Hi Ali, i am the same as you, it is a low poitn feeling crap, terrible hair, i thought i would be ok to lose my hair but actually it’ s been really hard. hi lilac thanks for the vibes, day 3/4 since fec no 2 and pretty similar to last time. Out of it since Wednesday evening, can potter around maybe half an hour then I have to sit down, and more often that not I fall asleep!
Tomorrow am hoping to have a bit more energy but after last time won’t try to much or I will get sick. Temperature is going up and down too, very wearing, never quite 37.5 but close. Don’t want to take paracetamol for headache 'cos they said it might mask a high temperature. What a drag!
My hair is very thin and straggly but i am hanging in with the fringe at least, as I can wear a beanie hat and look nearly normal. Wig has arrived so will be this week I think that the back has to come off, when all the bald patches on top finally join up!
I have, sorry, HAD very thick hair, so it went through a stage where I quite liked it, but now it looks like a ninety year old’s, patchy and fluffy.
Love to all
X
Rusty
My hair started falling out last sunday and by wed i’d had enough. It was shoulder length and thick and I found it too distressing, so woke OH before work and said to get the clipper out…best thing I did. Today it’s pretty patchy but really really sore and itchy…any tips?? Getting friend to massage it for me gently which helps. Wig is fab, but can’t wear it as itches too much!
I’ve been wiped out for nearly 2 weeks but got a lovely appointment with nhs complementary therapist on fri and had back, neck and head massage- so nice! FEC2 on monday. Going to ask about lorazepam as as sick on first night and a bit nauseous after that for 2 days but not unmanagable.
Emma - I used aqueous cream for psorasis on my scalp which helped the soreness caused by dry patches tightening the skin and also eased with any dryness so that might help.
Rusty - Thanks for your message. Have read the comments on the meness thread and it helps to feel I am not so alone in the loss of hair being the hardest thing to cope with. Indigestion a bit better this evening and not feeling so wiped out after an afternoon nap so hopefully thats the worst of #2 out of the way.
Positive thoughts for all those having chemo next week
Ali.
x
My hair is falling out really badly today. Its day 15 since first FEC. I have been wearing scarves for a couple of days. Am going to pluck up courage and get the clippers to it tomorrow!
its a very traumatic stage, but can i just say , before you know it you will have regained your hair. i am 6 months post chemo and this time last year I was as bald as a new born. Today i am sat here with tons of very thick wavy long hair just cannot beleive it.
it was one of the hardest things i did shaving my head , strenth to you all x
Day 6 past 2nd fec and feeling much better, it’ amazing what a good night’s sleep can do! Went out to local shops this afternoon, just for 5 minutes, tired when i got back but good to get out of the house. Just felt really silly wearing a scarf as it’s blue skies and sunshine in Devon this afternoon. Makes me feel I will be glad to see the winter weather arrive as then it will look more “normal” to be wearing hats and scarves. Will feel lees like I have this big arrow above my head saying cancer, no hair!
Thanks for the messages guys, it’s helps so much when you know others understand and that have come through this so we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel…somewhere
Ali.
x
Well I did it! I got up this morning and decided that today was the day when i would shave off what was left of my hair. It was quite liberating I have to say and the result isn’t as bad as I thought it would be really once I have my make up on. At the end of the day, hair loss is something we have to put up with in our fight to rid us of this horrible disease and like chemo it won’t last forever so we just have to embrace it!
Hi All
So plsed to find this thread. Started my chemo Monday 6 having EC x 4 .
Started up another thread as I could not find one that told me to much of what to expect, but this is great. Have only read half way through so far but you all sound so great.
Buzzy Had my hair cut short and my daughter said mullet head, had not heard of it before. and I am the same eating for England. Thought I would loss wieght on chemo, I think I will put on.
Have felt sick and hungry all at the same time and crave fizzy drinks. If I did not know better I would say I was pregnant. Lol.
Hi Margaret
My ravenous appetite subsided after about a week so maybe yours will too. If you’re craving fizzy drinks try fizzy flavoured water. Not so bad for your teeth I think (or your weight!)
I have my 2nd FECn this Thursday. Hope I’m not eating for England again next week!
Hi
Hair started to fall out this weekend. Fortunately, I’ve been getting fed up with the skinhead look, so hopefully the bald look will be a bit softer. Even though I’d had my hair done with clippers, it’s still hard. It helps to know I’m not alone in feeling like this. Ali, I’m with you about the woolly hats. Never thought I’d be looking forward to winter weather!
Lilac x
Hello all
I still have hair but I’m expecting it to start falling out any day now as I’m 2 weeks on from first FEC.
Lilac, I enjoyed your comment about the word FEC and Father Jack, that’s what I thought of straight away when the onc told me I would be having FEC!!
Ali, glad you are feeling better and hope you will keep seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I didn’t think I’d be too bothered about losing my hair but as it gets nearer to the time when it could happen I’m feeling more anxious about it so good to know others of you are in the same boat. I’ve ordered two hats from the website ‘Suburban Turban’. They aren’t cheap but fortunately I have a birthday this week am hoping for some money from family members who long ago gave up on knowing what to buy me! I feel physically not too bad but emotionally a bit all over the place.
I had that feeling of being queasy but wanting to eat a lot during the first week. I’m not incredibly sweet-toothed but have a weakness for crisps and seemed to be getting through packets of them!
Love and good thoughts to all,
Amanda
I too have joined in and shaved off my hair. My own hair was very very thin and taty and actually started to make me look ill. So I just flipped yesterday and thought to hell with it, its got to go. I just couldn’t stand looking at it anymore and could no longer dress it. So my absolutely wonderful huuby to be in 4 days time!! went for a grade one all over. I am now a skinhead and do you know what? I absolutely love it! I had spent the day crying and feeling really worried about taking my hair off and freaking out cuz I thought I would become even uglier ect. So naturally I was worried about my reaction to being a baldy. Everytime I see myself in the mirror I just laugh and I can’t stop feeling my head! It feels really soft.
I feel so completely liberated! This huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I actually feel more attractive now my hair has gone - which is weird. I have this new confidence and just feel amazing. I think its to do with gaining back control. Also am so glad that I will no longer have to spend most days hoovering and clearing out the plug hole!!! I also discovered a birthmark that I didn’t know I had!! I am also happy to not need the cold cap anymore. Didn’t work for me anyway. Last time I had the cap it made me feel quite ill - so shorter treatment times for me now and warmer! Hoorah!!
I was going to put on my wig today as I had to go into town but I decided against it - cuz frankly I couldn’t be arsed! Lazy moo! I just put on a hat - not brave enough to go naked!! I felt pretty good wandering around. Was slightly concerned that my hat might fall off but thankfully it didn’t. Even though its still mild out I do notice the chill!! So got a nice cotton beanie from Primark - works a treat.
So to all of you just starting your treatment or if your hair is falling out - don’t be afraid of the clippers. I was for ages - totally freaked me out. But something will snap inside of you one day and you’ll just do it. It feels great it really does.
Good for you Bird! It’s not so bad after all is it? I actually think I have quite a nice shaped head! It takes me even longer to get ready for work in the morning now than when I had hair because I wear a lot more make up now to over compensate for the lack of hair and I spend ages matching scarves to my outfits or vice versa! I have a LOT of scarves.
I went to hospital for my blood tests today and a lady in the waiting room asked if I had just been to the Look Good Feel Better thing because I looked so glamorous!
Good luck for your wedding. I hope it stays fine for you
Debs
XXX
Well done all of you for shaving your heads! Reading your comments has made me feel much better as I think I am probably next. I noticed last night that my head felt a bit sore on top and wondered if that was sign that it was about to start happening? Then a bit came out this morning when I was washing it, but I have such thick hair it could take a while. It’s funny, reading your posts, I can’t say I’m exactly looking forward to it, but I feel quite excited about wearing my wig, hats and scarves! Could be the start of a whole new me I reckon!
Bird, good luck for your wedding, will be thinking of you.
Amanda xxx
I too had the same sore head. It felt sore for a couple of days and then fell out. I too had thick hair but in one evening I guess about 40% of it just fell out! Then I got it cut short and it looked ok for another couple of weeks and now well - skinhead!
I am really loving having no hair - getting ready in the morning is a piece of cake! I only have my face to concentrate on! Going to glue on wig tonight in prep for wedding. I have to say though when my hair starts to grow back I think I am going to really love the super short look.
No-one can prepare you for the feelings you get when you watch your hair float down the plug hole. To me it felt like I had just been told that someone had died. So I’ll send you a pre-emptive hug and I hope you cope well when it happens.
Hi All,
Have been trying to catch up with the threads as returned to work this week and have just been sooo busy! I haven’t been at work since schools closed in July and then took the first week of term off as it was the week after FEC3. Must admit I’m shattered by early evening, but so glad to be back there.
The week after FEC3 was still not as bad as I read on here that it is for some of you, but for me it was the cycle that made me feel more poorly than I have done. Still lucky enough not to suffer from any of the major SE’s but I definately didn’t feel ‘right’ and probably spent the best part of three days in my bed! I really am a wuss at the ‘feeling poorly’ thing.
Well done to all those who have shaved the hair off. You will soon get used to it and not be bothered about the looks etc. I wore hats Monday & Tuesday at work, but spent so much time taking them off to show the students who were intrigued by my baldness and wanted to look for themselves that I didn’t bother today at all in the classrooms and around the school buildings. It’s beginning to get a bit too cold outside though, so wrap up well when venturing outdoors.
Bird, my very Best Wishes to you for your big day and I hope it goes well for you both. I’m sure it will be a day to remember. I hope the weather is kind to you too.
My daughter and little grand-daughter are finally moving out this weekend to their own home - they have been living with us since she was born last December. I will miss them both but with all this other stuff going on with me I will admit to being relieved to get my house back to normal and baby-clutter free!
Hope all is going well with you all and you are coping with the SE’s.
Karen
Karen - I’m with Buzzy on that one!! Well done you, going back to work during chemo - schools are very tiring places, so hope you manage to get rested when you need to.
My second FEC was supposed to be yesterday, but when I got to hospital, the consultant told me my white cell count was too low, so it’s been postponed for a week. Frustrating, but should still be finished chemo before Christmas as they’ll give me white cell boosting injections after chemo from now on. Plus I now have a week to tidy up the house and get a bit of PGCE study done. To cheer myself up, I splashed out on some kick-ass boots to go with the skinhead look (M&S ad, ones on far left). Next stop, merkins-r-us!!
Bird, all the very best for your big day. Have a mental image of you supergluing your head! You are going to have a fab day - enjoy!
I am so looking forward to this weekend. Travelling to my brother’s tomorrow and collecting my eldest daughter from Heathrow on Sunday. Only home for five day as she goes back to uni on Thursday but spending time with family and friends becomes so much more precious once bc has been dx. Shame that one of the things I can’t do is take her back to uni, as a single mum I’m not used to having others do things but one of the ssurprises for me has been the way my ex has stepped up. He now brings his diary with him when he sees the girls, and on commenting about the amount of running around involved I couldn’t resist (tongue in cheek) the comment “welcome to my world”. For all those single parents around … give me five!
Bird - all the best for your big day and I hope the weather is good for you.
Hope all have a good weekend too and any se’s are minor
Ali.
x