How Long After Treatment Began Did You Lose Your Hair?
1 1/2 weeks after 1st chemo. My head hurt bad,hurt to sleep on pillow.
Did You Lose It Gradually or Very Quickly?
Very quickly,came out in clumps,especially where my head hurt the most.
What Was Your First Reaction When You Noticed the Loss?
Shock, Very angry at the doctor when she told me in the next 2 days you will start to loose all your hair.vounderable,ashamed,wanted to hide so none could see me.I tried not to touch my hair,hair falling all over the place,paperwork,was all over home,cooking I would find it in the food,cried alot.
Were You Tempted to Shave Your Head? Did You Do It?
Was getting out of shower,brushing my hair,crying,clumps filling up the brush as fast as I brushed,I took the hair and placed it on counter,my daughter walked in after she heard the crying.With a pile of hair on counter,I said get the family together,tonights the day,I had a hair cutting party.
Did You Choose to Wear a Head Covering or Not?
I had a recurrent night mare, I was in a patient room and bent down to get something,and came up and my wig got caught on a I.V pole,my friend held her shirt over me until I could get my wig on. I decided then and there after several of these dreams, I was going to wear head gear,hats,and pull this off elegently.Found a website for sparkeling head gear,had to have head gear to match my uniforms also, they were very comfortable.I always got the wigs on back wards, they didn't look natural enough for me.I was cold all the time so this was perfect,I slipped another hat under my head gear,got lots of compliments.
How Did Losing Your Hair Affect Your Everyday Life?
It took about 2 weeks of shock,self pity, vounderable feeling until I decided this was not my fault, I decided to embrace it whole heartedly.I decided to do this elegently,and stand tall,this is not my fault,it took my body but I will not let it take my soul.My looks ment every thing to me.I hid behind my makeup and hair always. I lost all my eyelashes the day after my 28th radiation treatment,the same pain prior to the loss of my hair both emotionally and physically.My nose hairs also had all fallen out,continually tickeling,itching,some pain to the touch of nose.I was looking in the mirror 2 weeks after hair loss,looking at my baldness,crying,sobbing with "Why me God",when I heard those words come out of my mouth,I thought (why not me,I am the teacher) and a calm came over me as for the 1st time I caught a glance of my eyes in the mirror,and stared at my eyes for about 1/2 hour. I saw beauty for the first time and it was comming from my soul.I thought I will do this with grace and ease,and be a teacher for those like me.It is not our fault,you are beautiful as you are,show the world the inner beauty that has always been there.I took professional photos,bald with my husband,how freeing.From now on I will be traveling the road of who I think I am and who I can really be.
Advice
- At first you will get lots of whispers,people sneeking peeks,trying for you not to notice,let this empower you,(they are looking at your beauty).Share your story with as many people as will listen,for some way their lives may have been or will be affected by cancer of a loved one,or someone they know.Let them know,it is ok to talk to you,and I may cry, but I want you to ask questions.Make jokes,don't be afraid to cry, for it is very healing as is talking to anyone who will listen,eventually it will just be a story.Cut your hair shorter at the first sign of hair loss,easier to tolerate,less noticeable on floors.
