New to chemo life

Hi lovely , i used cold cap for all 12 weekly sessions and it save me 50% of my hair. First day was horrible and i was in tiers , second week was much better … when i was in week 5-6 i kind of had enough as to stay in hospital for extra 2 hours its not easy. i finished chemo last week and Now iam so happy that i still have hair as iam not anymore chemo patient . Please use cold cap its really worth it! You can loose your hair very quickly after second round depends on medication what you on. I wish you to be strong! Xxx

Hi, I chose not to try the cold csp. I shaved my head after the first cycle when my hair began to fall out and I got a wig. I've gone for a very different look and I absolutely love it.   It's a good alternative if the cold cap does not work for you.  Best of luck 

I also chose not to cold cap and cut my (long) hair off and donated it to a wig charity ahead of chemo and shaved off the rest. I found that strangely empowering - something I was actually able to take control of. It turned out that I really suited the buzz cut! I never would have experienced that without chemo!!

I had EC-T and my hair started to fall out 3 weeks after the first cycle, though it was no big deal after it was shaved. Mine ended up not all falling out, though I looked bald, and it started to grow back in fuzzy when I went on to docetaxel. However, my eyelashes and eyebrows fell out on docetaxel and although I didn't find that it bothered me (losing my hair was the easiest side effect - not painful and you only notice when you look in the mirror!) - I did look forward to eyelashes coming back the most! 

My hair started to grow back maybe a month after chemo but it was very slow going until about month 3 then by the 4th month after chemo, I had a really good thick head of hair.

Eyelashes were much longer - I'd say almost 5 months before I could wear mascara again as I didn't have enough lashes and they were super short for ages.

I still don't have all my eyebrows (6 months on) but they are very light coloured anyway so not noticeable.

I never would have had short hair without chemo and now I get to experience a lot of short hair styles while growing it out.

I got a wig but I hated it and just wore lots of different types of hats.

Hi Starsoverhead, hun I am the same age as you with a three year old son. I’m so sorry you are having to join us here too. I used the cold cap for my 10 sessions of chemo (4 three weekly and 6 weekly). I kept most of my hair and people who don’t know what I have been through have no idea looking at me. I don’t have any bald patches etc. I bought an expensive wig in addition to my NHS one after my first chemo as was told by all the experts that I would 100% loose my hair, they are still in their boxes. I know it doesn’t work for everybody and it’s more discomfort and time spent in the chemo ward making you wonder what the point is when you feel rubbish enough already. Everyone is different and reacts differently.  I know lots of ladies who tried it and it didn’t work. I just wanted to let you know from my experience in case you wanted to keep going with it. If not, that’s fine too. It’s what you feel most comfortable with. 
Warm hugs, Bekky xxx