Hello BB, when I went for my chemo last Friday, I was undecided on the cold caps until I saw a lady going through the process and it looked like something from a torture chamber! As there is no guarantee, I decided to give it a miss and the 5 hours sort of purt me off as well. Like you, I think we go through enough.  So I have the hair loss to look forward to, but have set a date - a week Thursday - and we are going to shave my head with or without!  Luckily the wig is arranged for Friday, so it will just be a hat for a day.  Knowing my luck it will be sweltering and I am in a bobble hat ha ha. I too am not looking forward to being bald, it is a huge thing on the confidence front, but if it gets rid of this awful disease, then this time next year, it will seem to be a small price to pay.

very very best wishes, and good luck. My second is on the 11th, so will be thinking of you.  Hugs margaret xx

I had my head shaved the day before my 1st chemo session because I was told I would definitely lose my hair. I didn’t want to try the cold cap as no-one could tell me that it would definitely work. I decide that if I was going to lose my hair it would be better (more practical & less traumatic) to get it over with. I would much rather the short sharp shock of shaving to the drawn out trauma of having it fall out in lumps.     

There is a lady in the same chemo sessions as me who was using the cold cap.  She said her hair was still falling out, so she was going to stop using it. She was quite upset by the failure.

I’ve been bald now for 2 weeks & it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. I have a wig - which I don’t really use & some lycra caps - which I do.

Trying to look for some positives in everything -

Having a shower is much quicker – no separate hair washing, rinsing, conditioning etc etc

Getting ready to go out is also much quicker – no hair drying, styling etc etc.   

Hi Clairej, thanks for your reply. I do think you were wonderful to have shaved before your first chemo, well done you! Would I be right in assuming that it is still growing at the moment? And do you therefore have to keep,shaving? Sorry to be so inquisitive, but I would like to know what to expect for when I do it.

your're right about the speed of showering, I have already thought of that advantage - straight over the top! Not to mention the savings on six weekly trims, shampoo etc etc.

Best wishes xx margaret

Hi Margaret,

No, I'm absolutely not wonderful – just opting for the lesser of 2 evils (which is usually the way I make my decisions at the moment)

Part of my scalp is now hairless, but not all of it. If I hadn’t shaved it I would be in the “oh no it’s falling out” phase. I shave it occasionally with an electric razor just to keep it smooth. Otherwise it works like velcro when trying to put a t-shirt on! Not good when you want to retain some level of dignity:)

Hi Margaret,

No, I'm absolutely not wonderful – just opting for the lesser of 2 evils (which is usually the way I make my decisions at the moment)

Part of my scalp is now hairless, but not all of it. If I hadn’t shaved it I would be in the “oh no it’s falling out” phase. I shave it occasionally with an electric razor just to keep it smooth. Otherwise it works like velcro when trying to put a t-shirt on! Not good when you want to retain some level of dignity:)

Hi Clairej, thanks for that, I did think the stubble would keep going for a while if I shave it before it falls.  Oh well,  the lesser of the two evils as you say.  It feels ok cos I have made the decision about the day, and I won't change my mind about that now.  

Just need some cooler weather so I don't feel too daft in a woolly hat immediately prior to getting the wig!

take care xx