Hello all
well… have finally lost the battle with my hair…
Kept on losing handfuls of it and this morning half of it came off in the bath while washing it. VERY distressing. So decided the time had come for drastic measures. Went to hairdresser, had it all shaved off (good bye curls but we will meet again some sunny day…I hope) and then got myself a nice funky wig. Different from my real hair (much shorter and straighter) but it looks really good. Wearing it with pride as I type.
I also ordered some hats, buffs, etc from the internet. Thank you for tip off Sarah. Got myself a nice silk soft cap from the R&R confidence website.
What about you, Isobel? Are you hanging on to your beautiful hair? I hope so. The cold cap has probably worked in your case or ,trust me, you would know by now.
Had my second EC yesterday (including cold cap…ha ha! I was desperate to hang on to my hair a bit longer) and so far so good with the SE. I even managed to sleep reasonaly well last night despite the steroids. Last time I didn’t sleep a wink!
How are you Carole? Has the sickness gone?
Re: taste buds. The crave for roast chicken hasn’t quite kicked in yet but for some bizarre reasons I fancy Dairylea cheese spread. How bad for one’s health is that? And where on earth is THAT coming from? Never buy the stuff (evil processed thing!)! Last time I had it was when I was a kid. VERY odd! Question is shall I succumb to it and send OH to Sainsbury to buy some? 
Look after yourselves ladies…
Love to you all
LULU:-)xx
Lulu
It is so much quicker in the shower without hair!!!
Even slapping the moisturiser on I am ready for the world in a fraction of the time it uaed to take!
Apart from the ten mins I spend painting my face on. Ha H.!!!
I shaved it off on day 3 of second FEC- Day 16 and I now sport a very unattractive Phil Mitchell /Builder skinhead.The hair which hadn’t fallen out growing fast about 5mm in under two weeks AND the bald patches are also now growing.
Now the dilemna is do I put a cover on and use the cold cap to preserve the growth or let the whole lot fall out/grow/fall out/grow.
Any advice gratefully received!
Kepp well
Andi x
Apologies for typos. Blame it on:-
Chemo brain/lack of concentration/inability to spell!
Argh!
Ax
Andy
to be honest I wouldn’t bother with the cold cap again. In fact I am quite relieved not to have to wear it in future. It will certainly cut the time you are in hospital. I have now resigned to the loss of my curls. Without my hair I look like a right bruiser! :-0
Have you got yourself a nice wig?
I know what you mean about the length of time spent putting the face on in the morning. But needs must. Definitely worth the hassle. My friends have remarked on my new improved look (due to careful use of make up, etc.). My nails look so much better since I started looking after them properly. Are you going to go to a LGFB workshop in the future?
All the best
Lulu XX
Hi Lulu
Yes- lovely wig but I have only worn it out 4 times in 2 weeks.Saving it for best. My friend, who has been doing my hair for 20 yrs ,said that she could never get my hair look as good! She shaved my hair off then trimmed my wig around my face.
LGFB booked the same day as my 4th FEC. Luckily I tend to be ok until the steroids stop then hit the floor 28 hrs later. I am still on 8 Domperidone tabs a day- DAY 16!!!
My temp is slightly up as I am fighting a cold just dosing myself up with paracetamol and ibuprofen to lower it. I point blank refuse to deviate from my planned chemos… Watch this space!
Know what you mean about the make up, nails etc and kind comments.
Andi x
Lulu sorry you lost your battle with your hair but sounds like you have adapted pretty quickly and I bet you look fab in your wig.
I think Dairylea is ok as its pasturised. I laughed when you mentioned that as I was in the garage paying for petrol when I was drawn to dairylea jumbo tubes - i thoroughly enjoyed them even though they are so wrong! If you like celery try it on that - although I prefer brie - will have to wait a few months for that kind of treat
My hair is still in place, no one has noticed any change. i can feel it is much thinner on top but there are no patches. There are still strands coming out on my comb but not much. Still don’t think I am out of the woods yet will see how next week goes which is the 3rd week of second fec.
I had a little nausea the weekend after my fec, my mum bought me some ginger tea from the health food shop and it relieved it along with ginger snaps on the side.
x
I think I’m a bit like you Lulu re the hair and cold cap, only I haven’t given up on it yet. It’s very thin, especially on top, but the biggest loss happened before the second FEC and third is due next week. It’s still coming out, but not nearly as much as before.
I’m not sure if I should use the cold cap again or not - with so little on top I bet it’ll feel even colder than before.
I do have a wig and have worn it a few times but am rather unsure about it - bit too like helmet hair for my liking. My usual look is somewhat ahem, wilder. OK, messy
Hey Tarragon
if it still looks decent persevere. I found it really distressing to see it all come off in big handfuls and in the end I resigned myself to the hair loss and the shaved head. I felt better once it was gone for good, so to speak. Plus I LUV my wig, as mentioned. Was complimented about my new “hairstyle” at my yoga class this morning. Ha ha! Bless: didn’t have the heart to tell that lady it wasn’t my own hair. She would have been mortified.
I am feeling rather nauseous at the moment (day 5 after second EC). Could be the utter rubbish I am shamefully consuming : as well as Laughing cow cheese triangles: crisps, salami and stuffed olives. No wonder I am feeling sick.
But I am past caring, to be honest. I’ll get back on the straight and narrow soon. Drinking plenty of home made fruit juices to “compensate” for unhealthy taste buds…
Has any of you ladies lost eyebrows and eyelashes yet??
Hope you are all reasonably well… I’ll be glad when it’s all over.
Lulu XXX
I still have mine - was wondering when they might go if they do. I am in my 6th week. All my other hair is intact too!
I still have my eyelashes and eyebrows and I’m on day 11 after my 3rd FEC. I have read that if you still have them by cycle 4 then you will probably not lose them so I’m keeping my fingers crossed! They don’t look like they are going anywhere yet so I’m hopeful!
Good luck to everyone else
Stay strong
Debs
x
Buzzy, reading your post has made my day. Having FEC4 tomorrow and apart from my eyebrows thinning, which makes them look better than before, both eyebrows and lashes still in place,
Ali.
So there is hope then…
I thought you would lose them in the end. Let’s see what happens.
Love
Lulu XXX
Hi…sorry to butt in!!! just wanted to let you know i had 6 FEC chemo, tried coldcap for first but such a wimp i couldnt do it again…anyway… my hair thinned (drastically) but my eyebrows only thinned (and actually looked alot better ) and i kept my eyelashes!!! so fingers crossed for you all
take care Tracey xx
My 3rd dose of Epirubicin beckons tomorrow and I am not looking forward to it one bit. The 2nd dose completely floored me for the best part of 5 days but for the last week I have felt really good and don’t want to go back to square 1 :o(
I am also due to go back to work on 1st November (My mastectomy was on 16th July and chemo started 9th September) though this will be working from home until chemo has finished.
Here’s hoping my body is a little stronger this time and I bounce nack a bit quicker. Thinking of you all ladies, best wishes with your treatment, Gill xxx
ariesgirl63 hope your treatment goes ok today and then you don’t have such a bad week to follow. There is a positive - you are half way through your treatments if its 6 that you doing
My 3rd tomorrow too - and am looking forward to it for that reason - feels like a wee milestone!
good luck with those midway point chemos
xxxxx
Well…one is looking forward to it and one isn’t. Funny,eh?
personally the thought of my next one makes my stomach heave. Can’t be helped. So my thoughts are with you Gill. But then again, like Isobel said, I’ll be half way through it next time round. So that’s a consoling thought.
OH DEAR!
The feeling of nausea hasn’t quite left me yet and I always have this vile taste in my mouth (so must chew something to mask it). Do you find that too?
On a completely different matter: I am seriously considering getting another cat at the moment. I used to have one but she died last summer and we thought we wouldn’t replace her (easier when we go on holiday bla bla bla). But then a friend has told me about this grey and white cat who needs adopting: a very distinctive looking cat who thinks he is a dog…eh? I like him already.
Anyway, I am thinking about it. It would be good company now that I’m off work. Decision time.
Take care ladies
Lulu XX
Hi Lulu
I’m completely agree with all that… the funny taste (mines like not very nice cucumber - weird!), the thought of the next making you heave and the nausea. Really is no fun!
I love cats so completely agree on that one too!
Lucy x
yay for cats! I have Bella who is about 6, and 2 kittens from the cats Protection league, Chloe and Maude. They are about 9 months old now and have kept me company whilst I have been off work.
I have Fec 3 on Monday, and onc can’t make his mind up between 3 or 4. Still, it’s Tax next so I don’t mind putting that off a bit lol
Hope everyone is generally ok. I had a cold the other week too. Over it now though.
x sarah
Do you know? You are beginning to convince me about the cat…
This friend is going to bring him here to meet me sometime soon. I suspect it is going to be fatal. Love at first sight like with the previous ones. I am dead soft me!
But that means I have to “work” on OH who I had previously convinced we shouldn’t rush to get another cat (and he had bought it).
Mmmmhhhh…
Anything to get my mind off the horrid chemo.
Good luck to ladies having their third/fourth instalment soon.
COME ON. We CAN do it!
Lulu XX
P.S. I am really enjoying the Jamie Oliver’s 30 minutes meals series. Is any of you watching it? It might get me off the Dairylea…