For those that have had chemo

[Pennies]

If you have had the bad luck to have to go through chemotherapy and you had the added insult of hairloss, can you tell me if you treated your own hair the same until it all fell out or did you mollycoddle it somewhat.

I've got shoulder length brown hair and only started chemo on Friday so i've not had any loss yet but its beginning to need a wash. Normally I blow dry it and straighten it but that doesn't do it many favours, so should I just wash it but not do all the styling stuff?

I seem to recall my mum was advised to use a mild shampoo and she was very gentle drying it (low heat).

She didn't lose her hair but it did go very thin and this seemed to help...

Pennies, I'd go with a baby shampoo, I still use the Simple one. I think how you lose it can vary - I lost mine just after second chemo and it all came away at once. But I think it can be more gradual. - Just warning you because it can be a bit when it happens.
On the up side it's an excuse to buy some snazzy scarves!

My SIL had a close crop haircut. When it started to go, she had it clipped all over and did the snazzy scarf thing. She looked fabulous

You could try keeping it shoulder length but having some layers put in, to take some of the weight off the roots. Are you doing the cold cap ?

Which chemo are you on ? I had FEC and then Taxol and in spite of the cold cap on the first FEC I'm afraid my hair (similar sounding style to yours) began to do a rather speedy vanishing act before the 2nd Fec. I think it began to go after 14-16 days.

But yes, use tepid water and a milder shampoo. Pat dry and use the hairdrier if you must on a low setting. You might be lucky.

Actually I felt worse during the process of losing mine than I did once it had gone. Depending on your regime, I'd start looking at wigs sooner rather than later, just so you feel prepared.

My Mum declined the cold cap and it started falling out a lot within the first week or so after chemo, she got it cut which took a lot of the weight off but it was still coming out in drifts so she decided to shave it all off. She preferred hats to wigs and had some great ones. She was having quite aggressive treatment though and as well as regular hospital chemo sessions she had a hickman line.
I'd just treat your hair quite gently, no need to avoid washing it though. Depending on your treatment you may not lose it all. Best of luck.

Pennies - hi, and waving,

I've been advised that it can be quite painful when it starts to come out, so am going with the short cut (which I've got done now) and will have my hair shaved off when it starts to fall out readily. Both a friend and a nurse seem to recommend this. Meanwhile I'm using baby shampoo and not drying except with a towel, but my hair is OK with that as its got its own body - in a short sprt of way!

The friend told me that when she shaved it her head was much more comfortable.

This is the next daunting bit isn't it. Can't really imagine how it will feel.

firstly have your hair cut into a shorter style- it is less of a if it does go, also might mean you don't lose your hair as there is less weight and less heat on the scalp (which is a major factor) once mine started to come out we shaved it and then went under the power shower which effectivly just 'blew' the rest off, was a relief by that point to get the itchy bit over and done with. It was itchy but didn't hurt iyswim, although my scalp is always a bit tender during chemo.