I’m starting FEC on monday and decided to cut my hair now down a grade 3. Really like it actually which is lucky.
I’m not bothering with the cold cap but I have heard of people not loosing their hair anyway and wondered if it has anything do with the length of your hair ie weight of it pulling against the roots.
Whatever will be will be but am curious.
Cheers
Angie (Who’s quite relieved to discover her heads pretty even).
Hi Angie
I’m starting FEC on Tuesday and have waist length hair. I’m getting it cut into a bob, as OH has always wanted me to have one and I might get a wig made out of my own hair then!
Will need lots of suncream if it stays as hot as today!
I’ll have 3 FEC then 3 Taxotere.
Good luck with yours
Kinden
x
Hi Angie and Kinden
I have just had FEC #3 on Tuesday. I had shoulder length hair when dx in March and opted to have it cut into a jaw length bob just before chemo started. This is also the style in which I chose my wig as I wanted to be as much as me as possible.
Probably got to day 17 after FEC #1 and I couldn’t stand the dropping out of my hair and everytime I washed it I had to pull it off my fingers and to be honest it p*ssed me off good style…so out came the scissors and I chopped it down to a length where I gave myself a number 3 haircut. This was all fine until they started falling and as they had only just been cut they were sharp! That got on my nerves too so I grabbed OH’s elec shaver and took the lot off! - BLISS!!!
I didn’t find the experience the worst thing…many ladies do but we are all different and react differently. I am not bothered as I know it will grow back.
I am half way through and have to have 3 x TAX too then 20 sessions of rads. That’s the end of my treatment as not suitable for herceptin or tamoxifen.
I hope your first chemo’s go ok - mine have and don’t forget there are loads of ladies on this site ready to give any advice and help you with anything.
Take care
Anita
I had waist length hair which I cut to mid back.I kept most of it after 4xFEC and the cold cap,but it came out in handfuls when I started Taxol.I never had the ‘bottle’ to shave it all off,and finished chemo with a plait the thickness of a drinking straw! I never actually shaved my head - just cut off all the wispy bits once it started growing again.Good news is that its well on the way to my waist again three and a half years later…and boy do I appreciate it these days!.
Hi, not sure when it comes out, I had a handful after day 2 of FEc then nothing since and now on day 12 but been told its likely this week - aaarrggh dreading it!! Didnt opt for cold cap as wastold couldnt use hairdryer, straightners, products etc and I thought wasnt worth the hassle but terrified of it happening.
p.s. the FEC wasnt nice and had one day that was awful (for me) but now on day 12 and much better and the first one wasnt quite as bad as I expected! 2 more to go then 3 x fec!
Heres to some hairy days!
x
I start chemo tomorrow so I’m going to wash my hair tonight or stop by the salon before I get to the hospital. I will shop for 2 wigs on saturday but have decided not to let the hair loss weigh me down. Like Anita rightly mentioned, it’ll grow back and I know I’m not alone alone so hard as it is, its fine. I guess I’ll have the best hair products waiting when it starts to grow back.
Lets look at the bright side
Peacexxx
Hi All
Mine went weird about two weeks after the first FEC and I had chopped it off before the second one. But I am here to tell you that it does come back. I had three FEC and three tax. Finished last October and went commando finally on Thursday last week. Very short but hair! If I can do it then so can you all.
Much love and strength
Dilys
xxxx
Hi
trying my best to keep mine as the second part of my treatment is different drugs that are not a problem and the cold cap does sometimes work with my first drug epi. Reading from others and from my BCN the successful few have tried all or some of these.
Never wash you hair until at least 24 hours after chemo
Start off with short hair and no longer than chin length
Only wash your hair twice a week if you can stand it
Use baby shampoo and a baby brush
Only comb/brush your hair once a day
Don’t touch your hair or tug it
Never use straighteners or heated anything
Then the decision is, which is worse, the worst locks you have ever had or just glad to have some
Good luck with your choice
Lily x
My OH shaved my head for me after it started to come out 2 weeks after first chemo. As I was in hospital for my wig fitting appointment I’ve been getting balder as time goes by - have to say that it makes me feel strong so will not bother now.
Only down side is a cold head from time to time so wear wooly hat of needed.
Also very useful to brandish bald head at rude shop assistants - they become far more helpful. So far have not had any negative reactions to being bald and find it much easier than trying to cope with wig etc.
Being bald and proud is working for me
Susan x
Good for you susan, very proud of you
x
Well done Susan - wish I had the courage to go “commando”. I find the wig hot, itchy and give me a headache by the end of the day. I usually wear scarves instead. It’s pretty obvious I have no hair, but it’s still a coverup!
All the best Angie - you’ll be cool in the summer anyway! I’m with Anita - it’ll grow back, I felt I was taking control by deciding exactly when I was going to go bald, rather than allowing the chemo to dictate to me!
I’m proud of all of us - however we handle it, we have found the strength to do it! Sue xx
Something that hasn’t been mentioned is that your scalp is quite sore when you start losing your hair (mine started on day 11 after FEC), and it can be quite a relief to shave the lot off!
I had 4 FEC followed by 4 Taxotere and my hair began to grow back as soon as I stopped the FEC. I finished Tax in November last year, and now have a full head of hair about 3 inches long and curly!! Kept most of my brows and lashes on FEC but they disappeared on Tax.
Good luck everybody with your chemo and facing the hair loss…it IS traumatic for most of us, but by this time next year you will have a decent head of hair again.
xxxx
Susan,
good for you. I am not at that stage so I am burying my head in the sand but I like the idea of taking control of the decision. Will read this again when/if it all starts to slide. I think I like big caps but they are annoying after a while and hot.
Lily x
Hi, this is my first post on this site and I’m a little nervous. I’m starting FEC next Monday (9th June).
Personally, if my hair’s coming out, I will take it off. I guess I’m just bloody minded like that 
I cut it last week from a below my shoulders length to a short “boy” cut, and will get my other half to clipper it off about 10 days after the first FEC. We’re due to be going away that weekend (my son is competing in a kite competition or I wouldn’t go), and I really really don’t want my hair coming out on it’s own during that weekend. I can’t imagine anything worse! I’ve looked at wigs, but somehow the only ones I’m “drawn” to is the ones with purple highlights or tinsel. I just can’t see how I can go out, seriously, in a wig that looks like my own hair - I don’t know why. So, it’s down to scarves and hats for me for the most part, and I might just get the purple highlight wig for special occasions 
Caron
I have just had my long thick hair cut to a bob and hate it.However,I’m trying the cold cap and will be getting my wig next week as a stand by. Start chemo on Thursday.
Tricia
hi Caron
Im on day 12 after first FEC and touch wood its still there and I was away (albeit not far) at the weekend - its about to fall cos it looks limp and crap! My wig is nothing like my hair they didnt have any - Im not keen but others say its nice, I think they maybe grow on you as I love hats but feel really self concious about wearing scarves.
Good look for Monday, I’ll be off for the 2nd one on Wednesday after you - aarrrggh!! Honest though, it does have its side effects but now looking back first one wasnt as bad as anticipated
xx
Caron,
hi, sorry you are here with us but hope it goes really well for you. My second dose of epi is on 10 June. Do feel free to share your week as the side effects come and go, Lisa and I will be joining you next week. The after bit when we talk about stuffing our faces with food is the best part. Actually that is right now up until the day you go in so have fun for the rest of the week. Try meringues if we have left any in the shops this week!!
Lily x
god lily you still eating thos meringues lol Ive got sever munches on Epi which is surprising everyone as i normally eat like a bird evn pinch my friends 2 year old grand daughters sweets when shes not looking Oh and day 8 and sat and primed my hair worse part is it looks better today than its done for ages
Joanne
I didn’t lose my hair until the second FEC although it did go thinner. Then I woke one morning and looked like Don King with it all matted so just kept brushing until it was nearly all out. My hubby cut the rest of it as it was quite painful - it felt like my hair was being pulled. I still had some hair left throughout and my kids named me ‘peach’ - which turned to ‘coconut’ when it started to grow back. Refused to have my head covered in my own house, unless I was cold, so delivery drivers faces were a picture! Women would look and automatically think “she’s having chemo” but men would look in horror, obviously thinking “BALD WOMAN!!” Finished chemo in february and it is just beginning to look like a normal haircut now. All in all, I found the constipation more distressing than the hair loss, though I’m glad it is coming back!!! Look on the positives, I saved about £200 on haircuts/dyes over the last 6 months so spent it on handbags and shoes instead!
SiobhanX