Another new member

Hi,

You will be amazed at how used to the wig you get, and my friends had to be told I was wearing a wig in the beginning. At the start I felt like everyone knew but they really don't! Get some nice comfy hats and scarfs for wearing around the hse. And it's not permanent, you will have a fabulous new head of hair at the end of all this! It's tough but it does end!

Hi Amaryllis

Sorry you had to join us but you have come to a good place on this board.

If I may give you some advice re the hair coming out. If you can bear it, get it shaved off on day 16 or 17 post chemo. I had my hair cut short a day before chemo started, maybe an inch long, but when it started to fall out it went EVERYWHERE and that was such a pain in the butt! It fell out in clumps especially in the shower and to be honest that was depressing.

Once it was gone I was actually quite fine with being hairless. I lost it towards end of April. It started to grow back when i started taxotere and by Christmas I was sporting more then enough to loose the beanie hats and scarves.

Fear of it falling out is worse than it actually falling out.

Four years since diagnosis my hair is shoulder length and most of me is back to normal!

http://www.headwear4hairloss.co.uk/
Very good site for bandanas I bought a blue and black Anna hat and then ordered the different accessories. To go with different things. I love them and a woman asked me today (she didn't know me) where I got the lovely hats and she didn't know I was havin chemo

Hi Amaryllis

Sorry that you had to join us thats two new ladies in a week - I got diagnosed the same day as you but am doing chemo first.

I think the best thing to do is shave it off ASAP as I found it really traumatic when it fell out I left it too late - I should have done what you did and shaved it before it fell out. It doesnt bother me too much not having hair think it bothers other people more wear a wig, then sometimes loads of wooly hats and the minute I am home just wear caps as I swear to god your head will be freezing!

I went to http://hswigcentre.ie/ he was just brilliatn with me and a mad thing was the head shave was actually fun had my sister with me. the wig is fab and people who dont know keep saying wow you look graet love the hair - so have to tell them

Which hospital are you in?

Best of luck with everything xx

Thanks for all the advice - will defintely get a few hats and head scarves as well as the wig - probably wll be more comfortable.
Im going to Jim Hatton's new hair salon for cancer patients - and Dee my two sisters are going to come too - so hopefully we can have a laugh....not up to any more blubber fests at this stage!

Im at St Vincents Private with Janice Walshe. Actually had to go this morning to get bloods done as had temperature of 38.5, sore throat and thumping headache all night. Thankfully they sent me home wtih an antibiotic Would hate to miss family Christmas bash tomorrow night.....my last hurrah with my own hair for the mo!

Hi there.
You're a few weeks ahead of me. I start chemo in about 2 and a half weeks and a bit scared to say the least, but everyone here will get us through...

What chemo are you on?? I'm on TAC

Xx

Hiya. I think the stress at the start is enough to give one a heart attack or stroke. To be honest thought there was more chance of popping off with the stress than anything else. My view, now, is thank goodness we live in 2012 where complete recovery is now the norm. Think of it as a journey. Loosing a boob is small price for life and loosing hair, well lets be serious its just funny. Im only starting chemo is Jan so I can go to my daughter's wedding in South Africa and my brother has already bought me a pink wig. I think Im also going to get a blond one. Note I have always been brown haired. My kids like the idea of the bandanas cos they say I will look like a pirate. Hopefully they won't insist I buy a parrot as well. Anyway best of luck.