shannon - you are an amazingly brave lady - I wish I had the guts to go out with nothing on my head. You go girl !!
Lots of love to you all, as always !!
Julie xxxxx