@loopylea You look wonderful! May I ask what your wig is? X
@loopylea you look so well with it! Thanks So much for sharing the photos and your experience. I think youāre right Iād probably prefer the buzzcut to the thinning hair. I also have a grey stripe where Iāve stopped dying my hair so Iām not sure why Iām so keen to keep my current thinning pixie- it looks horrendous! My boss has been off on sabbatical but returns tomorrow so Iāll be letting all my colleagues know soon and then wonāt be needing to try hide it as much.
Iāve tried gently broaching it with my daughter but sheās not been keen. Iād say sheād get used to it quickly though. Iām just worried they might not be keen to cold cap if I shaved it but maybe I just need to ask the direct question to the nurses. I think if they say itās OK Iāll just go for it because the itchiness is driving me nuts. The pain has improved thankfully- who knew hair could hurt?!
Iāve so far just been wearing wee beanies and scarves and have just been putting off the wig appointmentā¦.I will try put my big girl pants on and just give it a go.
@bea4 thanks for popping into the thread to share your experience. I will look out for the ones you recommended if we go for the chop and will try fix the scabs/flakes first because it might not be such an empowering experience if I clip my hair but end up looking like a baby with crusty cradlecap 
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Thank you..yes itās a Ellen Willie one in light rooted Bernstein.. Iāve just ordered a straight one too although theyāre heat resistant up to 130degrres.
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Aww good lucK with the shave, let us know how it goes.. my work Mates have been incredibly supportive and I couldnāt do this without their support.. x
Hey @eils85
Iām not using the cold cap and although I still have a sort of thin, patchy peach fuzz type covering on my scalp that still grows and makes me look like a horror movie villain if I let it get too wild, at first glance I do look completely bald.
Iāve always been high on the oily end when it comes to face and scalp and have, like yourself, been informed by a loved one that I have these little crusty bits youāre describing. It apparently almost looks like a sort of cradle cap so I believe theyāre likely caused by sebum build up and they do actually flake off. Does this sound like it could apply to you?
In terms of shaving, my sister pops over and does mine with the electric shaver she uses on her husband (hopefully just his head but Iām happy to remain in the dark on that!)
Hope this helps. x
Just popping in again to suggest MooGoo Natural Scalp Cream for those of you going through the crusty-baldy phase! I was given their general skin moisturiser by the oncology volunteer group at my hospital, so I know itā s safe to use and chemo-friendly.
Thanks for sharing @mssteel 
Iām not sure if my flakes are the same- they are soooo itchy and are more crusty than Iāve had before with dandruff. I havenāt seen the wee black bits myself just how my partner described them.
The intense shedding has calm down so might try ride it out until Iām seen next by the nurses. Have been using anti dandruff stuff in the interim and itās helped with the itch a little.
I like the sound of having a bit of fuzz- does it feel nice to touch? I miss having my hair touched!
hope it goes well for all those having a cycle this week and it doesnāt get too hot again for those down south xx
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Haha the fuzz feels nice to touch when the rest of my head isnāt so sticky and itchy! Unfortunately I think I may be heading into the medical menopause and perhaps thatās exacerbating my oiliness. The hot flushes are strong in this one!
The crustiness Iām getting isnāt actually dry. Theyāre more like soft, gooey flakes if that makes sense? Sorry I know that sounds a bit gross. I think the heat in general is probably not helping. Chemo and summer donāt mix in my opinion!
So yes all the best from me also to anyone cycling and heatwaving this week. x
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I think Iām joining you on the medical menopause front. I had a phone consult with my GP about it and asked if there was anything I could do about it other than vaginal lubricants and yoga. She said not really 
Cancer is the gift that keeps givingā¦
Oh my life, really? Iām planning to discuss with my oncologist at my next appointment and was hoping she would just say, āhere, take this and all will be wellā. 
I found this on induced early menopause from cancer treatments if you and any other ladies on here are interested.
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Hi everyone
Sorry for being a way a wee while, I needed a break from thinking about it all the time.
Slowly reading through everyoneās chat. Iām day 5 post 2nd cycle and feel like a human slug, not much movement and lots of fluid needed. Living on milk with Monin strawberry syrup added, no sweetener and easy to drink.
My main issues have been mucositis, reflux and oral thrush, along with overwhelming fatigue. Ended up with PICC line for round 2 which is much better.
Got my partner to shave my head on Sunday as the hair was falling like snow and it was annoying. Feels better but weird. Have my wig prescription but havenāt got to getting one yet.
Heās taken next week off and Iām hoping we can visit a couple of outside cafes/gardens. Hopefully on the up by Friday.
Hope youāre all coping in the heat x
Listened to this earlier and it was a lot more uplifting than my GP appointment! Thank you for sharing x
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The mucositis is rank isnāt it, feel like Iāve got a permanent sore throat just now. Have you tried the gelclair? Ive found it quite helpful.
Hope youāre feeling better soon x
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Yeah, itās grim. Havenāt tried the gel, will ask about it though! I ate a pot noodle for the first time in about 20 years today, I fancied one, so Iām apparently reliving my student days, all day in bed and a pot noodle for lunch 
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Hey everyoneā¦
Iām late to the chat, mentally ive been struggle to process everything. I started chemo on 6th June. I have 3 EC, and then 3 taxol. About to start my 3rd round of chemo (last of the EC) next Friday. Last week I cut my long locks off, and went for the bob. I thought I would feel better not seeing as much shedding, even though I am using the cold cap, thereās alot gone. Has anyone else struggled with the cold cap. I have been getting horrendous migraines for days after my first two chemo sessions.
I will mention this to the hospital next time to see if there is anything they can give me. Iām just wondering of the cold cap is worth it. With the pain, with the heartache of watching it fall out anyway. I feel maybe shaving I would take back control, but also sacred I will hugely regret it.
I have a 7 year old little boy who I am trying to keep things as normal as possible for.
Also mood swings, not eating properly as I just have no appetite. I think everything in one is making me very very emotional. And as prepared as i thought I wasā¦ nothing prepared me for it.
Any tips or advice with the hair? Anyone felt a sense of freedom just shaving it? Or anyone had regrets.?
Sending everyone here my love, and so sorry we find ourselves hereā¦ but also thankyou for such a great community 
Hey @Mamma2three thanks for popping on and sharing 
Iāve had 2 rounds of EC and didnāt struggle too much with the cold cap - not unbearably cold, and no headaches or discomfort. However about 15 days after the first EC I started shedding, and havenāt stopped since! My hair is naturally very thick so for a while the shedding wasnāt noticeable but after 12 or so days it was looking quite thin and a bit patchy, and Iāve resorted to wigs & beanies for when Iām out of the house.
Itās looking even worse than this mow! Weirdly I havenāt found it too upsetting, more fascinating - unbelievable how much can come out! My 3rd EC is tomorrow and Iāll do the cold cap again (mainly ācos not doing it is to definitely say goodbye to the remainder of my hair) but I wonder if I will find it more difficult now that my thickness isnāt shielding my scalp. I expect I might find it much colder and maybe get headaches. Like you, Iām wondering how much longer Iāll keep going with the cold cap, and is it worth it if Iām having to wear wigs every day anyway 
So, no real tips or advice, but definitely understand what youāre going through. The emotions are tough, especially with all the other symptoms to cope with too. And whilst trying to shield little ones from the full extent of how youāre feeling too.
Sending bigs hugs xx
My booking in for Chemotheraphy visit advised me not to consider cold capping as I am already under a hospital headache clinic and neurologist for chronic migraine. Cold capping can seriously aggravate migraines if you suffer from them. To be honest spending all day instead of most of the day at a chemo unit plus the possibility of making migraine worse put me off. Lovely BCNs have been totally honest and also told me they had not seen anyone manage to retain their hair on my presurgery chemo regime.
Deciding to buzz cut your hair is a very hard choice to make but it can also be liberating. The cancer hair care charity has advice on how to arrange or do this as well as tips and resources to help you explain chemo hair loss to children. My guess is your lovely seven year old son will have twigged something is up but could be playing along with the keep it seemingly all normal narrative for your sake. If he knows he can ask questions and that adults who care for him can answer in age appropriate calm and factual ways many kids cope far better than we ever expect especially when they know what they can do that helps from extra hugs, bringing you a cold drink to simple things like putting clothes in the washing basket to how to call help for you if they are worried your may be very unwell.
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Hiya,
Iāve also had 2 rounds of EC (started 1st June) and having my 3rd on Tuesday. I decided not to cold cap because Iād heard hair loss often still happens with EC, so I canāt comment on the migraines unfortunately, however I have had to shave my hair so thought I could comment on how I personally coped with that side of things!
I found the whole concept of losing my hair so bizarre and really didnāt know how Iād cope / how Iād feel looking in the mirror afterwards. I kind of went down the denial route for as long as I could .. I couldnāt face the anticipation if Iād have arranged to have somebody cut it and also really didnāt like the idea of anyone being with me who might get upset seeing it be cut so I held off for as long as I could. In the end it became so matted one day after washing it (2 weeks post my first chemo) that it was basically impossible to brush through.. so much was coming out and in the end there was a huge knot that I couldnāt get through so I just cut it myself and I feel like that was the best thing I couldāve done. I FaceTimed my partner to show him how bad the matting was and whilst talking to him I said I was going to have to cut it and we actually had a bit of a laugh about it on the phone. I think it really helped me that there was no build up to it so no anticipation.. it was literally a last minute decision. My kids were home with me at the time so I could explain what was happening to my eldest (4) and then let her and her sister both cut a little bit . It was the most horrendous looking cut but it meant I was laughing whilst doing it because it looked so ridiculous.
There was no way I could keep it as it was so I wore a wig for a few days until I got some clippers and then shaved it as best I could whilst home alone. This was also a last minute decision after my sister in law dropped the clippers off to me, and it was the same thing where I feel that because both were last minute decisions it was surprisingly fine. Iāve only left the house in a wig so far but generally have it off at home just because itās so so hot at the minute! I was worried how my 4 year old would feel as sheās obsessed with her own hair but she has been absolutely fine (I think because itās not been made into a big deal in front of her and she mostly just hears me and her dad making jokes about it - the first time I tried to explain it to her I got a bit tearful so changed the subject and decided to just hold off until I really had to have the conversation). I know sheās younger than your son but I have a niece and nephew who are both 7, theyāve also seen me without my wig at my house and havenāt been too phased by it at all.
I didnāt really have a choice about cutting it in the end but I think this helped me to not have any regrets about doing so. I hope that helps, I know it is such a big deal but I think doing it all last minute without any other adults around, made it feel less of a big deal in a way because I didnāt have anyone asking how I was (which probably wouldāve set me off) / getting upset themselves!
Wishing you the best of luck xx
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Love that you included your young kids in the cutting! And that you are speaking in front of them in a light-hearted but not false/forced way. Iām sure that will help a lot! 
My 3 kids are uni ages, so different, but we are definitely resorting to our family humour to help deal with it all!
Keep up the good work 
I have my second EC in 4 days but my hair started falling out about 3 days ago. My lovely hairdresser cut it into a short style to ease the transition from bob to bald - I kind of hate it as it is the sort of āold ladyā hairstyle which is popular where I live and I NEVER want to have it. 
I am over the hair thing and wish it would hurry up, or the heat to ease so I can wear something other than a straw hat. But, my main problem is head covering. I have a straw hat and one winter beanie that fits. I live next to a Breast Cancer charity shop so popped in there to see what they could recommend. Bless them, they gave me a free covering, which is a pre-tied scarf, but it is made of polyester and I have a feeling that when the hair goes, it will make its bid for freedom off the back of my head. I have tried Amazon and been scammed twice with the āCottonā head coverings being polyester and giving me static shocks. If you are a smaller headed lady, what did you find that worked? The one beanie that fits I bought years ago and the seller on Amazon no longer sells it. I have other beanies but they are slightly too large. I am reluctant to try childrenās, as these can end up too small. My SIL has given me some bluffs which will be fine for now. I just want something subtle as I am not a brightly coloured turban type. I live in a small town where shopping is limited and have tried as many shops as I can think of in the city where the hospital is for ideas. Would be interested in what you ended up using. I am reluctant o buy over the internet now as I need to try on and frankly canāt be bothered to order and send back. Many sites I have looked at say āone size fits mostā - I am not that āMostā