Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[Pea-n-Me]

My husband has to do it for me. He's thrilled about it lol.

My husband did it once, when DD had to work. God love him, he did ok, but he was a little rough.

 

[dez1978]

My husband did it once, when DD had to work. God love him, he did ok, but he was a little rough.

I sent my husband approx 37 youtube and tiktok how tos and we survived the first week. Now that we have the hang of it, we're going to make some adjustments this week and see if we can get a better fit around my hairline. I am 100% sure that at least once during this 12 week span we will have an argument over it in the middle of the infusison room lmao

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I sent my husband approx 37 youtube and tiktok how tos and we survived the first week. Now that we have the hang of it, we're going to make some adjustments this week and see if we can get a better fit around my hairline. I am 100% sure that at least once during this 12 week span we will have an argument over it in the middle of the infusison room lmao

I didn’t have the nice Penguin set up, I missed being able to get it by a day, so I had the cheap one! Lol. But we worked with it. We had to put the ice packs up inside the cap, then put it on my head. We realized weeks into it that there were seams that didn’t have ice, and that’s where I was losing my hair. So we got some more ice packs and had to put them in in addition to the ones inside the cap. Then because it didn’t feel tight enough on my head, we put a bandana around the whole thing and tied it tight. (Once I used a cotton cap I’d worn that day as we forgot the bandana. Way to improvise!)

Anyway, DD managed this for me pretty well. She was shown the first day by the lady’s mom who was in the infusion room next to mine, though they had the nice Penguin. On the one day DD couldn’t come with me, she showed DH what to do at home the night before. As I said, he did a good job, but yanking the thing down over my head and jamming the ice packs up there afterward with his big hands was a little rough, haha. It’s worth it to save the hair, but it is a lot of work, and relaxing during chemo wasn’t possible as the caps had to be changed out hourly or more (I had two). But also with all the fluid they gave me I had to go to the bathroom a lot which meant taking off the cold boots and mittens and dragging the pole in, etc., too. First time I had chemo we didn’t have any of that, and I think it was more relaxing then.

 

[dez1978]

I didn’t have the nice Penguin set up, I missed being able to get it by a day, so I had the cheap one! Lol. But we worked with it. We had to put the ice packs up inside the cap, then put it on my head. We realized weeks into it that there were seams that didn’t have ice, and that’s where I was losing my hair. So we got some more ice packs and had to put them in in addition to the ones inside the cap. Then because it didn’t feel tight enough on my head, we put a bandana around the whole thing and tied it tight. (Once I used a cotton cap I’d worn that day as we forgot the bandana. Way to improvise!)

Anyway, DD managed this for me pretty well. She was shown the first day by the lady’s mom who was in the infusion room next to mine, though they had the nice Penguin. On the one day DD couldn’t come with me, she showed DH what to do at home the night before. As I said, he did a good job, but yanking the thing down over my head and jamming the ice packs up there afterward with his big hands was a little rough, haha. It’s worth it to save the hair, but it is a lot of work, and relaxing during chemo wasn’t possible as the caps had to be changed out hourly or more (I had two). But also with all the fluid they gave me I had to go to the bathroom a lot which meant taking off the cold boots and mittens and dragging the pole in, etc., too. First time I had chemo we didn’t have any of that, and I think it was more relaxing then.

Mine are changed every 25 mins from 50 mins before the taxol, thru 4 hours after. I am fortunate that the taxol is just 1 hr. So I have pre meds, then herceptin which is 1 hr, then the taxol. So basically we get the dry ice around 10 am and put the 1st cap in, 20 mins later the 2nd one goes in and 20 mins later the 3rd goes in. Get to the center for labs at 1015, see dr, start meds around 1115. 10 mins into herceptin I put the 1st one on and then just every 25 mins after. So as much as I'd like to sleep when that benadryl hits, I can't. I also have to figure out a way to wear my glasses more comfortably bc I am blind as a bat lol. it's about 6 hours overall. It could be worse. I know some chemo regimens are several hours long. If I can save 75% of my hair it will be worth it! Tho nothing could have prepared me for -30C on my head!

What shampoo/conditioner did you use? My hair is already so dry!! I wasn't prepared for that already. I have curly hair so I already use pretty moisturizing stuff but dang