BB Blog

Whilst everyone is different, there are some common basics to hair loss with chemotherapy treatments for cancer, especially the drugs for Breast Cancer. 

The healthy cells in the hair follicles that support hair growth can be affected by chemotherapy treatment.  As a result, people with cancer who are given chemotherapy may lose the hair on their heads, eyelashes, eyebrows, and elsewhere on the body.

When hair loss occurs, it usually starts within 2 weeks of treatment and continues to get worse for 1-2 months. In my case I had my first round of chemo and it was just starting to fall out as I had my second infusion 3 weeks later. I had already shaved my head in preparation. Despite my terrible memory, its always going to be a pretty distinctive as it was my youngest daughters 1st birthday. 

Does it hurt when your hair falls out? Well my personal answer to that is yes. Its the kind of hair pain you get when your hair was tied back to tightly as a child. 

Similarly, a person's hair does not start to grow back immediately after their last chemotherapy treatment. The delay is due to chemotherapy drugs taking time to leave the body and to stop attacking healthy dividing cells.

Most people receiving chemotherapy will begin seeing a limited amount of thin, fuzzy hair a few weeks after their last treatment. Real hair starts to grow properly within a month or two of the last treatment. This was certainly true for me.

A small fraction of people who are given chemotherapy may never regrow their hair. Specific drugs increase the risk of permanent hair loss. The Breast Cancer drug Docetaxel, which is sold under the brand name Taxotere, has been known to cause permanent hair loss in some people. I had this drug, but my hair has grown back.

Knowing a little bit about hair growth can help a person understand hair regrowth after chemotherapy.  All hair goes through periods of rest, during which it does not grow. Furthermore, when the hair hits a certain length or when it is pulled, it falls out. So the scalp is always shedding some hair.

This basic timeline indicates what happens after chemotherapy:

...I awoke to a super heated room following a 9 hour surgery feeling pretty battered but relieved to open my eyes. Confined to bed with leg pressure pumps on both legs; four drains (two front and back); a catheter; 'lying' on my back but feeling sticky and sore from the skin removal. The room heated to help the skin to heel without having too much pressure from dressings. 

That first night was okay I think drifting back and forth in consciousness with the morphine I had at my finger tip. By the next day I was feeling very sick... but with so much restriction it was very hard to be physically be sick.

I was told the morphine was making me feel sick so I immediately stopped using it and from day 1 was only using paracetamol to ease the pain and discomfort. I had minimal pain which surprised me and the surgery had gone well. 

I'd had a second risk-reducing mastectomy and then had part muscle removed from both sides of my back and carried around to the front to be used as a flap to hold implants. I was lucky my skin was good enough to have normal breast implants and not expanders. Even on the radiated side. Then skin removed from my back to use over my new breasts. 

Everyone going through some kind of cancer trauma thinks differently and reacts in their own way... I personally didn't think of it as a 'battle' as I had no choice wether I lived or died in reality. I couldn't actively punch my Breast Cancer in the face or divorce it.  I did however have a choice as to how I treated others, how I chose to conduct myself and wether I followed the advice of the medical experts treating me... but I don't consider myself a fighter or brave. Following my treatments I was described as 'broken' and 'closed for repair' and wow did that hurt.  

So whilst I think sometimes there is never a right thing to say, there is often a wrong thing to say. 

Thank you to the BBC article with Macmillan for highlighting the : 'Cancer cliches to avoid: I'm not 'brave'

"Fighter, warrior, hero - some of the terms you might see used to describe people with cancer.

But according to a new survey, for some with the illness the words are seen as inappropriate rather than up-lifting.  The UK poll by Macmillan Cancer Support of 2,000 people who have or had cancer found "cancer-stricken" and "victim" were also among the least-liked terms.  The charity said it showed how "divisive" simple descriptions of cancer can be.

New Liberty Print Cancer Bold Beanies Hats on their way! Check out our new range of head scarves and head wraps in gorgeous Liberty prints with a practical reversible plain side. 

Silky soft cotton chemotherapy hats, scarves, head wraps and PICC line sleeve covers especially designed for comfort by a UK Breast Cancer survivor.

Bold Beanies cancer head wear and accessories are made using high quality thin cotton stretchy material from Liberty Art Fabrics. 

Suitable to wear as a breathable, temperature controlling night cap to protect from the cold (for a good nights sleep) as well as daywear to make a cancer patient feel more comfortable and confident to face their day. 

Bold Beanies now offer a wide range of silky soft cotton hats, headscarves and head wraps suitable for sensitive scalps from cancer chemotherapy treatments, for women with hair or hair thinning to more permanent Alopecia Areata. 

Our headwear range is made using the finest natural fabric and to the highest quality. The thin stretchy cotton material is practical, antibacterial, breathable, easy to put and keeps the head at an even temperature. 

Our beanies, head wraps, head scarves, picc line covers are beautiful using the best Liberty Art Fabrics for style as well as comfort and a complete range of plain colours to co-ordinate with any outfit and make you feel more comfortable. 

Have a wide range of headwear options for your course of treatment including beanies for day and night wear, head wraps and head scarves as well as a wig to see you through. Bold Beanies are perfect as a comfy breathable, sweat wicking layer under other woolly hat, hijabs, turbans and all types of helmets and hard hats.

Made in the UK by a Breast Cancer Survivor. Free UK and worldwide shipping available.