thinning hair

1 minute read time.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer , July 2006, my main fear was whether or not I would have to have chemo. I was terrified about the nausea  that some people experience and the thought of losing my hair was terrible. I was so relieved when, after my mastectomy, all I needed was Tamoxifen for however long the doctors deem necessary.  I had reconstruction which went extremely well with no problems and I felt extremely lucky and guilty at the same time, knowing what some people have had to go through.

I'm posting now because, although I have had such am easy time, hot flushes and some weight gain being the worst, my hair has been steadily thinning over the past few years (this is supposed to be a side effect of Tamoxifen).

Writing this I'm feeling like I'm saying 'Me..Me...Me , others have had to got through so much more, but at the same time it is beginning to affect my self esteem. Have changed my hair style to try and hide where you can see my scalp and when I last went to the hairdressers I moaned to the girl cutting my hair and she more or less said that I should be grateful I'm not bald and I agree with her.

To anyone who happens to read this, please don't think too badly of me, gonna post this quickly before I change my mind.

 

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Babs,

    Please don't apologise for saying how you feel, we're all unique and all find different things more difficult to deal with.

    I'm sorry your hair is getting you down. I'm lucky that although my hair went thanks to chemo it wasn't something I worried about. I was however terrified about the sickness side and after saying this at my first oncology appointment they made sure I had plenty of anti-sickness stuff!

    Can't say I'm too impressed with the attitude of your hairdresser. You have been through a traumatic experience and the thinning of your hair is obviously having an impact on you, whether she thinks you should be grateful is irrelevant. It's how you feel that matters. Would you be prepared to see a different hairdresser? I think (but wouldn't swear by it) that Trevor Sorbie (spelling?) and Toni & Guy salons are very keen to help women with hair issues as a result of having cancer. I appreciate that they will probably advertise that they deal with the complete hairloss and wig scenario but your situation is just as important as it is making you feel miserable.

    Our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical health and I hope you find someone who can offer you some practical advice.

    Take care

    Bad Fairy x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I agree with bad fairy, perhaps you need to change your hairdresser.  My husband was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in September 2009.  Three months after that, probably due to all the stress, my hair started to fall out in clumps.  I had soon lost more hair than he did while having chemo.  I had just about been coping until then, but the hair loss nearly tipped me over the edge.  Thankfully I use a brilliant hairdressing salon. I got losts of advice on restyling to disguise the thin patch, and it is never a problem if I have to cancell at short notice because G is not well, or I suddenly have to take him for a medical appointment.  Why not try a consultation at a different salon.  Just changing my

    parting to the other side worked well for me until my hair thickened up again.  I do hope you can get some help from a more sympathetic hairdresser. Keep smiling

    Daffie

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I was bald has a badgers bum for a year but for me it wasn't a problem, but that was me. Don't feel bad about mentioning  your  hair getting thin my sweet, I think we need to feel 'normal' what ever that is, after treatment and sometimes it can take a time for the chemicals and their effects to leave us. I expected treatment to end, then return to work and have my waist length hair back, it all takes time love......Carol x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hello Babs

    Me too!

    I refused chemo mainly because it only increased my chances of being cancer free in 5 years by 3% but also because I could not cope with losing my hair.I am now on "Femara" for five years and a possible side effect is hair thinning I will be asking to change drugs if this happens

    Best Wishes

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Many thanks to you kind people who have been so supportive. I was given a voucher from my two girls for Christmas towards a hair colour etc at my current salon so will go back there this time, thought some low lights might help, but will think about changing. To be honest, I'm not sure the hairdresser was aware of the reason for it thinning. I try not to talk about it as I don't want to sound whingeing.I have also thought about approaching my doctor to see if there is anything I could take to help,am taking Perfectil from Boots as a hair and skin supplement.

    Again, thanks for responding, you are very special people!!

    Barb

    X