I had my first round of EC chemo on 24th April and I’m not cold capping so I’m aware I will lose all my hair.
I have shoulder length hair that I don’t want to cut or shave until I need to and I have adopted the Titanic approach to the whole thing in that I plan to stay on the ship as long as possible then jump into the water at the last minute!
I’ve heard wildly varying estimates on when this will happen so I’m looking for others’ experiences on when their hair first started to go on EC.
Thanks for your help in advance and wishing you all a lovely sunny Tuesday. x
I did 2 weekly EC. It started shedding about 12 days after my first infusion, going everywhere and clumps of it coming out in my hands. I started avoiding washing it a little at this point, but I wasn’t super careful. 7 days later it was visibly limp and my hairline was going.
I could have managed another week or two I think , especially if I wore hats to cover any balding patches - but it also started to ache around day 21. Once my scalp started feeling sore, from the weight of the hair, I went for the chop. Shaved it down to a 2, and used a lint roller to pull out all the loose bits - surprisingly satisfying XD
I reckon you’ll probably be entering the shedding timezone any day now, unfortunately.
Thanks @demimiray! Amazingly it has started today. It’s just a few extra strands falling here and there when I run my hands through it at the moment, but it’s definitely happening.
Try to avoid doing what I did and constantly running hands through it I kept pulling at my hair like… IS IT COMING OUT YET?! (yes, it was XD) It does get everywhere though!
I have my second chemo today. I have been very gentle with my hair. Washed, combed so careful putting stay in conditioner, let it dry naturally. I am having cold cap, the longer lengths at back dont go in the cap. Im thinking of getting a shorter style like a bob I’m anxious when using comb but holding hair if there is a knot even running my fingers through it. Last time I had a trim was Feb this year deep down i know its going to happen but how much dont know, yes scarred but also from reading all the conversations on here, I’m not alone I will be strong yes will get upset but it won’t change me my personality. I personally think, us all being truthful encourages us with strength,persistence and strong positive attitude. Have a lovely day big hugs xxx
My time frame was similar, no cold cap. Don’t recommend the long bath I took on day 16 which basically turned into hair soup buzz cut was immediately after that due to mess and scalp sensitivity.
Thank you for the heads up on the hair soup. I’m definitely onboard with avoiding that!
I basically want to get to a stage where I actually want to cut/shave my hair off rather than doing it because I feel like I have to and I’ve read posts from a lot of women who let theirs shed to the point where it became such a pain that shaving it actually felt good.
I’ve got some “these’ll do for now” headscarves that I sort of panic bought prior to chemo starting but will be looking for an upgrade. I noticed on another of your posts you mentioned a “fancy Parisian headscarf” so that has gone straight into Google this morning!
Indira de Paris is the brand. I had pattern choice overwhelm so I let the friend gifting it to me choose from my shortlist. It’s so easy to put on and comfy fabric. Like my wig it doesn’t play well with glasses for a long day which is annoying but if I can be bothered with contacts it’s fine!
Yes, mine started dropping out after two weeks. I had a pink quiff which deposited itself all over a cushion on the settee as if a pink Persian cat had been sitting there. I clung on as best I could, but to be honest it starts to feel sore…like when you’ve had a pony tail in too long and you let the hair down. That was what prompted me to shave the lot off. I was upset about it the weekend before, but on the night we did it, I just felt relieved to be shot of it.
I see so many ladies now with beautiful full heads of hair who tell me it grows back even better post chemo. Let’s hope so eh? Good luck, xxx
Thanks @Jaygo, this is exactly how I want to feel when I remove my hair.
And I’ve also heard many stories about hair coming back better than ever. I had a chat with one woman in the breast clinic waiting room who’d suffered kidney failure and a mini stroke whilst going through chemo, but she mostly went on about how impressed she was with how bouncy her new hair was.
Well done for going with cold cap, especially as now you know what it entails. My sister had cold cap, and i di too, yes i lost 50% of my hair, but i continued and then it stopped coming out. i did lose my eybrows and eylashes and down there. but my head hair eventually came back curly, something i’d had to pay for in the past.
for those losing it please don’t rush to get it cut off completely, give your body a chance andhave faith, it takes a much longer time to regrow from the roots than from a shorter cut. Look for tips in all the booklets that are available, from both Macmillan and your breast team. Love and light of which there is plenty on this journey, Moonsox xx.
I was given the details for lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk they provide skincare,make and hair courses. I haven’t booked kne yet as they are on either thd day of my chemo or day after I’m on 12 week course at present.
They do workshops or online. Im going to try workshop. I also saw about style thats online. I have never been confident in wearing what I like .I buy in the sale clothes I really like but then paranoid everyone staring at me, im 56 5ft2 12st divorced I was also criticised how i looked what i wore.. I have always been like this. Hopefully with confidence now I can wear the cloths I have brought. (Hopefully still fit) Big hugs to everyone xxx
I’m so sorry to hear of the treatment you’ve received about your appearance. I too have a history of being criticised for how I look - I think most women can probably relate to at least some degree! - but I made peace with it a long time as I realised this wasn’t a “me” problem. If all anyone has to worry about is that they don’t like my face, hair, clothes etc. then I actually envy their problems!
I hope you have fun trying new things. Nothing like cancer to open up a big can of YOLO!
I had three EC then three docetaxel, op and radiotherapy, now on herceptin and anastrozole. I lost all my hair gradually starting to shed a few weeks post first ec. Tried a wig but didn’t like it at all so returned and happily wore an assortment of nice head coverings. I also bought a very thin one to wear at night so my bed didn’t end up full of hair. Hair was regrowing nicely three months after the end of chemo and now, after six months, it’s not very long but is thick and slightly wavy, good condition and I love how it looks. I had shoulder length grey hair. It’s still grey, a very silver grey, and everyone compliments me on it and say it makes me look a lot younger. I’m 67. It looks quite trendy and with pretty earrings and make up I feel good. Plus it’s so easy to look after!
I washed it only once a week using moo goo shampoo through the shedding phase, gave myself a short cut at one stage once most of the length had gone but didn’t shave. I did need to cut some of the random long straggly bits off from time to time.
I recommend the Look Good Feel Better online courses. If you can, take time to pamper yourself a bit more during your treatment.
I kept pulling at my hair like… IS IT COMING OUT YET?! (yes, it was XD) It does get everywhere though!
buzz cut was immediately after that due to mess and scalp sensitivity.