I would be starting my chemo next week. Do you think it would be best for me to have my hair cut really short?

Question

Before it falls off my head.

Answer 1

That's up to you. You should check though to see if the type of chemo you will be on makes you lose your hair. Not all chemotherapy will do that. But, if it is a type that causes hair loss not everyone loses their hair right away. It took my son several months, but he had thick hair. So, the decision is really yours. A young lady I know cut all her hair off in anticipation of chemotherapy only to have the doctor decide to do surgery first. So, she had a really short haircut and didn't start chemotherapy until about seven weeks later. But, I do think it was easier to care for when shorter.

Be careful of the newer chemotherapy drugs as they tend to turn the hair white . . so instead of losing all your hair . . you keep it, but you will lose all color.

Best to you.

Answer 2

You can always have a custom made lace front wig made with your own hair. You can go to www.careingcomfort.com or http://www.haircouturedesigns.com they can use your hair that is cut off and make a custom wig from it. It probably is worth the research to have it done.

Answer 3

I'm a guy so my approach might not be totally practical for you but it may give you some ideas . I just basically said to myself from the start that I was not going to let the cancer or chemo get the better of me in anyway and that I was going to remain in control . All I did was shave my head before my hair started to fall out . By doing this , it was my choice to lose my hair and not as a result of the chemo .

Good luck !!!!! Brandon

Answer 4

I would wait and see how the chemo drugs react with you. My mother has had chemo for two different bouts of breast cancer. The first time she had chemo she lost her hair. The second time she had chemo, she did not lose her hair. When she did start losing her hair, she decided at that point to shave off her hair, so that it would be gone all at once, rather than to have the daily trauma of losing it. She actually looked really cute with a bald head, but she also got a wig too. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

If you know that your chemo regime will cause hair loss (not all do), then that is what I would advise. It is a lot more dignified for a couple of reasons:

Shortly before your hair starts to fall, your scalp is likely to become tender and a bit painful - think of the sensation when you have had your hair in a REALLY tight ponytail and just taken the band off. The shorter your hair is, the less tender your scalp is likely to be.

When you start to lose hair, it gets EVERYWHERE - in your mouth, on you clothes, in food, on furniture; you never realise how much hair you have till you start to lose it. At that point, you may want to consider shaving your head completely - it's more comfortable and looks better than having some bald patches and some straggly bits of hair.

Good luck with your treatment

Answer 6

I have breast cancer. It started two years ago, I had an operation, chemotherapie and radiotherapie. My husband died of cancer 8 years ago after a three year struggle. He lost his hair during chemotherapy and when it started to fall out, I shaved his head and that was a very special and tender moment. When I had chemo the first time it didn't fall out. The cancer came back last month and now with the chemo I am losing my hair, so you don't know in advance if it will fall out. Now I'm wearing colorful shawls and nice hats, every day another color, just to feel good about myself and that works.
So it's really about how you look at yourself.

Answer 7

I would find out for sure if the chemo you are going on will cause your hair to fall out. When I was first diagnosed, I knew my hair would fall out, so I cut it really short, (I couldn't stand the thought of having to watch my long hair fall out)....last year when my cancer returned, I was told, again that my hair would fall out, but I hadn't let it grow back very long, so I just left it alone until it started falling out on it's own.......however, it was actually physically painful when the hair started to fall out...my scalp was sooooo sore.....I ended up taking a hair brush, brushing out as much as I could, having my mom "buzz" what was left and then shaved my head of all stubbles....it felt tons better when I did. This year I am back on chemo again, but it is a type that leaves my hair alone, so I am enjoying the curly hair that grew back in after last years chemo was done.........
No one had ever told me it actually hurt to lose your hair and most cancer survivors I've talked to told me it was painful for them also.
Also, you do know that if you do lose your hair, it's not just the hair on your head....anywhere on your body that there is hair, it can fall out also....eyebrows,lashes, armpits, arms, legs(which is actually kinda cool if you are a female..no shaving for months)and in the pubic area too.....no one ever told me that either, the first time I went thru chemo.....I was kinda suprised.....but it makes sense when you think about it....
It's a personal choice you'll have to make, but find out for sure what the side effects of the chemo are and go from there...
I wish you all the best as you start your chemo.......you are in my thoughts and prayers as you go into battle...........

Answer 8

The chemo regiment I'm on was supposed to make me lose all of my hair, so I cut it short in preparation so it wouldn't be as traumatic. Strangely enough, I haven't lost all of it, but my hair did become a lot thinner and very dry and unattractive. The thinner it got, the shorter I took it and it gave the appearance of being a little thicker than it was. I ended up shaving it off all together because I couldn't stand trying to manage it.

Answer 9

I did both times. For me, it was way less traumatic when my hair did start falling out. But others are right, not all chemo causes hair loss, so you may want to find out if yours will before you cut.

It is also less messy if you cut it before it starts falling out.

Answer 10

It depends on you? How do you look at your hair? If it fell out would you want to wear a wig? If you woke up bald without having Chemo, how would you handle that? I used to have long hair and for me it was a pain in the butt! It is just hair that happens to be on your head and has nothing to do with who I am. In my twenties I did a lot of sports including swimming and long hair did not fit in with my lifestyle, so I literally got a short back and sides, in a Male Hairdresser Shop! Now just 49 I like to keep it short! I go with my Mother to the ladies hair dresser and she starts with the questions and I just sit their wonder what she is going on about? Short hair means more time in the morning, less shampoo, less conditioner and more time doing other things. If I had my way I would shave it all off, keep it that way. However Mother will not allow me! Yep 49 and still not allowed to do what I want. Mother used to be a Hair Dresser and made me promise that I would never dye my hair, so I did not. It is now Grey, people ask me about low lights, probably means something, I thought they were asking about the ceiling lights! Many people where I live have now given up dying their hair so Grey is becoming fashionable.
If you are the type of person who spends a lot of time on your hair and looks, then leave well alone.