Hi
Taken the plunge and booked my friend to have it all clippered off a week on Saturday (a week after FEC 1) and see how that goes…
Although the whole hair thing doesn’t really bother me at all, I am going to the salon where she works, as I don’t want it done at home!! Bizarre or what??
Have beanies at the ready, specially in case the weather doesn’t warm up!!
SJ xx
SJ - thumbs up for being irrational!!! Well done on making the decision. We have clippers out in the shed (not because we use them on sheep, or anything, simply that we haven’t used them on my son for a while…), and the plan was that I’d get my OH to do the deed, but funnily enough, I was thinking of booking into my hairdressers nearer the time instead… great minds think alike!
Maybe it’s because I feel my hairdresser would treat me with a little more sensitivity, being another woman?
Sophie xx
I have dog clippers and sheep shears…comparing sizes I would opt for the dog clippers any day rofl!!!
Hi Sophie
Not sure why Kelly (hairdresser) rather than other half, cos I know she’s going to find it difficult but having it done in the salon means it’s almost a professional rather than emotional decision - gosh I am sounding more bizarre by the minute! Also, I have no choice to go outside afterwards (I have to get home!), so that will be over although at the moment I’m sure it won’t be a problem!
I went to HeadStrong this afternoon, which although showed me about hats/scarves etc was as much an opportunity to talk through the whole hair business with people who had been through it (much as these forums are fantastic, sometimes a chat is better). They were a little shocked I was not even going to wait for it to fall out; made me realise that even if all my hair did not fall out, don’t want to be waiting to see what happens…to much waiting already. I’m returning to my control freak tendencies…
Anyway, recommend HeadStrong, the two ladies this afternoon were lovely, good chance to talk through stuff (not just hair issues) with someone totally emotionally unattached!
Enough rambling.
SJ xxx
I’m planning to clip mine as soon as it starts falling out but I know others have done it straight away. I think maybe they thought you actually meant shave like a wet shave which could perhaps cause damage but as men clipper their hair all the time I don’t see it can cause that much damage - especially as it will all go anyway so has to grow back from scratch
Hi there ladies,
Need some kind and positive words - urgent, have had a really bad few days. I am 33 and due for my 2nd FEC tomorrow and my hair is falling out like mad! It seems that it is just balancing there at the moment and if you run your hands or fingers over it, it comes out with no effort. Had a shower on Saturday and tried to wash my hair - it was the most traumatic experience ever, beats surgery hands down!!! I feel so stupid getting so upset over ‘hair’ but I have cried the most I have cried over the past few months (I think it signifies what is happening and runs a lot deeper).
Why does it fall out anyway? And why does some peoples hair not fall out until later on? I was told that it wouldn’t be until weeks 3 - 4 so I think it has come as a big shock more than anything.
I was planning to get it cut short (or shaved if I had the courage) today but what with the weather the hairdresser has decided to stay shut. I will have to wait until after my next chemo now but just want it off. V v fed up and not liking putting off the inevitable. Control freak once again!!
xx ps (ignore my name, I’m being ironic, especially at the mo!!)
bonnielass - huge hugs - you sound so upset 
Have you a scarf or bandana that you can wrap around your head so that at least your hair isn’t shedding all around you? It might at least contain the problem until you can get to the hairdresser (or to Argos to pick up some clippers of your own - prob. won’t cost much different!).
I’ve been told between 2 and 3 weeks for hair loss, but I think it depends on each individual, and on which regime/how strong the regime is - so from what I’ve been told, you are bang on target I’m afraid. (I don’t start my FEC until 17th, but I won’t be far behind you in the baldilocks stakes - and at least you’ll have yours growing back before me xxx)/.
You go ahead and cry if you need to - maybe you’ve been so strong up to now, and just submerging how you feel, could be this is the moment you need to mourn what is happening, so just do it.
Then you can add red eyes and a snotty nose to the balding head, and you really will feel beautiful!!!
Huge hugs
Sophie xxx
Hi Bonnielass.
Huge hugs from m also
I am so sorry you are having a hard time. Do wrap it up in a hat or bandana or whatever. I really feel for you.
Sue
Oh please don’t worry about feeling low…its horrid being bald…and I’m on FEC 3 this week…and do I look weird or what! I shaved my headto approx 3-4 mm when it started faling out…however…whilst very sparse over my ears…its not falling out elsewhere…:0
…or very very slowly…AND even worse its growing back where it did fall out…GREY!!! Now I know I should expect it at my age but I only had a little bit of grey sprinkled near my ears before this! Oh the indignity…!
Thanks Sophie, you sound lovely. I had a good cry with my friend on Sat and although she was great, she cannot truly understand. She has got gorgeous long hair as well which doesn’t help.
Yes, got prepared the minute I knew I was getting chemo so have a few winter hats, opted for that rather than the bandana/scarf thing esp cos its winter can get away with it. Plus have a wig standing by in the bedroom and although it is lovely and a good match it isn’t the same.
As far as clipping it off myself - not brave enough for that. I will hide it under a hat until I see my hairdresser but the minute he tries to do anything with it I’m sure it will come out. Really trying to be positive and actually looking forward to trying the whole short pixie look (when it comes back) but just dreading the no hair bit in between.
So you are starting your FEC in a few weeks. Well, to reassure you I haven’t found it too bad. I was really sick for a few days but once that passed it was really just tiredness that I had to cope with. Like others have said (and I’m hoping it is the same for the rest of my sessions) - it is doable.
Hugs back xx
Hi to the other 2 ladies above (your comments weren’t there when I was replying).
You’re right it is horrid and so damn unfair (as if the illness isn’t bad enough on its own). I think when this is over we will all be such strong people - we will have gone through a lot more than other people have to go through. Do you not think? As far as coming back grey you will not be alone. I am sure I will have quite a bit of grey in mine and I am 33 (soon to be 34 though). I manage to hide these sneaky bits at the moment!!
The minute I can I will be getting it dyed (Rebellion!!)
xx
Thank you bonnielass - I’ve been very reassured by the positive comments on here about surviving chemo. I’m having 3FEC then 3TAX, so hoping the FEC breaks me in gently!! I saw the chemo nurse this morning for my pre-chemo assessment - and she also told me that I was down for the higher rate dosage of both as I’m 41 and otherwise fit and healthy…lmao - being described as young and fit in one sentence is not something I ever expected a medical professional to say about me ever again!!!
We’ve still got clippers from when I used to take my son’s hair off nice and short when he was in primary school, so my OH is primed and ready to go with them as soon as I need them, plus I’ve shopped for hats/bandanas/scarves as I’m not convinced I’ll cope well with a wig, not being generally good with any head covering! I’ll get my freebie NHS one though, just in case…
Sophie xxx
Oh, one thing that occurred to me is that they sell bandanas/buffs etc on the chemo ward in Salisbury at cost price - it might be worth checking tomorrow when you go in if they do something similar at the hospital you go to? Less hot than a hat indoors, but equally capable of containing stray locks… Good luck for tomorrow xxxx
Hi guys!
I shaved my head (no 0)after my first chemo and I had a hard time with the spikes afterwards. The spikes kept sticking into my head and were really uncomfortable. They were uncomfortable on a pillow and whilst wearing a wig and I think that my scalp dried out cause there was no hair?.
I asked others for advice and some did a further wet shave and someone even waxed her head. Some said they just rubbed the hair out.
I couldn’t wet shave my head as I was on blood thinning injections after getting a dvt in my arm from the chemo, but the spikes were annoying.
Someone said that it may have been better to start with a grade 3 shave first as it doesn’t cause the spikey problems that I had.
Hope this helps?
It is chilly without any hair at night, but have a little beanie I put on top to sleep in. I feel a bit like wee willy winky, but never mind.
Take care
Kulakatz X
Hi Ladies, hope you don’t mind me joining. I am further on than most of you and finished my chemo and rads in November. Sorry you are feeling sad. Losing my hair was the worst part of the treatment for me and no-one can understand that unless they have been through it. I had my hair cut shorter to bob length as wasn’t brave enough to shave it off. Had heard that the stubble hurts when you put head on pillow. Hair came out after 2nd chemo (Epi) as BC nurse had warned me. I cried every night as more came out when I took bandana off and never let my OH or sons see me bald. Don’t know why but felt ashamed. I even kept my few long strands that didn’t fall out as it was MY hair! It’s now coming back grey which shouldn’t have been a shock as used to have it dyed. Told by Oncologist to wait 6 months before using permanent colour. Tried henna but didn’t work - just stunk! Have read on website someone recommended Vegatint to will research it.
Ladies, it is such an emotional rollercoaster and sad time and you are entitled to cry. I did get fed up though of friends telling me to “stay positive” if I cried even though I have been positive all along!
Be kind to yourselves and though it seems so distant, your hair will grow back.
Big hugs,
Kiti x
I hating having my hair fall out but could not face having it shaving off until I hit on the suggestion in a BCC booklet to have a sponsored shave - and my work colleagues came up trumps and really sponsored me with money going to the new Maggies Cancer Centre being built in Nottingham - that gave me courage and I was so relieved to get it shaved off as it was such a mess. It’s now growing back and I’ve got to go onto another course of chemo and it will fall out again - so will have to make the most of my new short style this Christmas - at least I know it will grow back eventually… All sooooo challenging - but I do love the hats I’ve bought (have spent as much on them as I would have on hair appointments so no money saved…)
We are more that our hair styles - but it’s not easy…
Fran