I’m fairly new to this. I was diagnosed 9/16 with ovarian cancer stage 3b. I have had my first chemo treatment and am beginning week 3. Oct 27 is my next round. My hair is starting to fall out now. My scalp is very sensitive and tingly. My question is: does the hair loss accelerate now that it’s started? In your experience, how long before you actually shave the rest off?
Blessings to all
I too was diagnosed with Stage 3B, 3/19. I cut my hair short before starting chemo and shaved it when it started falling out. I was pretty lucky as it didn't start falling out till after my third chemo and then I just shaved it all off. I didn't have scalp sensitivity and just went around with a bald head. The worst was the eyelashes and eyebrows. Good luck.
Thanks for your input. Much appreciated. I’m surprised it’s happening so soon.
Hi. It typically happens two weeks after your first chemo. I cut off my hair at that point. Good luck!
You’re exactly right. Two weeks and it started. Blessings.
The onset of hair loss can vary somewhat. Since I had shoulder length hair to start with, I didn't want to contend with the gradual shedding of long hair all over the house. So I chose to go to my hairdresser for a very short allover cut before I really started losing it. Compared with everything else I was dealing with, I thought losing my hair would be easy. But I found that emotionally it was not. I considered wigs but since most of my chemo took place over the summer months, I found scarves and hats worked best for me and were the least irritating. I did keep my bald scalp well moisturized to help with the itchiness. Hope this is helpful - best of luck to you! Deb in Colorado
The emotional part of losing my hair was a little unexpected. I won't be wearing a wig either. I’ve already purchased a few different styles of coverings. Best wishes to you too. ❤️
Greetings WildflowerTheWarrior. In my experience my hair started coming out after the 3rd week of my first infusion. It came out in patches so I went to a barber and shaved it before my next infusion. This was pre Covid in January 2017. I think its less traumatic to cut it low than to see it fall out so quickly. All the best
Hi
Thanks for your reply. I cut my hair shorter as a transition cut but that was just last week. Kind of a wasted haircut. I think I’ll have it shaved this week.
Blessings to you.
❤️
Hair loss did accelerate for me. It started to fall out in clumps a few weeks after my first c hemo therapy and by the third one , had no hair.
I used a lo of lint roller’s !😆 iI decided not to shave my head. I never had tingling in my scalp. It’s a personal decision for everyone. 💜
PS- on my way to 6 th and
( hopefully) final chemo!!
Good luck on your last chemo session. May it be THE LAST. Thanks for your reply. All the hair falling out makes me gag just seeing it. I know- weird huh? I’m going to go for the shave or whatever they do!
Blessings and good health to you. ❤️
just shave it off, what the heck.... it will all fall out anyways. It will grow back after chemo and you may have a surprise when you see it isnt the way it use to be !! LOL Mine returned curly and dark.My head did hurt during the falling out process.,was very sensitiveGood luck to you.
I like your advice. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. ❤️
I was surprised how much I was bothered by losing my hair. I was not brave enough to go out in public bald, although I commend those women who are. I always had some sort of covering over my head, even at home and even in bed at night. I had a few small clumps of hair that did not fall out and eventually shaved them off. It took awhile after my hair grew back to get normal looking eyebrows again. My new hair is all white, as I decided not to dye my hair anymore. I tell people I’m just happy to have hair!
I can understand why we would feel grateful just to have hair.
Its gonna go quickly but dont shave just get a close cut it will grow in softly that way
But doesn’t it all fall off anyway?
Yes but if you have it cut super short you avoid clogged drains
True. Tomorrow I’ll decide. Super short or full Monty. LOL
As soon as I got chemo dates went for shorter shave ..hairdresser was more in a wussy state than me .. it worked as two weeks after I started chemo went for shower and hair was virtually gone..used bandana more to keep me scalp warm also did have chemo scalp but that was treated with anti biotics.
Hi, I was told not to shave my head. They told me to cut it short. Shaving can cause an infection of the hair follicles. My hair started coming out after my second round of chemo. I put a nightcap on when sleeping so I wouldn’t get cold. Hope you can deal ok with your hair loss. It’s a tough time for sure. Take care
I shaved mine when it started to fall out it was two weeks to the day of starting chemo. At first I was so upset ordered wigs but found out a scarf or beanie or baseball hat was the most comfortable for me. Dare I say it was kinda cool not having to worry about shaving for four months and now I love my new short hair look so does my husband!
That’s a cool story. Happy to hear you love your short hair! And so does your husband!
Right now, I’m at the hairdressers feeling ugly. I’ll have to get used to it I guess
It's going to take awhile,I personally cried alot.i had a couple wigs I wore a hat on top of wig.at nite I wore a cotton hat to cover my head because I did not like being seen with my head like that.i wore big hoop earrings with fringed pretty scarves. Lipstick and a smile, 😊 good luck to you
My mom always said that crying cleanses the soul. I like your advice-lipstick and a smile.
Blessings to you my friend.
Yes but always look at the alternative! We are so lucky to have so many “tools” and people to help us try to beat this cancer! Though it may take its toll being bald is a testament to your strength to live and fight not a sign of pity or to be feared! Chin up go forth and CONQUER!
No pity! I will be strong just like wildflowers in the wind.
PERFECT! Love it!
Hi Wildflower
I was diagnosed with stage 4
Finished 3 rounds of chemo and the big surgery
With my hair I had long hair and cut
It shoulder length before my first chemo
I also got the PAXMAN
I kept most hair through chemo #1
Stating thining a lot after chemo 2
And not a lot but enough to save after chemo 3
I wore turbans slouchy caps etc with the wispy hair sticking out
Between my last chemo and now ) I restart chemo in two weeks my hair on my head has started growing back
Lost my eyelashes after chemo 3 but they have already grown back
My eyebrows thined after chemo 3 and the other day I got them henna’d took get the tails back
All and all I will battle on , use the PAXMAN for the remains chemos (SAve the follicles ) is my motto
My chemo is 30min carbo and 3hrs Taxol
I don’t know if it helped but I used argan oil once in a while running my hands over my scalp
I used castor oil little toothbrush on my brows
Hang in there
Margaret
Thank you! Keep the faith. Stay strong.
Recommend you cut it very short dont shave
Yep that’s what I did. No shaving.
Hi
Mine started after my second chemo with random bald patches and so I chopped it off as short as possible with kitchen scissors - I didn't like the straggly look.
I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes after my third chemo by which time I was completely bald. I had a break from chemo before and after my operation and my hair and eyelashes and eyebrows all came back! Then I restarted chemo and after the first session my hair started falling out again so my sister ran her husband's clippers over my head for me, but my eyelashes and eyebrows have stayed. When it was falling out my scalp was sensitive and felt slightly bruised for a few days.
I had my last chemo on 5 October and my hair is now growing again. I haven't found losing my hair a problem (maybe because I once used to have it very short ) and only cover my head when I go out if it's cold - I do make sure I wear lots of earrings though! I intend to keep it very short when it does grow back...it saves so much time and effort! Oh unless it grows back curly as a colleague's did. She now has ringlets halfway down her back - I have always wanted curly hair!
Good luck!
Lesley
Curly! I’ve heard that! We’ll see what grows back. Good luck to you.
Hair loss was a hard one for me, I new it was going to happen so I had my husband cut my hair off and shave it for me. I didn't want to wait till it started going , Lost my eyebrows and rest of my eyelashes after the last round of chemo. But I had inflammation on my head going through chemo and I found that using emu oil on it helped and I never wore wigs I just kept light beanies to keep my head warm and bought some cool hats and chemo scarfs to wear in public. I really like your wildflower warrior name. God bless and fight.
Hi. I got in the shower one day and just shaved my head when hair started to fall out. Tingling stopped. On a positive note when my hair grew back it came in so soft beautiful and curly. I miss the curls now. I remember feeling so much better after I shaved my head. I took control of that process, I was not going to watch it fall out anymore. Good luck to you.....and on another positive note for you. I had fallopian/ ovarian ca stage 3 A1. Cancer free for 3 years now.....and life totally back to normal....
You will begin to lose more and more hair with each passing day. It gets messy. You will get to a place when you realize you may as well go and just get it buzzed and go from there.
It is frightening at first - but just keep telling yourself it’s not forever.
Shower and get ready time are amazingly short. Get yourself some colorful head wraps and caps. Check out the gift shops at large hospitals. They usually have a vast amount of really cool head covers of all types. Get some soft ones to sleep in. It’s amazing how cold your head can get a night.
I will repeat something that helped me-
I amazingly never lost my eyebrows through 6 rounds of chemo. I believe it was because I put Aquaphor ointment on my eyebrows several times a day and before bedtime.
If I got up in the night, I put more on. (I basically kept them saturated w the ointment)
I don’t know if it will work for others. I just had a feeling if I could keep my eyebrows moisturized maybe they would stand a chance of sticking around.
I read another post somewhere that someone did the same thing with Vaseline.
Not sure if that works but it is along the same line.
Blessings!
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