.
Oh Gill,
Don’t think we will ever be ready for the hair falling! l keep having that little ‘tug’ and know like you l will be devastated. Just wanted to say there is nothing good about this dreadful bc. But the chemo is doing the job that we are all hoping for and our hair will grow back. Oh goodness that doesn’t sound at all convincing does it! Just a rotten, lousy, stinking thing for us to go through.
Shame you haven’t got a wig shop near you, not much comfort, but at least you would have it at the ready for the inevitable.
Lots of Hugs and thoughts of you
Sandra xxx
Oh Gill, I am sending you a big hug! My hair went day 20 first fec despite cold cap and I sobbed, I knew it was coming but felt sheer despair when I had a tesco carrier full of my treasured hair. It seems so unjust and awful and what I told my little boys is that it is a sign of the chemo doing it’s job. I did not have a wig to start with and just had hats and buffs, but I missed the feel of hair around my face got a wig but not my usual look, I accept the status quo but long for the day I look and feel like myself again. That day will come for you, too!! Thinking of you and sending my best regards, Tina!
We can gear ourselves up all we like but the reality is always a shock. Sending you all my best wishes and virtual hugs Gill.
Sandra I think we may be next? You know when you have that little voice saying “BUT I dont want it to happen?” Its horrid to be so out of control. It means its working and its another step taken (but I still dont want it to happen).
Tina I’m interested in what you say about the wig, I also wasnt going to get one but I’m starting to change my mind. I think it might be good to just feel normal(ish).
Feeling much better today, They put me back on steroids last week to try and make me feel better, I’m going to stop after today as I feel quite wired and keep spending money on the internet!! apparantly mania is one of the side effects. I thoroughly recommend Tamazipam (from the GP) for those having trouble sleeping- I’ve never had a sleeping pill in my life before, but its bliss at bedtime to not have to worry and I feel at the moment I’m allowed a little help.
xxNaomi
Hi Gill
Sorry about your hair, my hair fell out exactually the same time as yours after chemo 1. My hairdresser says when it starts coming out in clumps she think it is better just to get it shaved off, and this is what I did. My hairdresser turns you away from the mirror and then places your wig straight on so it is not too much of a shock.
I am very fortunate that my hairdresser is one of the recommended specialists of the hospital for wigs. I went in before all my hair fell out and we matched my colour and highlights to nearly an exact match for my wig. I was paying a visit to my work on friday and people did not know i was wearing a wig it was that good. I think my wig only took about 2 weeks to arrive.
if you feel like a scream have one it will probably make you feel better. Next week it is chemo 5 for me, it has passed really quickly.
Speak to you soon Anne xx
Hi all,
Weirdly, I’m keen for ALL my hair to go as am convinced it means the chemo is working. It started to come out day 18ish of first FEC. Now day 20 of second (in again tomorrow…groan) and still have stubble from where I shaved it. Am sure it’s even grown a bit. Want it all to go!! Armpits haven’t grown since I last shaved weeks ago which is a bonus but am left with about half my pubes! Delightful.
Glad you’re feeling better Naomi. Love the wig Tina! Still scared of mine - and it’s hot.
Dreading tomorrow. Feel fine (but shattered) and don’t want to feel toxic again. Am going to pub with OH tonight though to spin out feeling normal.
love Sue
Hi all
Am resigned to losing my hair. Have prepared the children and shown them my hats. I have my wig lady app next tues. I went for my pre chemo app today. They talked to me for 2 hours and I was a bit brain dead by the end. The one thing they didnt mention and I didnt ask was about injections. Did it ever get resolved why some people have them and others don’t?
Well first Chemo tomorrow- wonder if I’ll sleep tonight. debx
HI Ladies
Had my first chemo 18th June, I have decided against the hickman line for now and just keep my fingers crossed. my arm was a bit red from the needle, I have never had such strange sensations in such strange places but the Chemo was not too bad. I could’nt believe how busy the poor nurses were - they all deserve medals and massive pay rises. so far no side affects so hoping to go in work tomorrow
Hi Ladies,
Midge, Good Luck for tomorrow, it has been a long wait, but now it is here, hope it does its job! what more can we say. fingers crossed for not too many side effects xxx
Sue, Good Luck for tomorrow! number 3! doing well xxx
Anne, No. 5 next week, well done and good luck xxx
Naomim every time l walk by the mirror, l look and think…really not looking forward to the no hair, will cry and cry. Dont know why, the main thing is this dreaded cancer has gone!
Yes l have gone a bit mad, not quite up to the shopping with normal people around, so l go on the internet, and spend twice as much! xxx
Tina, Why does the cold cap not work for some people? was it explained to you! xxx
Gill,good luck with the hair cut tomorrow, think l would cry if l went to the hairdressers! but then l seem to cry if l go to sainsburys!!
Had a good day in the garden today, plenty of digging, so hopefully l will sleep well tonight! think l will try and cut the grass tomorrow!
Sorry if l have missed anyone, hope you are all coping in your own way
Hugs all around
Sandra xxx
hi everyone, sorry to crash in on your thread!
Scoobs, my hair started coming out about day 14 after first fec, even though had used cold cap, and i waited til after my sons birthday party and then shaved it the next day and felt tons better for doing it as the waiting was too annoying and upsetting. But i am now on day12 after fec 3 and i still have a fair sprinkling ( maybe 40 pc? 30 pc?) but the hair thats clinging on has also grown, v wierd. I haven’t found the hair thing too awful so far really, i wear my wig out and about, nothing in the house escept a skull cap thing if i get chilly, and sometimes wear just cps, like today to watch my sons after school football in the sun, would have mekted in the wig! I also sometimes wear a cap over the wig, rebel!
Midge, good luck tomorrow, at least its here at last. I think the injections are newish and not all trusts and consultants are on line with it yet. Mine prescribed the 5 day course from the outset and then changed it to the one shot neulasta ( which is longer lasting but more expensive) because my white cells went too low after fec 1.
Hope evryone doing alright,
Vickie
Hi Deb
Good luck for your first chemo tomorrow. I know how I felt when I went for my pre chemo appt it feels as if there is so much to take in, but you will get used to it all.
I give myself a Neulasta injection 24 hours after chemo, this is to help my immune system. It seems to have worked for me as I have had always had good bloods and neuts. I am not sure why some people get them and others don’t. I think it has to do with the cost and what health authority you are with.
Once again good luck for tomorrow, I am sure you will get on fine.
Please keep in touch so I kinow how you get on.
Annexx
Hi Sandra
how are you doing. Just wanted to say I have been reading your posts and that you are such an inspiration to everybody on the forum.
You always seem to have good advice about any difficulties anybody is facing, and are always there to lend an ear.
Please keep in touch with all your news.
Speak soon Anne xx
Best wishes for tomorrow Deb and Sue- one more step.xxnaomi
thanks for the info about hair loss/wig Vickie- I’m 10 days from first TAC so much anticipation- My nurse said it would all come out in a 48 hour period- I’m guessing it might be the different drugs I’m on. So we’ll see.
i start tax next time and suspect the rest will go then! I would get your wg if i was you, i bought loads of caps etc first but actually feel better in my wig for trips out as you can just blend in and i cannot cope with funny looks, even if they are actually only in my head! I had my wig cut to suit me at trevor sorbie and its made a difference as it feels more like my own somehow now. Am glad i had it waiting for me once hair was shaved, it was good to have kept my options open.
Hi Ladies,
Vickie, l was told by the wig lady not to wear a hat over the wig, as you will end up with a line where the hat sits!! so watch out!
And l wish you would get your laptop fixed, or at least put at the bottom of your posts, that you can spell, it is just your sons have messed all the keys up!!xxx
Anne, I am doing ok Thank you, and Thank you so much for your very kind words, easy to give advice, but not always easy to accept it. I fall apart very easily!! but then again don’t we all, and as long as we pick ourselves up again, and support each other, that is all we can ask. Because not one of us ladies wants to be here, but we are! for ourselves and each other.
Hugs to all
Sandra xxx
Hello all!
Well this is day 4 after first chemo, so first day without anti-nausea and steroids so I’ll see how I get on.
Got the red face look (and a hairy chin yesterday morning!), plus hiccups and today a bit of heartburn (nice…), otherwise it’s just been the awful tired jitteriness, so I’m wide awake when I’m lying down and dead on my feet walking around!
Have gone out for walks each day (managed another hot chocolate yesterday) and while I’m eating every so often I’m having bigger portions now as in the past if I don’t eat enough I get a bit nauseous with low blood sugar. I’ve also made a big start on the spring clean that I wanted to do and found some stuff I thought I’d lost yesterday!
My temperature has been quite low, so I think my expected trip to the endocrinologist about my thyroid might be a good idea when it happens!
Tomorrow I have acupuncture so hopefully that will help with the minor stuff.
Hmmm, 6 a.m., now what can I do?
x
Hi all,
Went to the pub with OH last night wearing the dreaded wig - so now cost down to just £30 per wear! He prefers the bandana look I think. Gave the babysitter a shock when I opened the door for her earlier, forgetting I was completely bald! She was very good and didn’t look too surprised, and didn’t comment when I reappeared minutes later with wig on! Poor girl.
Enjoyed a glass of red wine as I know I won’t fancy one for at least 2 weeks…
Enjoy the weather all - with factor 30 sun cream of course…Pity it always seems a bit chilly in the chemo suite.
Sue xx
Hi All - Haven’t been here for a few days, but it’s good to see you’re all so positive amidst the fug.
Gill, and everyone else, am sending you all a huge hug for your hair. Hard isn’t it!? I’m trying cold cap, but it’s still coming out. Started on Day 16 after first FEC and still shedding now (day 19). I’ve got quite thick hair, so for now nobody would know, but if it carries on at this rate it won’t be long before I decide to shave it all off. Thing that really depressed me was washing it and seeing how much tried to escape down the drain. We’ll all have blocked drains if we don’t watch it.
Haven’t got time to post to all, but Sue hope this round doesn’t hit you too much.
Onwards for us all then. Seems like we’ve a long way to go, but surely the first round and the hair loss is one of the worst parts… x
Sorry for jumping in to your thread.
My hair started to come out Day 16 after first chemo back in April, but slowed down. Had cold cap again for second chemo and more came out on Day 4 after that. However, it slowed down then and I go for chemo no 5 next week and still have nearly all of my hair. It was very thick to start with and although it has thinned, particularly on the crown, it’s still there. Just thought I’d pass this on if you were thinking of carrying on with the cold cap Julie.
Hope you don’t mind me commenting.
Beverley