Hi Battling Babe

I hope you are finding Cancer Chat a supportive and helpful place to come and share your thoughts.

We have some information here on hair loss, hair thinning and cancer drugs.

It includes sections on coping with hair loss as well as patient stories and tips.

I hope it is useful,

Best wishes

Jane

Hello BB, when I went for my chemo last Friday, I was undecided on the cold caps until I saw a lady going through the process and it looked like something from a torture chamber! As there is no guarantee, I decided to give it a miss and the 5 hours sort of purt me off as well. Like you, I think we go through enough.  So I have the hair loss to look forward to, but have set a date - a week Thursday - and we are going to shave my head with or without!  Luckily the wig is arranged for Friday, so it will just be a hat for a day.  Knowing my luck it will be sweltering and I am in a bobble hat ha ha. I too am not looking forward to being bald, it is a huge thing on the confidence front, but if it gets rid of this awful disease, then this time next year, it will seem to be a small price to pay.

very very best wishes, and good luck. My second is on the 11th, so will be thinking of you.  Hugs margaret xx

Hi!

I managed the dreaded cold cap for 3 sessions, however by my 3rd my hair had thinned out so much and was balding on top, not a good look and seeing my hair fall out was just getting too distressing, people say 'oh it will grow back Lisa but they r not the ones going thru this ordeal. Things got too much and I made the brave decision to get it shaved off snd it was the best decision I made, I can actually now enjoy a shower without freaking out about my hair!! Plus no more cold cap!!!!!

Good luck with the rest of your treatment, I should have had #4 last thurs but wasn't allowed as I now have shingles!! Hopefully this thurs I can get #4 out the way. Nothing prepares u for chemo but these forums have helped me xx

Thank you Jane.  The information you directed me to was really helpful.

As for the forum, although I've only been a member for a short while, it seems as though everybody is a "friend" who is more than willing to help, support and listen.  Thank you to everyone.

BB

Hello Margaret

Thank you for replying.  Yes, the cold cap machine does resemble an instrument of torture.  Horrible.  I expect your stomach is turning in readiness for Thursday.  No-one wants to lose their hair but when it does happen it is better to be pro-active.  Last Saturday was a bad night for me.  I had been losing my hair gradually but when I woke up on Sunday morning, I wondered why my shoulders had suddenly become very hairy.  I thought I was turning into a Yeti until I looked at the pillow, the sheet and my back and realised that it had started to happen in earnest.  I just burst out crying.  But managed to stop until I had to sweep it all up from the bed which made me start again.  What a watermelon.  What sort of wig have you ordered?  And if we do have a heatwave on Thursday then I'll know who to blame (you, for wearing your bobble hat).  You're so right; to lose our hair is such a huge knock to our confidence but, as you say, if it gets rid of this very unwelcome visitor (or at least keeps it under control) then that's what needs to be done.

I couldn't have my second session today because there is/was a problem with my blood last Thursday so I'm hoping by now that I may be all right for later this week.  Fancy hoping for a next session of chemo but you know what I mean.

Thank you so much for your best wishes and sending me good luck.  As your next session is on 11th, I expect you're still feeling "urgh" from the last one, so I really do appreciate you writing.  Thank you.

My good wishes and luck to you as well Margaret.  Do take care.

Love BB x x  

Hello Lisacr

Thank you for replying.

How disappointing for you to have 3 sessions of the dreaded cold cap only to find that your poor hair had thinned to such an extent.  Yes, it is very distressing when that happens.  I totally agree with you about the things people say.  Don't get me wrong, I know they mean well but saying things like it will grow back is really of no help NOW, is it?  We're not daft; we know (hope) that it will grow back but when that seems so far away, it's of no consolation at the moment.  When did you have your "shave"?  Did someone go with you?  I'm glad to see that you feel it was a good decision for you and, as you say, you've let the cold cap know what you think of it.  I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you wear a wig or a hat now?

How awful for you to now have shingles.  You must be in so much pain; I am so sorry.  I thought I was a glutton for punishment but you beat me.  Have you been able to take anything for it or did they think that it may interact with the chemo?  I do hope you'll be up to having your 4th chemo session this Thursday to get that over and done with.

l had a text from someone the other day who is really worried about me (if she's that worried why didn't she phone?) asking how I was.  When I told her, her reply was that she hopes I feel better soon.  As I have another 5 sessions of chemo to go, I don't somhow think I will feel better soon, but perhaps she knows something that I don't,  Like you, this forum has helped me so much; just talking to people who have gone/are going through it is a great help.

Do take care and no more acting silly and picking up extra diseases that you certainly don't want.

Love BB xx

Hello BB - had an eye opening day today when it came to the injections! Will have to try to do it myself as it is quite restricting to have to stay in all day waiting, just need to get up the courage! 

The hair will be shaved a week Thursday, the 3rd. Mainly as I get my wig on the 4th and thought it would be easier to fit on a hairless head ( have a problem thinking bald!). I just  am trying to avoid finding it on my pillow, that must have been traumatic and I would have cried too, even though I know it is going to happen to see the evidence in front of you must be awful. I don't know what the make of wig is, but it is as short as poss in order to wear it for the least time, at least that is the theory.

i don't feel too bad really after session 1, I had what I could describe as a slight hangover after the chemo and Saturday, a bit sicky and headachy feeling, but Sunday was ok as is today. I am told though that the effect is cumulative, so I don't suppose I will be this lucky every time.

hope all goes well with your bloods and you manage to get your 2nd soon, yes I do know what you mean, it is an odd thing to look forward to isn't it? But I look at it the sooner we reach the end the better, then the radio therapy starts! What a journey eh?

well take care, and keep in touch. Best wishes for the 2nd session.  Hugs xx

margaret

I had my head shaved the day before my 1st chemo session because I was told I would definitely lose my hair. I didn’t want to try the cold cap as no-one could tell me that it would definitely work. I decide that if I was going to lose my hair it would be better (more practical & less traumatic) to get it over with. I would much rather the short sharp shock of shaving to the drawn out trauma of having it fall out in lumps.     

There is a lady in the same chemo sessions as me who was using the cold cap.  She said her hair was still falling out, so she was going to stop using it. She was quite upset by the failure.

I’ve been bald now for 2 weeks & it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I have a wig - which I don’t really use & some lycra caps - which I do.

Trying to look for some positives in everything -

Having a shower is much quicker – no separate hair washing, rinsing, conditioning etc etc

Getting ready to go out is also much quicker – no hair drying, styling etc etc.   

Hi Clairej, thanks for your reply. I do think you were wonderful to have shaved before your first chemo, well done you! Would I be right in assuming that it is still growing at the moment? And do you therefore have to keep,shaving? Sorry to be so inquisitive, but I would like to know what to expect for when I do it.

your're right about the speed of showering, I have already thought of that advantage - straight over the top! Not to mention the savings on six weekly trims, shampoo etc etc.

Best wishes xx margaret

Hi Margaret,

No, I'm absolutely not wonderful – just opting for the lesser of 2 evils (which is usually the way I make my decisions at the moment)

Part of my scalp is now hairless, but not all of it. If I hadn’t shaved it I would be in the “oh no it’s falling out” phase. I shave it occasionally with an electric razor just to keep it smooth. Otherwise it works like velcro when trying to put a t-shirt on! Not good when you want to retain some level of dignity:)