Hi

Hi Sam31 so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, it's as scary time but you've found this Forum and I hope you'll find a lot of support here.

Firstly on the hair loss, I lost mine and there were two things that helped me. When it all started to fall out I took control and shaved it. This was a bit shocking,  it for me less traumatic than the big clumps falling out all the time.  Then I got a wig, and I LOVED it. I went for a whole new look and saved 15 mins every morning as I didn't have to style my hair. I was never brave enough to go out bald, though some people do, but I also had a series of hats and scarves that were nice.

On telling your son, I don't have any personal experience as my daughter is older, but I found this link on the main Macmillan site that might help you. Best wishes.

Telling children about cancer podcast

Hi Sam

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I was diagnosed with it two years ago. When my hair started falling out after my second cycle of chemo my mother shaved my head. I found it strange at first having no hear but I soon got used to it. I didn’t bother with a wig, I used a couple of turbuns which I bought off the internet whenever I needed to go for treatment.

Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment and hopefully you won’t have too many side effects.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi Sam

so sorry you have had this horrible shock, we are all here to support you. I also have triple negative bc. I found the prospect of hair loss very traumatic but the reality of it not as bad as I expected. I do wear a wig when I go out but at home and with close friends I don’t bother. I did find it very hard to accept but now I suppose I have got a bit more used to it. You will find a way of dealing with it.

I can imagine how upset you feel about your little boy and I do send you all the support I can. Do let us know how you get on xxx

Hi, 

I am sorry you are here but this site has helped me massively on this journey. 

Believe it or not once you start treatment you will feel at least a little better, Chemo is daunting but doable and wasn’t nearly as bad as I imagined personally. I cold capped and didn’t lose all my hair, I lost a lot, it was possibly one of the hardest bits but I did hold onto  a good amount and when I changed from EC Chemo to PC it started growing back. I wore a beanie when it thinned with some hair to frame my face from around 5 weeks after starting and then had it cut into pixie cut when the roots thickened up. It’s not my hair as I knew it but I’m glad I stuck with it, however, it does add time to your treatment and is not for everyone. An option to look at but you need to do what is right for you. I had dome great wigs (check Shein & you get an NHS one) but my Chemo was over summer so just couldn’t cope with heat, hot flushes and wigs. 

It may not feel it now but you do have this, you will come out the other side xxxx 

Thankyou all for your replied sorry its taken so long I'm a little all over the place, still havent told my little boy trying to leave it until I've spoken to the chemo nurse. I have my first oncologist appointment tomorrow  I'm so scared no idea what to expect, so I guess Il find out how much worse it is tomorrow with the scan results and hopefully a full plan the waiting is torturous just want to start treatment now so I know what im dealing with. Your all super women and I'm so grateful for these forums just to read and learn xxx

I also have TNBC. I had surgery first as it was though to be early stage. have just reached the end of 24 weeks of chemo, I had 4 cycles of EC and 12 Paclitaxel. I am currently waiting further scans as I have a possibility cancerous lesion on my liver. Waiting is by far the worst part of this. Once you are in treatment you can just settle into the pattern of it and get on with it. Some women have a lot of success with cold capping, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me in some ways I was glad as the extra time on the unit each time would have been another complication. I had had it cut shorter prior to treatment (it was already fairly short) so got my husband the clipper what was left. Oddly enough it has started regrowth during Paclitaxel. With the best will in the world there will be times when it’s hard to play with your boy, and I hope you have a good support network around you to help pick up the load. Keeping a symptom diary will help you plan ahead. All the best for your treatment. 

24 weeks wow that's a long time, your so brave! I'm absolutely terrified about the appointment today and hearing how bad it is and how long treatment is going to take. My hairs really fine but long so thinking cold capping probably wont help much even if I only lose a bit it's so fine it would be really noticeable need to get an appointment and start with a nice bob maybe if I gradually go shorter it wont be as much of a shock. So strange I'm the least vain person in the world but the thought of losing my hair and eyebrows is very daunting! I've been really lucky that I do accounts for a lovely beauty therapist who wants to gift me some powdered/microbladed brows! Thanks for your reply and I wish you all the luck in the world we got this xxx

Hello Sam and welcome. I totally understand. I also have a 7 year old little girl. I told her that i had a lump anf i needed it removed at hospital and that i had to get stong medicine to keep i away anf that my hait would fall out then grow back. I think if you prepare them in advance it wont be such a shock. My little girl cried the day i came home with a wig on. In the evening she pulled it off and said "you didnt tell mr you were bald" she rubbed anf kissed my head and said dont worry mammy it will grow back..we had a little cry together. And she got used to the new look. Dhe liked me bald at homr but i had to wear my wig going out lol. Its tough but ypull know hpw to tell your own child.Breast clinic also gave me a book for her called Mummys Lump.. God bless..xx

Your little girl sounds amazing xxx they're so resilient arent they! I have my chemo plan now pc for 9 weeks weekly and then ec for 9 weeks 3 weekly starting in just over a week. I plan to tell my little boy mid week why its half term give him time to digest it and ask any questions we have been given the my mummys lump book looks perfect for his age thanks so much for your reply wishing you lots of luck on your journey xxx