New here just started R-chop

Hi. I've just started R-chop and bought my wig. I'd love some advice about how people dealt with the initial hair loss. Instinctively I think I'd just like to get on and wear the wig so everyone in my family can get used to it. It very like my own current colour and style. Would you go straight for a shave / pixie cut now, or wait for the shedding (the thought of which makes me feel quite queasy). 

  • Hi, my hair started falling out just after week 3 of first treatment. I really couldn’t shave it off, but I started wearing my wig quite quickly to get used to it. At night, I took my wig off and put a sleep hat on. I found it the worst bit of the treatment. It was traumatic after I washed it and just very lightly blow dried it. After a while the loss got less, but I still ended up with a little hair but what I had turned pure white. My wig kept me human and it gets more comfy the more you wear it. I finished my treatment in November and I think my hair just coming back in. It’s like baby fuzz but I’m so pleased it’s coming back. I coped well on the chemo, and even got compliments on my wig. I loved it so much I bought another one a lot shorter than the first one to get used to having short hair. It’s great getting up and my hair is done in minutes. Good luck with your treatment, I found mine went in really quickly, I hope you find that as well. 

  • Thanks for this advice. I think I'll wait another week then ask my husband to just cut my hair really short and I'll wear the wig straight after he's done that. It's about the only thing I feel I can control at the moment as I was admitted to hospital with 2 hours notice after an outpatient clinic. 8 days on industrial quantities of steroids then straight into the R-chop. Yet I feel really calm and relieved that something is finally being done. Nice to hear from someone who has recently been treated and managed well. 

  • Hi, I went through six sessions of R chop and two five day stays in hospital to undergo Methotrexate treatment. My hair started falling out in clumps after the first R chop. Asked my daughter in law to shave it all off. ( Hairdresser).

    I appreciate it must be more daunting for a lady to lose her hair but I met several ladies during my course of treatment and they all said it was better to take control of the situation.

    Hoping you have a very successful course of treatment. My treatment finished in September and my hair is now returning, albeit slower than I would like.

    You will get through it ,best thoughts to you and your family. If I could give you any advice it would be to not bottle things up in yourself. Talk to family and friends and try to carry on with your daily routine. My saving grace was gardening, it takes your mind off everything.