Diagnosed with high grade DCIS

Hi

welcome to the community ,know you'd rather not be here but it is a good place to be for answers and support .

My story on my profile just click on my name to read .

I also had masectomy first and chose not to have reconstruction I know exactly what you mean bout softy going walkabout . I went to prosthesis 6 weeks after masectomy just before starting chemo so don't understand why you can't have prosthesis until after treatment .

I was on EC and was told hair would def go . So first step I took was to have mid length bob cut to pixie .Felt good to be in control . From that point I used nioxin shampoo and conditioner . Only washed hair when needed and finger dried .no product or heat applied .

I was lucky Hair lasted 8 weeks before shedding ( usual with EC is days ) my hairdresser then kept it short by cutting rather than shaving ,that way there was less risk of nicking scalp and causing an infection  

I wore bamboo beanie hats to keep head warm put woolly one on top in November / dec etc In the Dec just before my last chemo I had no 2 shave so hair had shape to grow into . I went into shielding in March with a fuzz and needed cut in July when I came back out . Hair now needs a cut every four weeks .

I think it's on chemo thread that I posted some pic this week of hair .

I must stress this is my story  and we are all different so you may or may not lose hair and it may. Make a quick return or take its time I've been lucky it back also back to thickness . It's all about choice some people shave straight away but then I'm lazy and didn't want to have growth and have to do it again or have stubble lol 

Have a look on the January Chemo thread there is a shopping list and lots of hints with regards SE . My main advice would be take the meds most chemo causes nausea the meds help with this . Your unit can change them if you still feel rough . Main thing to remember is they do not want you to suffer so keep a diary and let them know what's going on . 

Your imagination is far worse than reality it can be rough but also comparatively minor to what you expect some people sail thru still going to work etc . 

Have a look round the other thread including chemo  jump in when you feel like it you will be welcomed . Awake thread is very active as well 

keep posting 

Thank you for your reply Margaret,

I am new to all this online stuff so don’t really know what I’m doing but will have a look on what you have suggested.

I had already cut my hair once but had to wait for my oncotype results to come back to decide whether I would need chemotherapy. In the meantime my hair has grown again.

I had a hairdresser booked but of course now that’s gone out the window so I’m left to my own devices and haven’t got a clue how to cut it.

so you had your prosthesis 6 weeks after your mastectomy. I was told I wouldn’t get mine until after I have had radiotherapy and that won’t be until after I finish chemo.

I didn't have radio but if I was you I would ask why other than that I know you can get knitted knockers on line  they might be better . 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/breast-cancer-forum/128753/awake

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/209377/january-breast-cancer-chemo

here is two of the links until you find your way around there's also a radio thread your questio about prosthesis may be able to be answered there