PLEASE DO NOT SHAVE YOUR HEAD UNTIL YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE CHEMO YOU WILL TAKE CAUSES HAIR LOSS!

I have heard stories of patients who shaved their heads only to find out that their chemo does not cause hair loss! Please check before taking any drastic actions.

Knowledge

Hair loss can be traumatic. No matter how much we prepared for this eventuality, when it started to fall out it was tough on all of us.

Here is the information we used to lift ourselves up during many weeks of hair loss. Chemo attacks fast growing cells. Many cancers are fast growing cells. Your hair is made up of fast growing cells. Therefore, to us, the hair loss was a sign that the chemo was working and doing it’s job.

My rant on a related topic. Far too much attention now-a-days is placed upon ones looks. This emphasized importance is, bluntly insane! I always told Kayla that nice people are beautiful and mean people are ugly. Thank goodness I did that long before she ever got sick. Because when she lost her hair she thought she was ugly and I would remind her of my chant, NICE PEOPLE ARE BEAUTIFUL, MEAN PEOPLE ARE UGLY. For me, this is a very true statement. People who are considerate, mannerly, and caring, are the ones who make life pleasant.

Scalp Care and Various Tips

* Do not wash scalp with shampoo or soap more than once a week, because this can be very drying to the skin. Instead rinse scalp with water and use a conditioner to keep the scalp moisturized. We would leave a small amount of conditioner on Kayla’s scalp even after she finished her rinsing.

* Chemo can be very drying to the skin. Supplement your diet with Organic Flax oil taken every day. This should not be a problem with your doctor or chemo. Our oncologist approved the use of Flax oil on a daily basis.

* No on ever warned us that when a patient loses the hair on their head it is likely that all hair on the body is lost as well.

* Wear hats if out in direct summer sun. Because your head is used to having hair on it, the scalp can burn easier than other parts of the body.

* Once you have lost your hair and it starts to grow back, do not get overly excited. In other words, Kayla’s chemo cycles ran in eight week increments. Depending upon the chemo, her hair would start to grow back and then it would fall out again.

* Purchase light cosmetics to color in eyebrows and line your eyes with eyeliners for a natural look. Here is a photo of Kayla with her wig and makeup that she learned to apply by herself.

* Have fun with it. There are make up crayons that can be used to decorate a sparse head. Kayla loved this very much! If people are going to look at you they might as well have something fun to look at 

* The best chemo cap was found at www.cancerfearsme.org , this is a fabulous website. What made their chemo cap the best was the softness of the material and no itchy seams. Other than the hat I made for Kayla, this is the only other hat she would wear. The cancer fears me organization is also a tool for fundraising. Please go to their site and read their information.

* Wigs have to be worn with a cotton covering underneath the wig and against your skin. Otherwise the scalp sweats profusely.

* If you would like more mature choices in head coverings go to www.4Women.com.

 

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