Ten days after my first chemo treatment, I started loosing my hair. It was absolutely horrible! That was the worst part of this whole process - by far. It thinned so badly (in just a couple of days) that I looked like I was 150 years old. I could barely wait for my Head Shaving Party that I had on the Saturday after it started coming out.
So, on that next Saturday, everyone came over and took a swipe at me!
Suz, Mom, Erin and Claire, Karen - even Dave - cut off parts of what was left of my hair. Then Eric did the shaving. It was still a little long for the razor, so we used my dog trimmers (he he) and got it down to stubble before the real shaving began. I was much, much better, mentally after it was over. Being bald has not been so bad - it was the thinning that was nasty.
My lovely, dear husband was nice enough to model my pink wig for the camera. He really had little choice in the matter - his back was so bad that the most he could do to move about was this interesting super-slow shuffle, so catching him was not too big a problem! He is not so fond of that wig, so this was a considerable personal sacrifice for him!After the crying and laughing, we had to get pictures of my bald head:
As I mentioned, this was by far the hardest part of this whole cancer process. You wouldn't think loosing your hair would be that significant in the scheme of things. I think, however, that it is probably the most tangible aspect of the evilness of this disease. You can hide the loss of a breast, or even both breasts, with loose shirts. But the hair thinning...oh how sad. Each strand that came out was like a teardrop falling. I just wanted to hide. The best thing was shaving it. I felt so much better after that. And everyone said that I actually had a nice head!
I did get a "real" wig along with my pink wig, but I really don't wear either very often. I wear the brown one to church. I wear the pink one out whenever the mood strikes. I get lots of comments on it - mostly from kids. They love it! I feel like Stephanie from Lazy Town when I wear it!
Bandanas are my head-covering of choice. They are so easy to put on and don't have to be messed with. I did want to get a baseball cap to wear that said "No hair day." but never did get around to it. And...drumroll please...I HAVE HAIR AGAIN!!!
Over the last week and a half, it has started coming back in - with a vengeance! I swear it's about 1/4" long! Between treatments, twigs (mostly gray) would pop up here and there and then fall out, but this is for real! And yes, it does appear to be more gray than brown, BUT IT IS HAIR!!! Yippie! At this rate, I won't be getting any tan on my head this summer! I can't believe how fast it's coming in. Phil went to Manitoulin and I had no hair. He came back and I did! Wow.
So, like a crazed person, I am running around to everyone I meet, pulling off my bandana or wig, and yelling, "LOOK! I HAVE HAIR! MAGIC HAIR!" :-) I know I have perplexed and completely surprised several people, but I don't care. I HAVE HAIR!
Of course, on the down side, my eyelashes and eyebrows are about gone. But I don't care. I HAVE HAIR! he he he he. And they will all come back eventually, too. JUST LIKE MY HAIR!
