Breast cancer, chemo and hair loss

[goodstarr]

Do people who are undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer ALWAYS lose their hair? Please, no flames, I know that saving a life is the most important thing, I was just wondering if this is always the case. I was under the impressions that MOST people lose their hair, but not all. Sis's MD says that she will definitely lose her hair after the first treatment. Her income is based on her looks (acting,modeling) and she's concerned about her income rapidly declining due to baldness (and thus losing her insurance and thus not being able to afford more treatments). Thanks

 

[Pop Daddy]

It depends on the cemo they use, I would bet the doctor knows what he is talking about.

 

[CRB#33]

I think it has to do with particular chemotherapies. Maybe on how aggresive they are treating it?

My mom very gradually lost her hair, but her cancer was already terminal and they were just trying to lengthen her life.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Your sister could get a wig, they look more real now compared to when my aunt used to wear them.

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
It depends on the cemo they use, I would bet the doctor knows what he is talking about.

He's right.

 

[Blondie]

I work with two nurses who successfully beat breast cancer and during their treatments they both lost all of their hair.

 

[suzannen]

I can't say "always", but I've had 6 friends/family members with breast cancer and they all lost their hair fairly quickly after their first few chemo sessions. But, Pooh67_68 is right, there are a lot more wig options these days. If it's important to her career and she is willing to spend the money they can be very stylish, can be matched to your natural hair color and look very realistic.

Good luck to her.

 

[binny]

wigs are very nice now. If its any consolation Im sure that a nice wig can be found temporarily until her hair comes back if she does lose it.

 

[Lisa F]

Maybe this is a stupid idea, but if she already has long and beautiful hair, would it be an option to sort of proactively shave hear head and have a wig made out of her own hair? I know they make wigs for cancer kids out of donated hair through organizations like "locks of love" so it does seem like they can make wigs out of real hair.

 

[mickeymost]

My response would be yes. The chemo they now use especially on someone young is very strong. I lost my hair about 3 weeks after my first treatment. If she feels she needs the hair for her job I would say to get the wig. It is now one year after my last treatment and my hair is just to the top of my neck. It takes quite a while to grow back. I personally never got the wig and went bald, afterall they say bald is beautiful, although I did not work. If I had been working I probably would have gotten the wig, mostly so you don't have to explain to everyone why you have no hair.

God Bless and tell her she can get through it.

 

[goodstarr]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Lisa F, that's a great idea since she really can't afford to get new headshots right now, and the old ones show her with her long curly hair! I'll mention this to her. She is not at all vain about being bald, her only concern is that it will hinder her job prospects, so getting a wig with her own hair to match her headshots could really work. Thanks Dis-Sers, you guys are the best! (And thanks for the encouragement and bleessings mickeymost)

 

[Growin'upDisney]

Most everyone is right who posted. It does depend on the chemo. I have a friend and an aunt going through it right now. The friend has early stage breast cancer and they are treating with fairly low dose chemo. Her hair is thinning but she is not at all going bald.

My aunt was fairly advanced and they are treating it aggressively. After the 3nd treatment her hair literally was fine one day and then fell out in large clumps the next. She was prepared for this as the doctor pretty much assured her it would happen. She shaved her head and bought lots of hats (wigs aren't for her). She still had stubble where the hair didn't fall out. She is switching chemo treatments this week and the side effect of this one is more hair loss, so we expect the stubble to fall out too.

The locks of love idea is a good one. Cut it short now and use it to make a wig out of her own hair.

 

[grammagail]

I am a 2 1/2 year survivor.

I went through 9 chemo treatments and 30 radiation treatments. Although my hair thinned - I did not lose my hair!!!!!.

My doctor also warned me that most likely I would lose my hair - but that it was an individual thing - some do and some don't. My chemo was not as aggressive as some - as I was lucky that via a lumpectomy they removed mine with 99.9% certainty. My chemo sessions were more "maintenance".

I believe, based on the aggressiveness of the treatments - determines the amount of hair loss.

Good luck to her - tell her to keep her chin up and think POSITIVE thoughts.

 

[Trish5768]

I did not have breast cancer but I have had chemo for cervical cancer and I did not lose my hair. They said I wouldn't but that I would thin and I did. I was given Cisplatin along with radiation treatments. Is been almost 2 years and you can't even tell I thinned out.

 

[laurabelle]

I can't imagine anyone flaming you because you care about your sister wanting to look normal, especially when her appearance is tied to her income earning potential. I does depend on the drug. The chemo I got - Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol - made me lose every hair on my body. Everyone I know who has had this cocktail lost their hair, though alot of them kept their eyebrows and lashes. There are lots of really good wigs out now, I even got a compliment from a stranger on how good my "hair" looked! There's also a great program called "Look Good Feel Better" that teaches you how to put on makeup. She should be able to get more information from her cancer center. BTW- I'm a 5yr survivor and have tons of hair now!
Blessings,
Laura

 

[Amy]

It all depends on the type of chemo they use whether or not you'll lose your hair. I lost my hair about 10 days after my first chemo treatment (which was almost 2 years ago). If your sister decides against using her own hair to make a wig, she might want to think about getting her hair cut short BEFORE chemo starts. That's what I did, and I'm glad. It was awful to be in the shower and handfuls of hair would fall out; I can imagine it would be even worse with long, curly hair.

Wigs these days look so natural - people who didn't know I had cancer always comments on how great my "hair" looked. If I told someone it was a wig, they didn't believe me!!

Also, have your sister check with the American Cancer Society. When I went thru treatments 2 years ago, they gave me $75 toward the price of a wig. And the Amer. Cancer Society also has the Look Good/Feel Better program - you get all kinds of free cosmetics and they show you how to draw on eyebrows and different ways to tie a scarf. It's really worth it.

Good luck to your sister!! Feel free to pm me if I can help with anything. I'm just about a 2-year survivor.

 

[Minnesota!]

I am so sorry for what your sister and your family have to go through.

My MIL had advanced, terminal breast cancer. She battled it for many years. But, she never lost her hair. I think it must have thinned a bit b/c she wore a wig to my wedding, but it never was gone.

((()))) to you all!

 

[FOJMO]

Goodstarr,

I am a breast cancer patient currently and have had 4 treatments of chemo (Adriamycin & Cytoxin). The tumor did not shrink, but grew a bit larger. I had a radical mastectomy one month ago.

I have been told that I now need 4 more chemo treatments with Taxotere.

My doctor told me back in October 2003 that I would be bald within 1 week to 10 days after my first treatment. He wasn't lying. I was almost bald after about 9 days and had my hairdresser shave the rest off cause it was a mess falling out at home.

I had gotten my wig before this happened and chose a beautiful short, red wig with bangs and feathering at the temples. I have had MANY people tell me after the fact that they had NO IDEA that it was a wig, including nurses while I had MRI's, etc.

As for your sister's career, I am an actress/singer in community theatre and my looks are very important to my stage "career" (even though it's not my livelihood).

I've pretty much decided that even when my hair grows back after the chemo is complete, that I am going to keep wearing my red wig because I've received so many wonderful comments on it and it's so much less hassle and time-saving, that I don't think I could do without it now.

Good luck to your sister and tell her to keep the faith.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great input here, goodstarr, from many 'first handers'. My wife Marie, a 6 year survivor, did go bald exactly according to the days the doc said it would occur. He said she would start on the 13th day, be done by the 17th after first treatment. After about 10 days, Marie was thinking maybe it would not, but on the 13th it started, and by 17th, all complete. She had, like Laura above, Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol. Ironically, as an aside, our family dog is now also getting Adriamycin and Cytoxan for his cancer, along with another drug. Marie did get a beautiful wig prior to her treatments and it looked virtually like her own. I and others had a tough time telling the difference. She looked/s beautiful.

Have your sister hang in there, she will do great. Have her stop by here, we'll give her some comfort, as we have so many.

And to all those on this thread (and those who have not posted) who have had cancer or are in treatment now, continued good wishes to you all, prayers come your ways.

Dan

 

[goodstarr]

You guys are truly incredible. Thanks again for the advice and well wishers. I thought that I may get flamed for stating that my sis was concerned about losing her hair (vs. losing her life) But she is strong in faith and blessed with supportive people surrounding her (including you guys) so we are confident that God will make a way, somehow. ( She and I are usually up for the same parts at auditions so I told her that now she'll be called in for all the auditions for bald women and I won't. Now she has an advantage