Mom's 2nd Chemo Today

[Knotmeg]

Hello ladies...

Mom is in her 2nd chemo today.... This morning she took a shower and her hair came out in handfuls... Dad said she cried for about an hour...

I know this seems so silly to focus on... but it breaks my heart.  I'd rather her be bald and alive... but I know how hard this is on a woman (men deal with this a lot anyway LOL)... but I'm just so sad for her right now.

She ordered a wig and it should arrive today... she's been trying the scarf thing but she said she doesnt want to go outside in the scarf ....

I'm just WISHING for a way to make this all better. I'm searching for my magic wand and its lost....

Just needed to talk.

Hope everyone here is having a decent day.

Meg

[butterflytc]

The day we lose our hair is hard on all cancer patients I think, I was one of the women who held on to every strand, praying I wouldnt lose it all (of course I did) later I wondered why I was so worried about losing my hair, while I was fighting for my life? Maybe it is harder to focus on the cancer, and easier for us to focus on going bald? I wished later that I had shaved mine, as the burn was much worse letting it fall out on its own. perhaps it was vanity? I think it was just my way on focusing on anything but the cancer.
I wish your mom the best of hope in her fight, stay strong for her. Just knowing someone is out there to talk too, means the world to us all.
God Bless you and your mom
butterflytc

[Kimchi]

I lost my hair exactly 2 weeks after my first chemo...had the rest shaved off. I live in a tropical country and it's way too hot to wear a wig...so I use thine colorful silk or cotton scarves and got very creative...got lots of compliments from them.  I enjoyed wearing them although the chemo made me sweat like a pig add the hot weather and I was walking around with a wet head most of the time. Maybe if someone can help her learn how to wrap them, it maybe fun for it.

[Teresa222]

I wore hats, hats and more hats!  I tried on a few wigs at stores, but they were very uncomfortable.  I had my hair cut very short when it started falling out...about 2 inches long.  Believe it or not, not all mine fell out.  By not shaving my head, when it began growing back out after chemo, I had enough that it started out very thick.  It's about 1/2 inch long now and I get several compliments a day on how stylish it looks. I look like a man with thick, silver hair.... so I cannot imagine why people like it.  (They have no idea I've had cancer!)

To me, the hardest part of losing my hair was the pain in my scalp as it fell out. I think Jan has mentioned this too.  My scalp ached and felt clammy and damp to me.

When I first got dx, I asked God to please help me rid myself of any trace of vanity. It was tough for a while, then I decided it was very minor in the big scheme of things we have to deal with.
Teresa

[crecco]

   I know how hard this is. I have lost my hair twice now and it was just as hard both times. Please have your mom consider just shaving it off now because watching it come out slowly will be even harder. Both times I lost mine, the day it started coming out in handfuls was the day I got it shaved. It does make it easier to deal with as you do not have to sit and watch it come out more everyday. And you can start adjusting to having no hair right then. I do have to admit it was still hard enough on me that it took almost 2 weeks both times before I would ever look into the mirror.
And no it is not a silly thing to focus on. It is a part of this cancer and like the rest of it, it sucks. It is a very traumatic thing for a woman to lose her hair. But you hit the nail on the head when you said you would rather her be bald and alive. It took me awhile but I started feeling the same way. My hair is but a small price to pay for my life. You will find your magic wand and when you do wave it big time to give your mom the strength to continue to fight this no matter how down in the dumps she gets.
  Hang in there Hon, I know it is hard and although it will not get easier, it will get easier for you both to deal with.
   Love Chris

[msjazz]

Me again, i googled that and it came up. If your mom has access to the computer maybe she could pick out some things she likes.  

[msjazz]

I ordered some soft turbans from headcovers.com, I believe was the site. If not I will recheck. They were great, I wore one even to sleep. I think they were around 8.00. They had every style and color head coverings. They also had little velco bangs and pieces you could put under the edge of the turbans.   Donna

[Borgs]

I hear you.  My mom is about to get her 5th of 6 total treatments next week.  She started losing her hair just after her 2nd treatment, which was about 2 months ago I guess.  She was a mess for a few days, but then she got a wig, and is pretty much back on track now.  It will get better, she is on her way to recovery.    

[nyc lady]

I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose my hair,  from what I have heard, it's not easy to deal with.....but, everyone gets through it.  I am sure that the initial shock is horrible.   She is going through so much, like most of these women, you would think that the drugs have been perfected enough so that people would keep their hair.  I think that it just adds to the daily reminder of what is going on.

I am sure that she looks beautiful bald.  Most women do, look at how beautiful Melissa Ethridge looked.  Buy her lots of nice new make up, and eyelashes and femine things to make her happy.

Sending lots of love and hugs.
Pam