I've had one dose of cisplatin chemo the doctors said that My hair would not fall out but I've noticed it's getting very Thin is there anyone else experiencing this? Thank you
Hi Janet, welcome to the forum, Unfortunately I can't help with your enquiry, but by responding to your post it will put your post to top of the list to allow someone to respond more quickly. Kathy x
I had a different chemo and my hair did fall out - its not the end of the world and its now growing back quite thick but a different colour, darker with more grey.
I would suggest that you speak with your doctor and the nurses giving you the treatment next time as they will have more experience. It may be that some peoples hair does go thinner during the treatment but does not come out completely and the nurses will have seen this if that is the case.
I have spoken to the doctor yesterday and she assured me it will just thin. My white blood count is very low which indicates the chemo is still in my system. Hopefully it will stop thinning within the next two weeks. I know it will grow back but it's not nice to loose ones hair.
Until I joined a local Macmillan group, I had not realized the stress that losing one hair causes. There was a lady there who had experianced this and I learnt a lot that day. I also learnt it is much worse for women than it is men for it effects how ladies percieve themselves. I was asked how I would feel and I replied I didnt think it would bother me that much, apart from my head feeling cold. I couldnt help but be my usual silly self and make a joke about it as I said, I would probably put some polish on my head to make it a good skating rink for flies which lightened the moment.
I lost my hair due to a different chemo, but I had several nice wigs. There is one good thing, there are no bad hair days!!! I dont want to make light of this but it usually grows back quick. The one thing that I did not like is looking in the mirror when I wasnt wearing my wig, it reminded me that I was ill. I also had some lovely head scarves, and tried to put a bit of make up on every day. Following the last chemo it took me about 4 months for me to feel happy about not wearing a wig. It is not nice to loose your hair, but it is only a short time.
I went to the House of Fraser, they were absolutely great. My hospital payed for the first one, and I had discount on the other one. I know every hospital has a different policy on what financial support they give you. My neighbour did not realise that I was wearing a wig. You can also buy a cap to go on your head first to try and avoid any irritation.
After two years post treatment, I have thicker hair than before, and had it cut several times. Although it may seem horrible, it is a short time.
I must tell you a funny story, when I received the voucher for my wig off the chemo nurse, she was smiling. and when I asked her why, she said she had just had a gentleman in asking for a wig. She said the man was completely bald before treatment, but wanted the wig anyway. He was entitled to the wig voucher, but what a suprise for his family from no hair to hair. People are funny, but bless him.
Take care and if I can help further or you just want to chat, please post on this site.
I know its not nice losing your hair and they could have told you that it would thin so you would know what to expect.
I told the Doc that losing my hair was the least of my worries but when it really started to come out I did have a break down and cry. Fortunatly for me my treatment was during the winter months and I love hats and had quite a few so could wear those. I also got a perscription for a free wig mine was supplied by "Dimples" based at The Christie hospital (where I am treated) it was really good and everyone said they could not tell and it took years off me. I wore it when going out or having friends round, I was never really comfortable wearing it all the time - but thats just me. I would only let my husband see me without hair everyone else saw me in wig, hats or scarfs. I did think that I would not be bothered but I so did not suit bald. I had a thin knitted hat that I kept downstairs so I could pop it on if someone knocked at the door.
The bit that I wasnt expecting - dont know why - was when my eyebrows and eyelashes started to come out. In the end I plucked what was left of my eyebrows and treated myself to some new eye makeup, which I would not go out without wearing (even to the shops) because I thought it made me look ill.
I had my last chemo on 4 Feb and my eyebrows came back very quickly and my hair is actually at a length that some women wear (it always did grow quick). Its still very short but I do go out during the day without the wig or hat, although if I was going out somewhere nice I think I would still wear the wig.
The best thing would be to try some wigs and see how you feel sometimes you just need a little confidence boost.
Hi all, just like to share with you that after my pet scan I have been told my cancer has gone!!!! So happy. I had tongue cancer and luckily it was caught early. Like to thank Charing Cross hospital for everything, it will be weird not to be going there so often in a way I'll miss that as it's been part of my life. My hair is still thinning don't know why?? But feeling positive for the future ahead, off on my holiday to the USA soon. Thank you cancer research for this chat line. Good luck to everyone who's on their journey to better health xx Janet
