Hair loss and chemo

Hey your daughter will always think you are beautiful ! ;0)

On a serious note thought I understand totally how you are feeling. When I discussed chemo with my 2 daughters, 10 and 12 at the time they both reacted totally differently.

Youngest said she was shaving her head same as me and the elder distraught - obviously mums are embarrassing enough without the added wig! ;0) Its an age thing - awkward teenage stage methinks - i suppose just being open with her, asking her for suggestions will help.

In the end I decided for my own reasons against the chemo route so it never came to it.

But as you said yourself - its only a couple months and will be over before you know it ;0)

Take care

lesley xxx

just had my first chemo session today and tried the cold cap to see how successful it will be.
Not sure i will carry on with it all the way through though. My 16 & 18yr girls are quite laid back about the hair loss happening they just keep saying you hate styling your hair anyway mum. The boys 7 & 9 have not taken it in fully but know it could happen so i have brought a few hats for them 2 c me in now . As every day will bring a change i just tackle it with them as it comes i don't want to keep over loading them with things that are going to happen. so far so good.
take care

I am very sorry that you are having to go through what can be such an emotional wrench. I think you are doing fabulously well, and it must be hard when the children are at an age when they feel sensitive about this. Some people seem to have faces and heads that actually look really beautiful without hair - I must say that mine is not one of them!!! - but it is such a personal loss, and hard to look on the bright side of. I hope that everything goes better than you are expecting, and also that you can find a solution to the wedding outfit. Lots of love xxxx Penny

Hi. Sorry to hear of your fears. My wife is in the same leaky boat and rapidly losing what she was very proud of , her hair. She too has a wig and scarves, and has taken to wearing a scarf at home even in front of me. It is a difficult thing for a woman in particular, but I see the wig or scarf as a badge of honour, a battle scar against cancer. Knowing some good is being achieved, and that it is a temporary superficial effect helps a little. Go to the wedding with pride. Don't be ashamed or afraid or your daughter will pick it up. Hold your head high my friend.

'When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark'

Peace David

Hi
I sit here quite moved by the fact that people take the time to reply when I am sure they all have their own ordeals to deal with.
Today is D-day and I still feel a little apprehensive. However my hair loss has gone into overdrive and I can't stand the 'tufty' look and so I think I will be relieved by the end of today. Had a reasonably positive experience last night. Invited to supper with a group of ladies; 4 of whom are close friends and 5 who I didn't really know at all. As my hair was so thin I decided to wear a scarf. The comments were amazing - my closest friend was close to tears but was so positive in her comments that I felt so much better. It was also a hit with the children. My son thought I looked quite cool. Praise indeed from a 14 year old boy. My daughter was pleased that I had 'done it right' without her help!
Will now spend some time trying to find the right scarf to compliment the wedding outfit!
Again, thank you so much for your replies. I don't think I realised when I posted a comment yesterday just how much the replies would mean. I have greater strength to deal with the chemo tomorrow. THANKYOU.
Paney.

Hi there.
Losing my hair was definitely the hardest part for me - my hair was my best feature! I left mine for ages before I shaved it, I wish I did it earlier though because once I did it I felt SO relieved. It was a strange feeling. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror because you never think you'll ever see yourself bald but you get used to it. And now I get shocked when I look in the mirror and I have hair!
Anyway, wishing you all the best with your treatment.
Hayley x

We all had to suffer this and i am sorry for you but scarves can be fun and colourful and different coloured wigs too. Dont worry it wont be for long the hair will soon grow and it will be nice and thick and new and no split ends. I cant wait for mine to grow then i can bleach and dye it all over again lol.

Take heart, it is as David said, a battle scar and to be worn with pride. Keep right on to the end of the road and all that, in true british spirit lol.

Lots of love xxxxxxxxx

I felt remotely disappointed that I wasn't likely to lose my hair. Odd that, because I always thought of it as my crowning glory. It was going grey at the roots, and was really a horrible pepper and salt colour. I thought a short new growth might be quite fetching.

On the other hand, because of this hernia, I have a lump on the side of my tummy at elbow level. I have just started to make a Lapis Lazuli dress to match my new gold coloured handbag. I am going to a Golden wedding celebration and not wanting to compete with the Golden Bride, am wearing dark blue. As mothers of Bride and Groom, we are totally different colour and style types, and have never been known to duplicate in nearly 20 years. I just hope that the hernia isn't too obvious. I might make a wrap to disguise the bump, because I bought much too much fabric.

I tell myself that nobody will be very interested in my shape at my advanced years, except those who also have had or have Cancer. In any case, it is Pat and Alan's day, and I will just be glad to help them celebrate. We have always been on good terms with them - slightly better than our children have in fact, and that's a blessing. I just don't want to be conspicuous.

Can I just add that there are some amazingly good wigs out there. I have two by Rene of Paris, and you cannot tell that they are wigs. The trick is to match it closely with your own style for shape and colour, then get your hairdresser to tweak the fringe a bit. Makes a bespoke wig almost.

I wear allsorts at home - au naturel, bandanas, beanies and of course the wigs. Depends on weather; if it's cold/rainy , then on with the wigs. So nice and warm if you wear the little cap underneath.

Go to the wedding with confidence and have great time - it will do you good to be at such a happy occasion.

Hi there
I have had my hair shaved and it is definitely better than my hair falling out in clumps. I have opted for the scarves and am enjoying (as much as you can!) experimenting with them. I have managed to buy some as contrast colours to match different outfits. i chose a chiffon scarf with a contrast to match my outfit for the wedding and received lots of positive comments. Not the same as having nicely styled hair but it didn't impair my enjoyment of the occasion too much.
Second chemo was worse than the first - an extra day needed to recover. FOund this a bit distressing as I really thought I would cope better. Is the effect of the chemo cumulative? Will it be worse next time?
Regards to all,
Jane