cluck how brave of you…(sorry used the brave word!) for me the dreaded moment when it is shaved off is something i am not looking forward to at all. I have decided like you that as soon as it gets to the difficult falling out stage it will go… but I think it will be very emotional. Thanks for sharing your experience you seem to have (kind of…) ‘enjoyed’ it!! perhaps that should be my mindset too.
Thanks saffronseed,
I had been really dreading losing my hair-more than my mast,which is why I tried the cold cap.My hair was my favourite thing about me,and I thought that I would be very upset by it.But it was starting to look awful,and I figured even if I kept the rest,what sort of hair style would i have when it grew back-with long bits on the side and regrowing baldness on top.Not the best look for a 35 year old mum about town.At least now it will all grow at the same rate,and I can look forward to a pixie cut ,once it starts coming back(I know that’s months off).It feels much nicer,but I am going to keep it covered with wigs and hats.I’m not brave enough to go out bald and don’t intend to.My 3 year old was a big help in making me feel better-she helped get rid of the hair ,and put her chubby arms around me and said I looked lush.(love really must be blind).My 5 year old is not so anamoured,so I will keep my head covered when I am around her(I have an attractive sleeping cap-which hubbie thinks is hysterical)
Hi all,
I’m new to this, had left mx 10 days ago, results tomorrow and chemo soon, just starting to look at chemo threads- its one thing after another isnt it! I just wanted to share a site which made me feel so much better about the hair loss thing - suburbanturban.co.uk/
I havent ordered any yet but they look so good it cheered me up. Theres scarf tying info on there too.
Hi all,
Saw the oncologist today for the first time. Actually little new info as they just went through the various possible side effects of chemo which were in the leaflet I’d already been given. Lots of waiting around and I’ve got to wait a few more days for the ‘start date’ - just want to get going really.
Got a voucher thing for a wig and must make an appointment. ALthough I went on my own to the onc today, I think I need moral support for the visit to the wig shop or it’ll be too wierd!I really need a hair cut now but am too mean to waste money on one if it’s all going to fall out in about 4 weeks anyway! Silly to be impatient as I should enjoy feeling fine right now, but I also feel ‘in limbo’. Must concentrate on getting stuff planted in the allotment while the sun shines I suppose…
Hi All, thanks for the link Nem will have a look - I am unsure how to tie the scarves properly!
I collected my wig today - urm not too sure about it - its a bit too blonde and not really me, although the style is similiar to my own - I think I may just end up wearing hats/scarves etc
Still plodding through first chemo cycle its seems ages since last week. (am on day 7) No real bad side effects yet and I am holding up well. Blood count injections going ok too (husband is getting very good at them) - No sign of hair loss yet either - although my nose feels wet all the time so maybe losing nose hairs without realising it.
x
Hi,
day 20 of first fec cycle and today it seems most of my hair has dropped off after washing it for the first time in 10 days, (due to cold cap not much washing/brushing). I am crushed really that the cc has not stopped so much falling out, but I am a whimp and have not yet got the shaver out. Have hats/scarves ready though no wig. Had neupogen injection on Monday, waiting for portacath op on Friday before next chemo can happen.
I felt, too, the two weeks between seeing the onc and the first chemo were in limbo time, there seems to be a lot of waiting and aniticipation every since that first trip to the GP back at the end of Jan!
I always feel reassured when reading the posts here that I am not some emotional freak and everyone else has such similar experiences. I am attending the Swindon Young Women’s forum and hope to meet up with hopefully some of you! xxxTina
Hi
tina, so sorry about your hair - I know you have made such an effort to keep it -anything is worth trying, I tried to ‘save my breast’ but it wasn’t to be…
I have everything ready now for the hair loss and just ‘waiting’ for it to fall out - to be honest I think I will be glad now when its gone and the stress and emotion of it all will be over. However the other part of me wants to hang onto it for as long as I can - a bit of a dilema…
My chemo arm has been a bit sore today and I also noticed some small bruises on it. I am not sure whether its sore from the chemo (veins) or its the bone aching which is a SE of injections I have wrapped it up warm today and tried to to use it and it starting to feel a bit better.
Good luck for Friday
x
Really bad luck with the hair Tina when you’ve tried to ‘hang on to it’. Got my date for first chemo today (FEC)- 11th May. The nurse who called to tell me asked about cold cap and I said no. I know I can change my mind but think I would rather know more or less when it’s all going to come out than watch and wait. I guess it also depends on your ‘normal’ style. My shortish hair would look crazy after a few days of no washing/brushing!
I dont know if it’ll be scarier going out in public with hat or wig! I’ve never been a hat person so will feel horribly self conscious either way I suspect…
Must make an appointment with the wig shop
I e mailed about the Swindon meeting but have not had a reply yet.
Sue x
Forgot to ask - what’s a portacath please?
Hi Sue,
it’s a device implanted in the chest to allow for easy access to a large vein, I had a lot of problems on my first chemo, 7 attempt to get line in and it burnt&blistered my arm so it was decided that have central access would be easier all around. Luckily my neuts have picked up and all can go ahead!
It took a while to get a reply about the forum, I would be please to meet you! My kids are 10 & 9 and coping well really with the hair going, I am surprised and proud of how well they have done since all this started in February! I will try again with the cc next cycle due 6th May, emailed paxman and they say that hair regrowth can be quicker with the cap, too. I am very self conscious, I find the school run particularly challenging!! Cluck, I hugely admire you for getting control of the hair situation. I feel I bit of a whimp really!
Saffronseed, I had the bone pain after the neupogen injections, my back is still quite sore. The chemo arm was bruised and blistered.
So, Op on Friday, stitches out Tuesday 2nd Fec on General Election Day 6th May! Whatever did I do with my life before BC??? xxxTina
Thanks Tina. Steep learning curve!
My children v similar age - just 11 and 9. They seem absolutley fine about the whole BC thing at the moment. A very good friend with children the same age (they go to school together) went through the whole thing exactly 2 years ago. She’s now well, so from the children’s perspective it’s a minor inconvenience. If only!
My 11 year old (boy) said the other day ‘Not being rude Mum, but it’ll be quite funny if your hair falls out!’ Mmmm … wonder if he’ll find it so amusing in reality! I have hair clippers I do his hair with so am prepared when the time comes!!
Good luck with the op on Fri - general anaesthetic (sp?) ?
S
Hi everyone
Just a quick one to Say good luck to Tors tomorrow for your first chemo I start tomorrow as well so I’m sure your feeling rather scared like myself.
Hi Tina sounds like your having a rough time at the moment. Thinking of you for Friday you will be glad to get things back on track.
I have chosen not to go for cold cap not sure if right decision but don’t think I will ever know!
I am having a PICC line fitted has anyone else???
So lucky my hairdresser is a friend and off wig shopping together next week all being well.Not sure if I will wear think hats more my stlye.
Well best of luck to everyone.
Take care
Sarah x x
Hi everyone
to be perfectly honest i am absolutley sht scared about the first chemo tomorrow, don’t know how i , or any of us, keep getting through these hurdles! But at the same time I am excited in a very very odd way to be having it as its getting me closer to it being finished.
Good luck Tedoris too, sure you are feeling like I am. I am up in Manchester, where are you? I have been prescribed a tablet to take before I go tomorrow to calm me down, am now really glad I have got it. I am scared about my cold cap decision now in case the evil little ********s are hiding there and my vanity stops them being obliterated. Will ask again tomorrow but my drs and nurses told me that its fine to use it.
Anyway, onwards and upwards etc etc etc
xxxxx
Sue, our eldest is at uni in Aberdeen and being almost 21 it has hit him the hardest, possibly he feels quite helpless being so far away, the younger ones cope much better, apart from a few “deep” questions at the beginning of all of this, they pretty much get on with it, luckily even though I have no family close by they all live abroad, lots of friends help out minding them when I have got appointments etc.
Yes, it will be a general a for Friday and another scar on the chest. Lovely…not!
Good Luck to Sarah and Tors for your first chemo tomorrow, hope all goes well, it’s a scary feeling again, so many unknowns to face up to, I think it takes a lot of courage and strengths!
I have no wig, plenty of hats! Most hair seems to go round about day 20 (today)-21, although my scalp has been sore for a while now. I think choosing to have the cc for me possibly raised false hope in hanging on to my hair maybe against the odds, when you chose not to have it you have the decision to shave it off and take control? Lots of hugs for all, and thinking of you all tomorrow. xxxTina
Hi tors good luck for tomorrow I know how you feel. It wasn’t half as bad as I was expeecting (not sure what I was expecting) but it will just be a relief to get the first one under your belt and out of the way.
x
Tendoris
good luck for tomorrow too - get the first one out of the way and you will feel so much better
x
Tors and Tedoris: good luck today! Take care of yourselves.
xSue
Good luck for today Tors and Tedoris,let us all know how you get on.
Good luck will be thinking about you. Dx
Good Luck today to Tors and Tedoris…thinking of you.
Sue xx
P.S. Tors…I am near Manchester also xx