How did you deal with Hair Loss?

[Cathy]

Katie,

My hair was also coming out in chuncks all over the house. I found that disgusting.  So I asked a friend of mine to go out to lunch with me and then we went to a walk in beauty parlor and I had the girl just shave my hair off.  I did not have any real issues with losing my hair as I knew I would and felt like I needed my energy to fight the chemo instead of mourning the loss of my hair.  I know most people had huge issues with losing their hair.  I just did not.  But, it might help you if you have a friend go with you to have it shaved off and make an outing of it.  What bothered me most was not having any eyebrows and I wasn't very good at drawing them on!  Anyway, it will come back and it's interesting to see how it does come back - curly, darker, lighter, etc.  Just think of it as a temporary condition.

Always,
Cathy

[Randy W]

shaved it off

[Rene]

When I started losing my hair, I  decided I wanted to be in control. These are some pictures of me getting it shaved... Rene


Getting shaved by my sister in law.


Posing with a mohawk.


My husband shaved his head too.

[Cathy]

Rene,

Loved the pictures! How sweet of your husband to join you in baldness!  I too took the bull by the horns  and just had my head shaved.  My hair was falling out in chunks all over the house and I found that to be disgusting.  Actually, it was a blessing to shave it as I was too sick during my treatment to fool around with my hair.  I know some people have a real hard time losing their hair, but I wasn't one of them.  So glad you are doing so well.  I think of you everyday.

Always,
Cathy

[Cari]

Hey Katie,
The weid experience with me was kind of backwards--when I found out I had cancer the main thing that I cried over was the fact of losing my hair...I cried and cried and cried...but then when I actually started chemo felt HORRIBLE and the hair actually started coming out I wasn't blown away by it....I didn't shave it only because it seemed to just be gone one morning--I think I thought like you and told myself if I don't touch and am very careful it may stay longer than its suppose to--but it didn't--it wasn't very gradual either--one day a little came out the next day I brushed it and it all fell out--so boy I guess in a way that was a good thing I didn't have to agonize over it....to tell you the truth though once it did come out I was so relieved.  It is soooooo much easier dealing with sickness and everything else that we deal with during chemo with no hair---it is definately one last thing that you have to worry about!!  And its really nice not to have to shave your legs  WOOHOOOO I asked my doc if I could keep that side effect of course he told me NO--Geez the one thing I wanted to keep they wouldn't let me!   GOOD LUCK to you!!!!  Start buying some cute hats!!
HUGS

[Deb]

i bought cute hats, and scarves and added my old fun pins.. I am a pin nut... I have them for every holiday and just fun animals...

I revert to a kid as I get older....    I loved not shaving my legs.. Cari I too hate that the hair grew there afterwards...  Although it's not toooo bad since I only have 1.5 legs to shave 

I lost eyebrows and eyelashes.. Trouble is I hoped they would grow back dark, long and thick... Not... the doc lied about that part... 

They grew in blonde and you might as well not have any.. Can't see them...  I hated the part that my hair fell out everywhere.. I was constantly picking up mounds of hair from my clothes, pillow... urgh.. I didn't think about shaving it off... I probably would have....

[Mary]

Have you shared your hair loss stories and pictures?? A lot of our visitors want to know how to handle this! This message thread has been viewed 2500 times.

So if you haven't shared yet - how did you deal with hair loss? For those who look back on the experience, any words of wisdom?

[Tara]

The day after my first chemo I cut my hair into a cute, short cut that I'd wanted to try for a long time, but didn't quite have the guts to go for. 
2 weeks later, so in love with my new short hair, it started falling out.  It was a very quick process.  My hair actually hurt...... Within a few days it started falling out in huge hunks. I used one of the tape, lint rollers on everything in our house to pick up hair.  It was always in the bed, on the furniture, everywhere!!! Best 94 cents I ever spent.  So, on Christmas Eve we shaved it. 

I've worn scarfs and hats for almost a year now.  Never did the wig thing.  I'm very comfortable with it now - I don't normally notice that I'm not wearing anything. Can't figure out why people are staring at me? We had a supervisor candidate campaigning back during the summer.  He couldn't talk for staring at the top of my head.  I asked if I needed to put a hat on so he could complete his "spiel".  He was so flustered, poor thing...  It took a while before I was comfortable though.  Weird thing - my head always felt wet for a couple of weeks after it was shaved.  Was so weird feeling.  Did anyone else have that? 

Now that treatment is over, it is growing back.  I am SO GLAD to see it return.  I love having eyelashes again (you take for granted that they are actually there for a purpose before you lose them).  I love my eyebrows because I can make expressions with them when I talk.  Have ya'll ever noticed trying to "waggle" your eyebrows when you don't have them....... It kinda takes the ooomph right out of whatever statement you are trying to make.

 Best of all, the hair on top of my head is growing in.  I learned why they tell you not to shave long haired dogs during the summer - that their hair is actually a cooling device.  That's true in humans too I think. It's only stubble.. but it is growing and getting thicker every day.

I haven't shaved anything in almost a year.  That is one thing I do not miss............ but I'm not going to complain about it when it returns either!!   

[Mary]

Oh I just have to share this picture of Rachel's artistic bald head with everyone! Haha

[Mary]

If you haven't answered this question - come and share and help our visitors!

[Cindi]

I was never really upset or scared to lose my hair...I was more concerned on how my 18 month old son would react.  They told me I would most likely lose my hair 2 weeks after my second cycle and they were correct.  I have always had long hair.  After the first cycle I cut it short...and I loved it.   I can't understand why I kept it long all those years.  Then 2 weeks out from my second cycle it started coming out in chunks and it was everywhere.  So I decided it was time to shave it.  I put 2 chairs in the backyard.  I sat in one and my son sat in the other.  My husband shaved my head.  After a little bit my son went about his business.  When we were finished I asked him where mommy's hair was.  He innocently looked at me, put his arms in the air and said "all gone"...and he has never looked for it since.  I got a wig but have only worn it a few times.  I would much rather wear my bandannas or beanies.  I am proud to sport my "badge of courage".  I still have my eyebrows...I have finished 6 cycles and still have 11 more to go so who knows...but right now they are still holding strong :-).

Staying strong-
Cindi

[Tara]

Cindi- I think we were on the same page.  My son was a little over 2 and I was terrified he would see me bald and think, "where is my mama??"  I cut it really short the day after my first chemo so he could get used to it.  Then he watched me get my head shaved.  He would watch a little and then play... come back and stare... go play.  He took to it easily, never questioned who I was - that was my worry, not his I guess.  The funny one - my head was shaved on Christmas eve, we went to my parents immediately after and my nephew who was 2 also had the funniest look on his face.  You could tell he was trying to figure out what in the heck had happened to my hair and why no one else seemed to be upset about it.  He would stare.... then look at Conner like "dude, what happened to your Mom's hair?"  Look at his older sister kind of questioningly like "KK what happened to Aunt Tootie's hair?"  He stared at me all night long.  It was funny to watch him blatantly lean around someone and stare.  The next time he saw me - it was normal to him.  My son associates my hair growing back with me being well though.

[Cindi]

That is so true....kids can be so innocent.  My nephew was the same way...never really could make eye contact with me.  He is getting use to it now.  I can't wait for my son to associate my hair growth with me being well...congratulations.

Staying strong-
Cindi

[Teddy]

I was just diagnosed and haven't started chemo yet, but I was lamenting the anticipated hair loss to a friend who, incidentally, has beat cancer 3 times. I was especially wondering how my 5-yr-old grandson would react. She gave me a great idea. Said she bought some Crayola washable markers and let her grandson "decorate" her head. He thought it was pretty cool!