Pulling my hair out!!!

Hi Dee,

Poor, poor you. This is a very tough day for you.

Here is a good address for great headscarves which I found on this site a year ago. They also sell sleep hats which are great for keeping you warm at night. They say to handwash the sleep hats but they wash perfectly well in a 30 degree machine wash. The scarves do need to be handwashed however.

http://www.headcovers.com/scarves/head-scarves/

The service is very quick and postage to Europe adds only 9 dollars to your total. Also take a look in the accessories department in some of the big department stores. You can sometimes find great scarves but check the size. To get a good drape you'll need at least 30" x 30". 36 x 36 is even better. Silk scarves are probably too slippery - I never dared to try them.

I am happy to be able to tell you that my hair has grown back the same colour as it was before. It came in blond at first but gradually the red came back. It's curly though - not quite used to that yet.

Hugs

Kathleen

Ah Dee, poor you, I totally empathise. I also couldn't bring myself to cut my hair in advance, foolishly hoping maybe I'd be an exception and keep my hair.
My hair came out over the August bank hol and I was really upset. I didn't want to cry in front of the kids but when I decided to put away my "special treat, expensive" shampoo, I sobbed, couldn't help it!
Just a few hints if you normally have a fringe. When you go to buy the wig you will see that they sell "stick on" fringes for under a scarf or cap so your face won't look too bare. Well they only sell straight ones and I have curly hair so I kept some of my hair and stuck it on to a hair band and it works perfectly under a cap
Also when I was getting my hair shaved, I asked her to leave some of my fringe just for however long it would last and can't believe it's actually still hanging in there, very thin at this stage but enough to peep out under my bed cap.
Last thing, don't get too excited about the no waxing! I never lost the hair on my legs, had to shave them in the summer. So ironic with a bald head. And as for "nether regions", very erratic loss there too. If I had been heading off in a bikini, (as if), would still have needed trip to beautician

Hi Dee,
I totally feel for you today. I lost my hair in July and can truly say I was absolutely devastated. I cried and cried so what your feeling is pretty normal. I kept thinking that my oncologist had got it wrong and I would be the exception and would keep my hair and I'd march back in there and say ha ha you got it wrong !!! I found a great site called bohemiaheadwear.co.uk which are very reasonable and ship quickly. It took me about a month before I could bring myself to look in the mirror at my bald head. I'd put on my hats and then go to a mirror to straighten them Almost 4 months on and I can honestly say I'm getting used to my bald head. I know it's not going to be forever and that gets me through. I never thought I'd reach this point so it really will get easier for you too even though you may not feel that way today. And just think of the money you will save not having to go to the hairdressers

Hugs,
Shirls

Thanks girls for all the lovely replies. Had great craic last night for Halloween playing pin the hair on the donkey with realy hair

Seriously thanks and thanks for those two web addresses. Love the tips about the fringes and keeping the fringe for a hairband. Ah shame legs dont go (mine are sort of starting) along with other places:-)

Great to come on here for some moral support - thats one thing about this cancer lark - I have so many new friend both here and on my blog as well its brilliant - have loads of people checking up on me!

Feeling very special and loved

Dee

Oh I've just joined today and I've loved reading the posts. I cried when my hair started coming out in lumps it was so distressing, I loved my hair. My dear husband said he would shave it for me and he was the one I wanted not some hairdresser. We had a laugh when he was doing it and I felt so cold. I couldn't bring myself to look in the mirror so my husband took a photo on my iPhone and I looked at that instead and to be honest it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

I don't wear my wig too much as I find it quite tight and uncomfortable so I lash on the makeup and the lippy and put on my bandana. I ordered from wigs4u which do plain hat and you can put different scarves to suit your ensemble.

I started chemo on the 10th sept and I turned 50 on he 14th. My first two chemos were ok but the third one not so good. I've had a horrible weekend I'm just hoping its not going to keep getting worse I've three left last one is Christmas Eve?

Yes you're right I've come across people since getting cancer hat i never would have met and that would ace been my loss

Mary Molloy
Diagnosed 17th August 2012
Early stage breast cancer
Six sessions of chemo
Then lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy in 2013

Hi Mary

God thats a terrible 50th present isnt it! Who is that joker!!

I am going with my sister (hairdress will have no mirrors) but sis will be taking photos - dont want to see myself bald no doubt I will take the wig off later and have a good look. Seemingly supposed to be really cold without the ole hair!!

You are in Vincents as well we have the same Oncologist Janice Walsh she is great. Going for my second nuking on Thursday that will be two down 6 to go!

Are you really going in Christmas Eve? that be awful!! Hopefully they will have some mince pies!!

Dee

Not the best present but the 51st will be all the more special.

I felt more comfortable in my own kitchen, as my husband said 'I don't have to style it' so he just shaved it off. It's freezing especially the back of your neck. Brrrrr!!! Oh you will look and you'll get used it, it's not that pleasant but it's ok in the great scheme of things.

Yes Janice is so positive, I'm in on Mondays in Vincent's private, due in Monday week. I've three left and yes I'm in at 9 on Christmas Eve, imagine telling me that last Christmas. It'll probably be quite festive and as its my last one ill be very happy . Ill be floored for new year but roll on 2013 happy days

Nearly there Mary!!! Well done!! Will keep looking at this when I start
Xx

Hi Dee
There is never a good time to lose your hair but I feel sorry for you in this artic weather
Somehow or other, I have a feeling that you might get cross with your wig - I think you might rock the bandana! I went gung-ho in organising my wig but HATED it as found it very uncomfortable. Much preferred going around with bandanas and beanies or strutting my stuff baldy.
You are going to look like a hedgehog with mange for a week or two after you shave your head but you'll be glad you shaved in the long term (unless you are looking to develop a relationship with your plumber unblocking drains!!)
And the one thing that pissed me off in the midst of losing my hair, eyelashes, eyebrows was that I didn't lose the hair on my bloody legs!!! How unfair was that!! But my bikini line vanished and underarm hair vamoosed too, so saved on the waxing there!!
Take care x

Oh I put great thought into the wig but I hate it, it's tight itchy uncomfortable so I wear it very little although my husband likes me to wear it if we're going out I just feel people will look at me as a cancer victim with the bandana. I'm really hoping I hold on to my eyelashes and eyebrows don't care about anything else.

Hi Wicklow Lady,
Can totally understand your dislike of your wig. I spent weeks searching for the right one, it was a little project of mine during the early days of diagnosis. It was pretty pricey too and now it's just lying there in the spare room!! I have only wore it twice since August and it drove me mad both times I wore it out, was very itchy and uncomfortable, I just wanted to rip it off when I was in the pub ! (imagine!!) I'm the queen of hats and beanies these days and I'd rather be comfortable going out than a pure misery. I loved my hair and would of went to the hairdressers every Sat so I'm really surprised about my dislike of my new hairpiece.
I have managed to hold on to my lashes and brows so far fingers crossed, hope you will escape that loss too.
Shirls

Oh you sound just like me and I'm hoping to hold on to the eyebrows and lashes they're very important to me. Yes like you I loved my hair but the wig is far from that. It's just a necessity that I wear when going out with my husband as he prefers it and he's so good to me it's the little thing I do for him. Yes I got on the Internet and ordered lovely hats and bandanas and wear them most times. If you finished chemo the brows and lashes hardly will fall out now, will they?

Hi
Yes eyebrows and lashes could go still!!!Sorry to say mine weant a month after i finished chemo was devastated as didnt know this could happen.Was so proud to have gotton thru chemo with them.
I hope it doesnt happen for ye.

xx

Oh thanks for that lol. I thought if I got to the last one they wouldn't fall out. Just goes to show you the chemo is still there long time after.

Wilmaone,
I knew I had read somewhere on this site that a woman's eyebrows fell out after finishing chemo. Just when I thought I might have escaped.
I see you have been on this journey exactly a year now. Congrats, hope your doing well,
Shirls

Hi Dee
I had chemo last year and have some scarfs/bandanas that you are welcome to have if you want to message me your address, I'll pop them in the post. Take care of yourself now, my hair is back now thick and healthy and I dyed it red just for the craic! You'll get through it, hang on in there ...

Deadly kazoo and I will be so delighted to pass on my bandanas to someone that needs them. I would feel they are special as they got me through and I liked them much better than the wig. I can't give them away yet as I still have no hair!!!