Have a date to start my chemo on the 3rd Oct, feeling a little aprehensive but I am prepared due to what all of you have wrote on this site. It has help me make decisions and what to ask for, I am trying the cold cap but have had to have my hair cut to my shoulders which was a shock because it was so long.
There was one thing I need to know and that is regarding conditioner, they told me that they provide this or if I prefer to bring my own. If anyone could shed some light on this I would be grateful, also do you come out with wet hair.
snapper58
Hi.
I had chemo between March and July this year and used the paxman cold caps. I had my chemo privately which meant I had it at home but the experiences are obviously comparable. I had to wet my hair, slather it with conditioner and comb it back. I was told to use a make up head band to protect my ears but ditched it after the hair above my ears fell out as the band covered my scalp there. Instead see if they will tuck a bit of cotton wool or gauze on top of your ears.
Take a painkiller - first session was ok but my hair still thinned a lot on top and as each session went on it got more painful. Only for the first 15 mins though then everything goes numb and is relatively comfortable,
At the end of treatment the cap is frozen to your head! Very odd to hear the ice cracking as you remove it. I used to have a towel to wrap as a turban while I reacclimatised. Then I combed it through and left it to dry naturally. Your hair is very wet so if you need to venture out I would suggest a scarf or hat…
As I said my hair thinned… I had to cut again to a short pixie all over after the 2nd dose but I don’t regret using the cold cap because within 4 weeks of the end of treatment I had enough re growth to cover my thin areas and was confident enough to go without coverings. My fringe and nape of neck area remained intact so no one knew when I had a scarf on! I am now 2.5 months out and have about 1.5 inches of really thick, curly hair and going for a cut of my hair tomorrow to make more of a style and blend my original hair with my new curls!
Good luck with it and don’t panic if you have a huge shed. It feels awful while it’s happening but once it starts growing at the end of treatment, it fills in really fast… It’ll be over before you know it.
Rebecca
Thanks for the update and I have had my hair cut but they said to do to my shoulders, so I’ve already lost quite a bit of my hair as I was sitting on it. Not to worry though if it helps then so be it, as you have said it does grow back quickly.
I think a hat needs to be on my shopping list, hope all goes well for you and thanks for the reply.
Snapper