Chemo and hair

My hair started to fall out 2 weeks after my first chemotherapy session. I had spoken to my hairdresser in advance and she gave me a buzz cut. Later on my husband shaved my head for me with his electric razor as some hair had fallen out & some had grown a bit and looked spiky. He shaved it in close so that it was even all over. I didnt mind the buzz cut but struggled more with being completely bald. Its totally understandable to worry about losing your hair & I think doing it in stages does help a bit. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to feel whatever you feel. Its a rollercoaster journey that is very individual and lots of people dont understand all the things you go through emotionally and physically. In my experience people that have been through a similar journey get it more. Take care.

Hi 4 years ago i had ovarian cancer that spread to my cervex. I had chemo called carboplatin. It will definitly make your hair thinner but it wont fall out. Ask your oncologist. My cancer has returned and its in my bladder, here we go again.

Wish you well

1. Eve 

Thank you so, that's really helpful and wishing you all the best. So much to learn  - let alone take it all in.

Oh bless you, really hope everything goes well for you and thank you for your comments.

Hi Jem, I was on EC very 3 weeks and it started falling out fast after the 2nd session. My daughter saved it with electric shaver which was quite nice for my family to do it, I thought. The thing I noticed most was how much I could feel my head once there was no hair. I could feel my scalp move under my hat when I lifted my eyebrows hahaha. And the coolness took my by surprise. And the fabric of my head scarf. All new experiences. You will know when you're ready to shave it. I wish you all the best.

Xxxxx

Thank you so much, that's what I was told it will fall out around 2nd chemo and I'm having them every 3 weeks. Lovely your daughter helped you and sounds like my hubby needs to learn some barber skills as he has a shaver  - gulp!! All the best to you also x

I went through the winter without hair. OH shaved it off with his clippers. I was sick of it falling out everywhere.I have to say Louise the cold took me by surprise. I wore turban scarves to go out I quite enjoyed matching up to outfits and occasions, spent a fortune. My dressing gown has a hood which was useful but around the house AND in bed I wore a bobble hat with pompom removed.

this week you will need a rainmate, anyone old enough to remember those and then fine cotton type scarves. Cotton or poly cotton the knots don't slip.

You get use to lack of hair. On the plus side ready for out in half the time and you save a fortune not going to hairdressers. I didn't use shampoo just my general shower gel, another saving. After I'd moisturiser my face I rubbed any excess into my haed.

I might go back to my scarves next winter. I quite liked them.

Hi Jem123 

I had one round of EC at the end of April before a treatment change and my shoulder length hair started shedding very lightly on day 12. It was coming out faster by day 17 and I became concerned about mess and potentially clogged drains so I got my sister to buzz it with an electric shaver the next day. I took this really hard and had a good old mope for about 24 hours after, then I picked back up again.

As Louise53 mentioned, I'm also quite aware of how much I can feel my head. The coolness is particularly noticeable, but the thing that stands out most for me is that as I've always been on the oily side and now there's no hair to soak it up, I tend to end up with a sticky scalp!

I don't think there's any right or wrong way to approach this and I think you'll know what's best for you when the time comes. I wish you all the very best with your treatment. 

Thank you so much for your reply. Wishing you all the best.

Thank you so much for your reply  - that's really helpful. Wishing you all the best.