Hi Hlou32,

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and forthcoming chemo. 

I’m a bit older than you but likewise I had very long hair and was unable to use the cold cap as it was not effective for my cancer treatment.  I have heard good things about it though. 

I knew ahead that I would most likely lose my hair due to the type of chemo I had. I wanted to carry on working too if I could so wanted a wig that looked natural. There are some excellent wigs for all different budgets and I would definitely recommend going and trying some on when you feel the time is right as I’ve heard some bought on line were a bit hit and miss. Whilst I wanted mine to look like my own hair I met some people that went the other way choosing a different colour and style. 

I had a bespoke human hair wig made that was fixed by hair tape and it stayed on 24/7 so I was able to shower and wash my hair as normal without taking it off. You sleep in it too.  I even went to my hairstylist to have it blow dried and I had it restyled half way though. It does require professional maintenance but if you look after it mine lasted me well until my hair started to grow back. 

I certainly don’t think you are being superficial at all about losing your hair as I felt the same about mine and I’m sure so many others do. I felt it was part of my identity. 

Maybe take someone with you to try out some wigs locally - if you talk to your cancer support nurse then they maybe have some recommended wig centres locally. Remember as well you can get a wig recut too making it look like yours or with extra layers, a fringe cut etc. makes a big difference. 

I felt a bit nervous when I first went to have mine made but need not have worried as they put me at ease straight away and were all so lovely. It took about 5 hours from start to finish. 

If you do chose a human hair wig I’ve got some great tips to keep it looking fab. I’m not a hairdresser but had some great tips from them that worked really well. 

Hope this helps and hope your treatment goes well. 

Jane x 

Hi Jane, 

Thank you for replying back to me so sorry to here you lost your hair, I'm glad it has grown back. 

When I first found out I had cancer a few weeks ago before the biospy results came back then couldn't tell me anything about what treatment I was having I was just hoping it wouldn't be  chemo as the first rhiught when I hear that is I'm guna lose my hair which scared me the most really. My doctors haven't said I will definitely lose my hair they have just said its a possibility so I wanna be prepared and get all the information so I'm ready if it does happen, as I'm the same as you I plan to try and keep working, 

It will be a real hair wig I will want as I want it to look as close to my real hair as I can, oh wow I didn't know they did 24/7 that's sounds amazing I will definitely try and look into getting one of those ones if I need it. Yeah I have a good hairdresser and she said she will help me Maintain it and keep it looking fresh. 

I will have a chat to my nurse when I see her next and see if she knows any places near me that does them, as I don't know anywhere that does as I havent never needed to look for them before. I have had a look online but like you said I would rather see it in person as they look great online but some are a lot of money to spend for it not to be nice. 

Any tips you have will be greatly appreciated, this is all new to me and I have no idea where to start. If you don't mind me asking how soon into treatment did you start to lose your hair? 

Thank you so much for your help 

Hannah-louise xx

Hi Jane, 

Thank you for replying back to me so sorry to here you lost your hair, I'm glad it has grown back. 

When I first found out I had cancer a few weeks ago before the biospy results came back then couldn't tell me anything about what treatment I was having I was just hoping it wouldn't be  chemo as the first rhiught when I hear that is I'm guna lose my hair which scared me the most really. My doctors haven't said I will definitely lose my hair they have just said its a possibility so I wanna be prepared and get all the information so I'm ready if it does happen, as I'm the same as you I plan to try and keep working, 

It will be a real hair wig I will want as I want it to look as close to my real hair as I can, oh wow I didn't know they did 24/7 that's sounds amazing I will definitely try and look into getting one of those ones if I need it. Yeah I have a good hairdresser and she said she will help me Maintain it and keep it looking fresh. 

I will have a chat to my nurse when I see her next and see if she knows any places near me that does them, as I don't know anywhere that does as I havent never needed to look for them before. I have had a look online but like you said I would rather see it in person as they look great online but some are a lot of money to spend for it not to be nice. 

Any tips you have will be greatly appreciated, this is all new to me and I have no idea where to start. If you don't mind me asking how soon into treatment did you start to lose your hair? 

Thank you so much for your help 

Hannah-louise xx

Hi Hannah - Louise, 

You are doing the right thing getting prepared I think it’s all part of the process too. 

My hair started falling out pretty much within a couple of weeks of my first round of chemo. I had a chemo called R-Chop for high grade B Cell Hodgkin’s Lymphoma … I think that most people loose the hair with this treatment. However, there is always exception to the rule you maybe lucky and it just thins out but good to prepare yourself as you are doing.

I’m embracing my ‘chemo curls’ as I was hoping to keep my curly hair … it’s so thick now and I’m about to book my first hair cut to tame it a bit. I do miss my long locks but glad my treatment worked and I’m in remission. 

On the plus side my eyebrows and eyelashes are the thickest they’ve ever been. 

Some peoples hair starts growing back whilst on chemo too. Mine took about 5 months before I decided not to wear my wig. 
 
If you decide to get your human hair wig then just contact me and I’ll pass on the tips I was given. 

I wish you all the luck Hannah-Louise with your treatment. 

Jane x 

Oh really that quick, I didn't realise it would happen so quick, I have an appointment next week with  oncology so hoping they might give me more information about what sort of chemo I will be having. Yeah I may be lucky but feeling atm luck isn't really on my side so getting myself prepared for losing my hair. 

Oh wow having your first hair cut must be a nice feeling. Yeah thats the thing as much as you may miss the long hair it's better that it worked and now you are in remission thats amazing.

I could do with thicker eyebrows years of plucking them has left me with very gappy eyebrows. 

Oh did it thats not to bad I feel like I will wanna keep wearing it till my hair is atleast shoulder length I havent had short hair in about 20 years will be so weird. 

I will definitely get hold of you for rips if I need it thank you so much.

All the best xx