Chemo

If you choose not to cold cap then it tends to be day 14-18. I chose to go with it and shaved it all on day 14 so as it fell it didn't go everywhere. It felt quite empowering to take control! It's fine as its winter so I have beanie and bobble hats and just look like everyone else! If you are really worried you could try the cold cap. Good luck with it all! Xxx

Hi

Same time frame as Flowerhappy says...

It can sometimes 'hang on' until around your 2nd session. Hairloss can be a bit more dramatic with FEC or EC than Docetaxel so it depends on which chemo regime you are having first.

Most common sign the hairloss is starting is a slightly sore scalp and a similar feeling like having a too tight ponytail :-/  Any scalp pain goes as soon as your hair is cut short as it lessens the weight.

If you put off getting it cut really short too late it can be quite painful when having it cut. Most have it cut into a pixie style at first then really short about 10 days in.  Although most say 'shave' don't actually use a razor because of the risk of scalp nicks.

Hope the chemo is kind to you, G n' J

Thank you. That's really helpful . I'm due to have my haircut and dyed tomorrow. As chemo starts tuesday maybe  I'll have it cut shorter than usual and wont bother with the dye!

Hiya I'm going to give the cold cap a go. See how we get on.. I'm due to have my hair coloured and cut tomorrow.  Just deciding what to do, as it sounds like it will all be gone soon!

Hiya 

Hopefully anyone who also used the cold cap will reply back as J didn't use it.

Have noticed here though the cap has to be a really snug fit all round your head to avoid 'uncooled' (is that a word?) patches, and first 15 minutes is er' well chilling then it eases..

G n' J

 I used the cold cap through chemo, I had 3 x ec, and 3 x docetaxel, apparently ec is the worst for hair loss with docetaxel worst for permanent hair loss. I had my last cycle on 9th October this year

i did have my shoulder length hair cut very short after no 2, (which I don’t like!) as I dye my hair and didn’t want roots showing. I took it as an opportunity to see what my real hair colour is - it’s various shades of grey!!!

It did shed dramatically about 17 days after no1 and continued to shed slowly throughout. However I still have plenty of hair  and it’s already growing back.

Make sure that your hair is thoroughly wet and that plenty of conditioner is applied, the nurse always did mine for me. The cap must be tight! It’s freezing to start with and you do get used to it but it’s not easy peasy, but doable. Have plenty of hot drinks, the hospital gave me a little electric blanket for my lap and when I got really cold -a quilt as well. 

it might not be for you, i was close to giving up especially with the ec as you have to keep it on for 2 hours after as well but I am so glad I didn’t. Good luck and keep us posted xxx

I’ve had my first FEC and my hair started to fall out on day 17 ( I didn’t use a cold cap). My scalp was incredibly sensitive when it started but I took scissors to it one day and shaved it off the next. I’ve just had my chemo put back a week and my hair is growing back again!!

Hi 

I chose  not to use cold cap I. On EC which can cause hair loss within first cycle .what I did was get a pixie cut before I started chemo then only handled hair when absolutely nesc . So washed less ,with less product  only one shampoo . Also no hairdryer etc only finger dry . Didn't star hair shed til near End of second cycle . Hairdresser has not shaved but because I still have whispy hair that seems to have stop shedding and grows ( day 3 cycle 5 ). Sometimes I look like bad victor meldrew combover ,hairdressers gives it a tidy up snip ...not enough to call trim . Didn't want to shave because of pos. graze and also stubble .

I wear bamboo beanies with different headbands to match clothing . Do have a wig but only wear it if I feel not appropriate to wear hat or go baldy 

possible that even with cold cap it might be better to have a short cut so better coverage from cap but I'm sure you'll get some cap users along with advice .

NOT TO WORRY THOUGH IF YOU DO LOSE IT WILL GROW BACK ,

Hope all goes well Tuesday it's not as bad as your imagination may be telling you 

Margaret x

I am cold capping, and on my fifth weekly paclitaxel after 4 EC. EC is the worst chemo for hair loss,  but is possible to keep more than half your hair.  It depends on the individual,  but also on how week the machine is working and cap fitted. 

Our unit has two machines and one isn't cold enough.  I had that on my first chemo when I lost about 1/3 of my hair.  The next two cycles were with the good machine and I had light but even shedding,  then the forth was the one which didn't get cold enough and I lost a lot again, through into my first paclitaxel cycle  I've lost about 85% of my original hair,  but was never obviously bald,  and never lost hair off the top. It started to grow back from the beginning as cold capping protects roots, and I have long hair with a 1" long thick head of hair all over my head where the original hair fell out.  Even now I could clip a hair extension away ther top and pull my remaining real hair onto a pony tail or bun, so it's been worth it.  

EC makes your hair brittle and the strands thinner, but now I'm on the paclitaxel dose hairs are shiny and soft again... strange but true!

If you are having docetaxel I'd seriously consider it as about  10% have some permanent hair loss from it. 

How long you wear the cap depends on the chemo. It's always 30 minutes before chemo,  and EC was 90 minutes after,  paclitaxel is 60 minutes.  I take a co codamol about an hour before so is isn't too bad,  and aftet 15-20 minutes you can't feel it. 

Make sure that the nurse wets ALL ther layers of hair,  not just the top one add the cold needs to get to the scalp, and if is dry under the top layer it will be a blanket rather than a conductor!

Good luck xxx

I lost all the hair on the top of my head using the cold cap after only one round of chemo ( June 21) but the NHS wig is superb an exact match for my own hair and although my real hair has regrown it's much finer and thinner than the original stuff so I shall continue to use the wig as it's saving me a fortune in hairdos. I took a couple of photos to the wigmaker showing what my hair looked like after a blow dry and she very cleverly matched the colour and style exactly. I live in Wales so the wig was free. It's the best morale booster I've had since this appalling breast cancer started!