Hair loss

How prevalent is hair loss. I am going to start tx. in about a week and I am wondering if I should buy a wig?

[epiphiny]

Some people experience thinning of their hair during treatment but it doesn't usually fall out in the same way a cancer patients hair does (ie alopecia).  

You may find with a little extra care and attention, and not too many chemical processes the thinning may not be noticeable to anyone except yourself.

I would be more inclined to wait and see what happened before buying a wig - you can wear scarves and hats to tide you over if it becomes necessary.

There are lots of discussions here on the site about hair care on tx, just use the search function.

All the best :)

[sunshine585]

I just finished tx recently. My hair started thinning, about the 3rd month on. I lost approx 1/3 overall, and noone notices but me. That seems to be about the average amt., from what I've been reading, although, some don't lose any and some lose more.

[pilgrim1951]

I noticed thinning right around three months also and now am in my 22nd week.  Probably would guess about 20% loss, but I am fortunate because although my hair is fine, it is very thick through my scalp.  Few people seem to notice except me, but my wife keeps asking if I got a haircut.  Hah!  I hate to admit it, but I was nervous about losing my hair (I'm almost 58) and have great wavy hair.  So vain.  Now that it is thinning it doesn't bother me that much.  Good luck with treatment.

Pilgrim

[Isobella]

I wouldn't go out and buy a wig yet.  Wait and see what happens first.  

I am in week 20 and have just started to notice a little thinning.  No one else would notice.  

I have colored my hair 3 times so far on tx and even permed it--I figured if I was going to lose it, it was going to look good to the bitter end lol!

To make up for all the processing I have done, I pamper it in all other ways and go in for moisturizing treatments every 1-2 weeks.  

I wish you the best during tx and hope the sides are kind =)

Isobella

[Trinity4]

Week 39 for me.  I noticed my hair started thinning around wk 16 - 20.  I've lost about a third.  My daughter is a stylist and I've cut it short which gave me a lot more body and fullness.  I color my hair every two months.  We only use Schwarzkopf color and maintenance products.  They are a little more expensive  (I do get a Mom discount) but well worth it.  My hair is never dry and actually has some shine to it.  I haven't noticed as much hair on the floor or sink as I used to and my daughter told me it hasn't gotten any worse in the last month or so.  I think it falls out in cycles.  I'm in a good cycle right now.  If this is the worst it will get I can live with it.  I have a way to go before EOT so time will tell.  If end up with a wig I'm going for the big hair like the wives on the Sopranos.  
Trin

[nygirl7]

I lost about 75% of my hair.....thining is pretty much the right word and then it gets REALLY dry and cracked and it was horrible so I did go out and buy a whole bunch of wigs on ebay.  MUCH cheaper than going to the shop for them and they were just as good. Believe it or not most of the places sell them for transvestities (it took me a long time to realize that) and you can find good ones that way as well by googling.

I didn't care who they were for.......they made me feel like I looked so much better than I did before.  A bit of self tanner to get rid of the grey skin color and some nice makeup and it made a lot of difference psychologically in order to face the world at work every day.

Of course I couldn't wait to get home and take them off and put a scarf on cause they do get itchy and hot in the summer but.....dont' spend a ton of money until you have to.  LIke people have said it doesn't happen to everyone!

[charm27]

I ost about 75% of my hair as well. That part was bad including severe plaque of the scalp. There are people who just get a little thinnning and you cant even notice it.
I did 52 weeks and started to lose hair around week 15.

Scarves worked for me.
Dont try to stress out too mch about the hair-------- that will come back.

Wishing you a doable tx.
Good Luck!

[konyha]

No problems until week 17.
Have experienced medication- related hair loss before and hair grows back,
My hair is still really long and heavy - ended up cutting off inches off and layering it.

There was a similiar post that had some excellent scalp suggestions.

Better to prepare yourself for possible temporary hair loss and maybe a change in texture.

¡Seasons Greetings!
k

[Deb_c430]

Def change of texture, mine is dead straight!  no body at all,     I lost most mine in the begining, now not so much,   it comes and goes, dandruf is common, everything dries up!

Scalp hair,  skin.  

Deb