how many women here had hair loss and did in we’d a topper or wig? I already have fine thin hair so deciding which way to go! Also how long until it grew back ?
My hair isn't growing back yet, but the oncologist said it wouldn't start growing back until 2 months post treatment (I'm just over 6 weeks post).
I really noticed my hair falling out in the shower. Strands would come out in my hands, and I would have a small pile on the shower floor every time I showered. Then I would lose more in my brush. I wound up vacuuming up hair off the bathroom floor every single day and there was hair all over my clothes. I really hope you don't experience this. As I said, I seemed to be really sensitive to chemo, so I am definitely an outlier in my experience. BUT, please know even with all the hair loss, I do not have bald spots. I just have thinner hair!
Sounds like you are doing all the right things to take care of your hair. Odds are with you that you won't lose much, but even if you do, please know you won't go bald. I'm sending you all my best thoughts, and please keep me/us posted. I'll be thinking of you. Xx
Well my hair is falling out pretty dramatically, any tips or ideas? Obviously hats and I have a topper but I am thinking I will need something to attach it to the way I’m going here.
Hopefully my eye lashes stay, it seems like usually we don’t lose all our hair but..
I am really sorry you are going through this! Hopefully you won't lose too much hair, but I can say from my experience that although I lost a lot of hair, I did not lose all of it.
That being said, it is distressing to lose so much hair. It's no fun to see your scalp peeking through the remaining strands.
So here are a few thoughts: I have no idea if all the measures we take to protect our hair really work. I washed my hair only three times a week with baby shampoo, air dried it, and wore baseball caps. My hair still fell out. Curiously, during this time, I also lost my armpit hair. At almost seven weeks post-treatment, the hair on my head and my armpit hair still haven't started growing back yet. So I can only say that the chemo affected me in a way that was specific to me (no one else seemed to have this experience).
I hope you don't have a lot of hair loss, but even if you do, you won't be bald. I don't love how thin my hair is, but I remind myself that there is a purpose to this--and that is to survive this cancer. I wish I had better advice to give to you, but please keep in mind that your hair will grow back, and your life is worth this half year diversion from having normal hair and skin (another story in itself).
Please keep posting. This treatment is a significant journey for almost everyone, and I hope you know that we are all willing to share whatever experience and knowledge we have. Keep the faith. Xx
Thank you so so so much for sharing and for your perspective! You are totally right- life and a great future are her things to focus on and this can be a “bump”
on the road and we will get through it! I really appreciate your thoughts and perspective! Truly! Thank you!
I don’t have any advice to offer but I just want to say how sorry I am that you are both experiencing this horribly unwanted side effect. I really feel for both of you in getting this additional short straw on top of everything else that you are going through.
You are both amazing at keeping your positivity and I hope that regrowth kicks in very soon. xx
Well I’m the total outlier here I guess, I’m getting a wig on Friday, tons of hair loss, my scalp has a large bald spot! Wearing hats and hoping not to be bald,but who knows! I have my last chemo ( second, traditional treatment) starting next Tuesday. Haha I guess by the end it will be good to have wigs!
Second question, did anyone have anemia and low platelets? ( they say they don’t need to treat) but I’m eating iron rich foods, and hoping it doesn’t slow anything down as far as treatment.
Wow, you are really going through it! I am so sorry you're having so many side effects, and in many ways, our experiences seem similar. I also had anemia and very low platelets, as well as very low white cells (neutrophils) that necessitated broad spectrum antibiotics after I developed a fever. I felt pretty wiped out and had bruises and bloody noses that showed up for no reason. Aside from the antibiotics, my oncologist didn't do anything except monitor my blood counts (they did discuss admitting me to the hospital, but decided because I was a "robust" person, they could monitor me as an outpatient). All of this happened after the second round of chemo.
I'm pretty sure they'll delay the second round of chemo if your blood counts are too low, as mitomycin can be hard on already depressed bone marrow. If they aren't delaying your second round, that's a good sign.
I'm thinking of you and hoping your hair loss slows down. It's good that you're eating iron rich foods. Anything to help your body bounce back. Please keep us posted! Xx
I am so sorry to hear that what you had worried about has happened. It is always a shock to lose hair during treatment. I was just wondering if the difference in methods of delivering treatment had anything to do with it. I have looked backed and can't see if you are having chemo daily alongside the radiotherapy. I am wondering if having a big dose is a shock to the system and causes hair loss. But I am completely guessing here.
I didn't have anemia and low platelets but if your treating team aren't concerned then I would take comfort from that.
