Coping with Hair Loss
"Will I lose all of my hair?"
Unfortunately, there's no telling until treatment is underway. I noticed hair loss starting about three weeks after chemo started. Every body is unique, and the way an individual will react is unpredictable. I lost about 95% of my hair, including head, face, and body.
"What do I do when I start to lose my hair?"
1. Cry. Being sad about losing your hair is completely normal. Our hair is a part of how we express ourselves. You didn't choose this, and feeling out of control during an especially challenging time is hard.
2. Lean on your support system. Speak to your closest caregiver about what you're experiencing. Choose someone who will listen with empathy and kindness.
3. Weigh your options. After feeling your feelings, you'll have a clearer head to decide how you'd like your head to look.
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Shave your head and go bald.
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Wear head coverings like hats or scarves. *
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Wear a wig. *
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A combination of the above.
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None of the above.
*It's possible that you'll need the shave your head to wear a covering or wig. I wanted to cling onto the small patches of hair I had left on my head after most of it fell out. However, it felt that I looked much better after shaving it all off.
4. Make an appointment at a hair salon and/or wig shop to pursue the option(s) you chose. Once I noticed hair loss, I decided that I wanted a wig and made an appointment at a salon in Boston that specializes in hair prosthetics. See the full post about wigs for more information.
"Is there anything I can do to prevent hair loss during chemo?"
Your medical team has likely spoken to you about the side effects of your treatments and the possibility of hair loss, depending on your treatment plan. During those conversations, you probably heard about "cold capping", which is where the patient cools their head temperature to slow blood in hopes of minimizing hair loss. Cold capping does not guarantee hair retention. Insurance typically does not cover cold capping, and patients pay out-of-pocket.
Other than cold capping, I was told that there was not anything I could do to help reduce hair loss. Direct the questions you have about hair loss to your medical team.