Hi Ladies,
I can’t believe i am actually broadcasting this to the world, but The hair did have to go, and i can’t believe how well i have coped.
I am still in shock, from not being shocked if that makes any sense? HA HA
Never thought i would be laughing, thought i would be in tears.
Had a number 1 chop yesterday afternoon , and i suppose it helped cos i am as blind as a bat without my glasses.
I told my hairdresser, not to show me what she was doing, just do it, give it i little rinse for me, put one of my headscarfs on, then i would look later.
Well i got used to looking at my rather chubby round face with scarf on last night, then this morning when i had a bath i plucked up the courage to look at my rather patchy bald head, WASN’T THAT BAD! in the mirror, gave it a gentle wash, as it feels bit sore, then showed my husband, we had a little laugh( or i would have cried), going to Asda in a bit, that will be a bit of a trial, but hay, can’t stay in till it grows back.
I don’t normally wear make up, but am wearing a little as i feel a bit more femanine.
Thank you to all you ladies, for listening, i’m not so sure how confident i will be when i get home from Asda, but hey! got to give it a go.
Take care Sandrae x x x
hiya Sandrae and well done for braving it and getting rid of the disappearing hair and taking control. I remember this well from back in January when it happened to me. I got rid as it was falling out in handsful and my lovely husband gave me a number one with his Babyliss clippers. I broke my heart the days before it happened but like you it was almost a relief when it finally bit the dust and we too had a giggle about it. The remaining stubble came out over the next week or so and then my head started to feel a lot more comfy. Good on you for going straight out, very proud of you for that. I hid behind a wig for months but now having started to regain a bit, just about back to a number one, I am caring less and enjoying the hot weather better. Take care, keep smiling as best you can and hold your head up high.
love Carol x
I agree its probably the worst side effect of Chemo but you did well to take control and get it off so well done you! - I found it far more distressing seeing it gradually fall out and me leaving a trail around the house and everywhere I went.
I hate myself with no hair - I feel like a man and ugly. I too have taken to wearing make up when I never bothered very much and I spend a lot of time getting my eyes right and trying out different colours and it does make me feel so much better.
I am getting used to the wig now and am wearing it and feel ok - no funny looks - I am not keen on the scarves as I find them hot and I feel ‘scruffy’ in them - but wear a beany hat around the house which is light and comfortable.
For me the next milestone is the loss of my eyebrows which I am told will go with Tax - again I will shed tears over this loss - this disease is soo cruel to us ladies… but if the treatement saves our lives then it is worth it!
Hi ladies
It is a brave thing to take matters into your own hands - I had to just before the New Year and I have to confess although it broke my heart initially the whole experience of losing my hair has been one of the most liberating experiences in this whole treatment journey of ours. I’ve saved a fortune on haircuts/colouring and shampoo etc:)
I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes (FEC) at around No.3. which was actually far worst for me than losing the hair!!! Hair stubble came in just before No.4 FEC and chemo nurse told me to leave shaving it anymore which I did and it has been growing constantly ever since. Finished chemo end of March and hair length is now a good centimetre and in far lovelier condition than before!! Eyebrows and eyelashes have also come back a lot thicker and better albeit a lot more slowly so all in all quite happy with outcome - so please do not despair - it will return and a ‘new you’ will emerge. I liken it to us being like a butterfly - we are cocooned in the cycle of chemo/radiotherapy/drugs/hospital appointments and worry of cancer but ultimately we emerge better, bolder and wiser than we could ever imagine ourselves and your hair looks darn good too:)
L x
Hi
I got my OH to shave my head when my hair started to depart. That was 2 years ago. I always wore a wig, and had such great comments, asking about where I got my streaks etc.
After a few months it came through very, very curly. I wasn’t used to it and just couldn’t handle it. But my hairdresser said ‘let it grow. The weight will drag it down’. She was right. It’s a little wavy now and I’m thinking about cutting it short.
Don’t worry. Your hair will come back but maybe not as before. Whatever, you’ll just be glad for hair!.
Mal x
Ladies I’m 12 weeks post chemo yesterday (feels great I have to say) and my hair is just coming in. The photo is of me 2 weeks ago but now it is starting to show some colour. It is exactly the same colour as the last time I saw it in it’s natural form which was pretty much 30 years ago !!!
Glad to have it 
Had mine done on Number 4- didn’t have the courage for anything less.
worn my wig when out & about but couldn’t wait to get it off at home -it’s been so hot today. now wearing a scarf which I don’t like at all- not me- got the " can you read my palm" joke from OH-Ha Ha
Carol
Hi Sandra,
Well done you.
I too shaved my head once it started to come out. My hairdresser did it to a No 4, then when that started to fall out I did it myself and asked my 17yr old son to shave the back. It was the best thing I did.
My epi chemo finished 9 weeks ago and my hair is growing back, thicker and a different colour!!
I even went to the gym for the 1st time in years and went without my wig. No one even batted an eye lid.
Take care and keep well, luv Jo xoxoxo
Hi ladies,
well done all of you for taking control of this situation. I started chemo on Thursday and am dreading the next weeks when it will begin to fall. Hoping to be able to come here and read the posts to remind me that others have gone down this path before and more will follow. I hope that I will be as courgeous and determined as you all when the time comes and thank you for this thread :-))
Hugs Suze xx
Thank you to all you lovely ladies for the words of support.
Well its day five without hair, still feeling ok about it.
Its great to hear from you all about your experiences, makes it easier to deal with knowing what other people have done to cope with the various SE of bc.
As you can probably tell, i am not the most computer literate, but i’m so glad i came along to join the site.
When you hear such great words of support from eveyone, it really does make this cr*p disease easier to manage.
I will have to give my bob wig a try in a week or so, heads rather sensitive at the mo, scarfs will do for now.
Thank you again ladies, sorry i have taken alot longer top reply to you all, than you did to me, have had a cr*p headache and face pain for a few days, think it is my sinusis, may need to ring nurses at hospital on monday, to see what else i can take, taken painkillers and hayfever tablets, havent helped at all.
Will talk to you all soon
Take care Sandrae x x x
Sorry Salsasuzi,
Hope this message finds you well, well as well as can be expected considering you have started your chemo this week.
I do hope you are managing ok with any SE’s you may have, you can at least rely on the ladies here for support and good advice, i don’t know what i would have done without this site, it’s GREAT!
Take care or yourself for the next week or so, i found, even though i have only had 2 FEC, that after a week the main SE’s improve greatly, hope yours do to.
Thank you for your words of support, anytime you want to chat, feel free to message me, as we are both at the begining of our chemo.
May take me a while to work out how to message you back, ha ha!
Sandrae x x x
I have read all of your posts and thank you, one and al, you have really made me smile. I have my second Epi next Tuesday, my shoulder length hair started to fall out on day 14, I did cry as it was being cut off, I too only managed a number 4, that said the following day my husband used a number one. I definately feel much more liberated as you have said. I have used my wig today for the first time and felt really good in it, not at all hot as i expected it it to be.
I really like wearing the turban style hair wear, really comfy.
I really like the idea of saving on shampoo and hair dressers, I didn’t think about that.
love to you all, Jenny xx
Hi gals
I too got a number one as soon as the hair started to drop. Its now growing back as I’ve finished treatment. Its about 2 inches long, curly and grey. Can cope with the length and curls but not the colour. Cant wait to go back to my normal dyed blond. One funny thing i’ve noticed is that I get stared at now with my short grey locks but never noticed it when i wore scarves or my wig.
Julia xx
hi ladies,
You made a great point Jenny, never really gave it much thought, but i will save a fortune, i normally spend a bomb on hair mousse, spray and hairdressers, and as i have (or should i say HAD) ha ha, quite a short Ann Robinson style hair cut, it normally took me ages in the morning to style my hair before i got going, it was really thick as well, so now save lots of money and lots of time , GREAT!
I must admit, i could never just get up and go in the morning without 20-30 mins doing hair, so now if i need to be out early an the morning i can just WASH & GO,ha ha.BONUS.
I still can,t believe how well i have taken the lack of hair, even suprised myself.
I think being able to talk to you ladies here, who are having the same issues, makes things easier to cope with.
Thanks again ladies, Sandrae x x x