Breast cancer
posted by Dubmum
20 January 2015

How many days until hair falls out after 1st chemo

Last reply: 22 January 2015 10:34

I am on day 8 after my first chemo and wondering how long does it take for hair to start falling out. Should I just go and get it shaved off first or wait until I see it comming out and then get it shaved . I'm on AC every two weeks . Any advice would be welcome , Is it better not to see it comming out Image removed.. I know it's going to come out , I suppose it's the psychological thing of putting off the inevitable

3 comments

Comments

commented by LindyLu
20 January 2015

20 January 2015 22:28

Hey Dubmum, sorry you had to join our select club.

I was on a 3 week regime so mine fell out day 16. I got it cut short a few days after chemo started, about 1 inch long all over. When it started to fall out I realised that an inch long was an inch too long.

I don't mean to alarm you but I found hairs everywhere. Showering was the worse. 5 min to have a shower and 10min to clean up the hairs after. I never thought to just get it shaved off but if I ever had to do it again, that is what I would do.

The dread of loosing your hair is actually worse than loosing it. Once mine was gone, it was gone and actually that was OK. I had a wig but I found it to be itchy so I only wore it if out with friends or dinner. Most of the time I worse a scarf. I used a brown wraparound scarf. My hair is brown (with the help of a bottle to cover grey!) so the scarf was much less obvious than a multicoloured one (tho I had some of these too).

So, do a Magella on it, get it shaved off and take control of the process. You will be fine, honest.

Lindylu

commented by Dubmum
21 January 2015

21 January 2015 21:05

Thanks lindylu ,yes I have decided to just get it shaved , thanks for your help. It's a tough time, but I guess another step in the process, at least I can control this one . Glad to hear you are well over all this

commented by Anng1
22 January 2015

22 January 2015 10:34

Hi Dubmum
I was on AC every 2 weeks. I had hair past my shoulder and got it cut up to my ear in a short bob the day after I was diagnosed. I then got it cut short on day 10 and had it shaved on day 15 as it was starting to come out in the shower.
I decided I couldn't put myself through it. And I strangely was relieved when it was done, as I had myself so worked up about it. I knew it was going to come out anyway so when I'd shaved it I didn't have to worry about it anymore. I did have a wig and wore it all the time outside, but never inside I used little soft hats and scarves.
Everybody is so different I've met a group of 10 ladies going through treatment and we've all become very close friends we all were different in our preferences, some deciding to go without anything and they looked fab.
Just to let you know I finished all my treatment on Dec 22nd I now have my wig in the bin.The treatment goes by so quickly and you will be out the other end of it soon.. I'm feeling like myself again to use the old cliche there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sending you best wishes.
Ann x

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