Fuck. Chemo patient and her hair

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

I think I screwed up massively today. I bumped into someone I haven't seen in a couple of years, but I had heard she was going though cancer treatment. I was in a world of my own when she stopped me so it took me a second to realise who she was. Without thinking I said, 'sorry, I didn't recognise you, your hair is much longer than when I last saw you!' It dawned on me about 3 mins later while we were still talking and she said that her chemo had been really tough, that she might have been wearing a wig. Now I feel like I probably mentioned the one thing she really didn't want anyone to notice. I don't have a number to text to apologise, but it would probably just compound the crapness if I did anyway. Fuck it anyway.

I don't think it's rude at all - after all, she will have been totally aware that the wig is much longer hair than she had previously when she chose it!

I complimented a work acquaintance on her new short hairstyle, and asked her if it had been difficult to choose to go so much shorter than her previous style. She laughed and said she hadn't had a choice due to the chemo. I looked shocked and she said it was really nice to know that not everyone knew - she'd felt that everybody at work was talking about her illness.

Probably was her own hair; not all chemo causes hair loss, mine didn't; vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue yes, but my hair was fine!

Do not beat yourself up about this. I am sure she would have either been a.) pleased that the wig looks so good or b.) quite amused! Speaking as someone who has lost both her parents to cancer on a scale of awful, insensitive, dumbass things that are said to people living with cancer or their relatives that is nothing. It was kind, well-meant and quite possibly made her day.

I worked in a shop and told a customer I'd keep an eye out for a particular product he wanted. The customer only had ONE EYE. He had a very good sense of humour and enjoyed my embarrassment (too much, the bastard )

@mrscrabbytree I once worked in a fish and chips shop and there was a regular who had his arm amputated below the elbow. He used to hold his wallet on the counter with his one hand and slide the cash out with his stump. First time he did this I asked him if he wanted a hand.

@Bobbiepin.

Oh OP I understand your embarrassment!

My best friend wears a wig. When I met her she had very little hair. We dipped out of contact for a while and when I next saw her she had a full head of hair. I just assumed it had grown back. It was two years later when I was staying at hers and she walked out of the bathroom post-shower without her wig that I realised it hadn’t grown back. The worst part was I once went to use one of those metal head massager things on her in a shop. I couldn’t understand her extreme reaction and now I cringe whenever I think about it.

I’m sure she won’t think anything bad of you at all.

Bumped into a lady I use to live next too - raved about her new pixie cut and that she looked fabulous! 2 minutes later in the conversation she mentioned her chemotherapy and I remembered she'd been diagnosed just before we moved house. I cling to the hope that she was flattered by how gorgeous I said she looked as opposed to my insensitively in forgetting she'd had cancer.