FEC100 and hair loss

Pastor Rich · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:07 pm Post subject: FEC100 and hair loss

hello all;

The oncologist has assured my wife that she will positively no questions about it lose her hair.

She has her wig all ready to go. Chemo was 10 days ago.

Our grandson will be born tomorrow likely by c-section and cathy will travel to help. To avoid having her hair fall out there, she is planning to get a buzz cut on Wednesday morning.

Is there any chance that she won't lose her hair?????? Hate to shave it off and then not lose it!

Blessings,
Pastor Rich
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

Muttsmom · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Hi Pastor Rich,
I noticed FEC. Is that the chemo regime she's on? The only combo of chemo that I've heard that you don't lose all your hair necessarlily, but definately thin out is CMF. I doubt she's getting that being stage III. If she's getting FEC, that's the 3 I was on and I had hopes I wouldn't lose mine because it took awhile. Normally, ladies lose it on the 14th day after the 1st round of chemo. My hair was real thick and that may be why I didn't lose mine until after the 3rd round of FEC, or it may have been a fluke, but I ended up losing all of it even though it started later. If it's FEC, or AC w/Taxol or Taxotere, she's going to lose it unfortunately. What I did, and I'm not sure how long your wife's hair is, is I cut mine 3 different times to make it not such a huge shock until it was right under my ears. He was well below my shoulder and is AGAIN Smile

. If her hair is long, why not cut some of the length, so she can still wear the wig. That way she gets use to it and when it does start coming out, she'll be use to seeing herself in the wig. Some ladies I've heard comes out in clumps. With mine, I went to brush it one morning and with ever stroke, the brush was full of hair. I handled both my mastectomies better then losing my hair, so don't be surprised if she takes it hard, I guess it's the outer part of who we are, where at least with a mastecomy(ies), there are clothes cover us.
Best wishes to your wife and please keep us posted on how she's doing and how YOU are doing.
Hugs
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

Martha Anne · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Hello Pastor Rich,

Yes, she will lose most of her hair. She may be left with fuzzies and not be completely bald but she will want to wear a hat or scarf or wig.

I think you got very good advice! It is not necessary to shave it clean right now. It can be cut short in several layers. That way as it comes out the layers will slowly diminish.

Most women start to feel a tingling sensation around day 14 and she will see more in the shower and more in her brush - but builds gradually. What usually happens is it feels so yucky you just want to shave it and get it over with!

This IS a big thing. Our hair is our "thing". And it is like losing a friend. But the best part is that this friend comes back!!!

And, if I may, FEC has been getting WONDERFUL results! So I pray your wife and YOU are also blessed with the healing powers of this medicinethatmakesussickbeforewegetbetter Medicine.

Martha Anne

Muttsmom · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

I like hearing that about FEC and wonderful results. I will be 3 years since my dx on Valentine's Day and I got FEC and so far so good, and I'm praying it will keep going that way. I use to think 43 was getting old, but now I know I'm just a baby still, even though I just turned 46 last month. After this crappy disease, you definately love seeing those b'days come!!!

Pastor Rich,
I couldn't wear a wig, it just felt funny to me, but alot of women have no problems. If your wife isn't comfortable in them, you can go to Hobby Lobby if you have one and they have every color and pattern of bandanas down there from denim to dressy. I wore those all the time and then when I started getting a little bit of hair, I'd buy the women's ball caps from walmart.
It's funny now. My hair is to the length it was before I lost it and what do I do, wear a ballcap and pull the back through the opening to keep it off my back and shoulders.....LOL
I'll talk to ya'll when I get back on my feet, or wrist.. lol
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

Pastor Rich · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:16 am Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Hello all;

This is a great place we wish we never had to know about, isn't it?

So far Cathy has had about 2 hours of nausea and that is it. That was the night of the 1st chemo.... we prayed and asked the folks on the catholic forum to pray (www.catholic.org) and the nausea was gone. She has had some hot flashes but after seeing our doctor those are almost gone as well. (Cathy is 54 next month). Next chemo is Dec 10th.

And, if I haven't shared this, the radiologist told us that after she finished the chemo and radiation, there is less than a 10% chance of recurrance. Of course, that's not a guarantee but it was welcome news. The way they put it is that what they are doing is not curative but is preventative.

Today our grandson will be born, probably by c-section, and Cathy will head down on Friday to help. So tomorrow she will get her head trimmed as she doesn't want to have it fall out away from home.

And, she does have her wig. Our finances are tight as she is the major income-earner and being a contract worker she has no disability income. Several of the "church-ladies" offered to pay anonymously for her wig. Well, it turned out that Cathy needs a blend, not synthetic because she is allergic to acrylic. (The wig shop let her try one of each). The price was $650 Canadian, or about $500US. We had thought it would be about $200. The ladies didn't even bat an eye -- they said "let us bless you as God has blessed us."

And Cathy has her wig.

Blessings to you all as well,
Pastor Rich
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

Minnlady13 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:19 am Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Pastor Rich, it sounds like you have a wonderful group of church ladies who are surrounding you with support and love. I just wanted to send congratulations on the birth of the grandchild. I just spent a few days with our only grandchild, Melanie Rose who is almost 16 months old. Grandchildren are so special and wonderful. Enjoy this new addition to the family. Hugs, Lauri

Martha Anne · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Dear Pastor Rich,
Congratulations on the birth of your new grandbaby!

Do you heve regular medical insurance? Because if you do a wig is covered under that. All you need is a prescription from your doctor for a head prothesthis (sp?) and they cover about 90% of the cost.

You have to use a wig salon that participates, but MOST do!

Enjoy the little one!

Martha Anne

Pastor Rich · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Hi Martha Anne;

We do have group insurance but the limit is $200. I guess they assume everyone can wear an acrylic wig.... Confused

The ladies knew this and paid the difference....

Rich
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

BFagan2067 · Experienced user Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 54

Pastor Rich and Cathy, Big congrats on the new grandbaby! These huge miracles become even more awesome when paired with the journey that we undertake with this darn disease. When I was diagnosed I had hair that was below my waist. Each doctor that I saw would say I suggest that you get your hair cut before you start chemo. Well I got it cut 4 times before it fell out.. I did not have the nerve to get it cut short right off the bat Very Happy

Well it all fell out by the 21st day, by then it was short layers however it was very aggrevating as that it sheds and was getting all over the place. I never was on a board nor did I know anyone who had gone through any of this at the time, it was not until it had all either fallen out or I pulled it out, which I did spend one morning doing and putting it in a baggie (dont ask me what I was doing that for, cause I dont know....LOL) Well I finally did have a friend shave my head. You know when it is falling out because it starts to ache like when your hair is pulled back for a long time in a pony tail and you take it out. That was when it just came out with a little tug. The day that it started to ache I woke up and realized that it was comming out.. was driving my son (15 at the time) to school and told him that his music was driving me so crazy I could just pull my hair out, and tugged out a clump of it.. he was shocked, we laughed but he did ask me not to do that when his friend, who we drove to school, got in the car... It was going to happen anyways so I decided to make the best of a bad situation, had alot of laughs that day about it, even set up a friend when she called and asked what I was doing. I told her that I was pulling my hair out, she thought I was bored and asked me to go out with her, when she came and picked me up she realized that I was literally pulling my hair out... that was a good one. I hated my wigs, which the insurance company did not pay for, so only wore them a couple of times. You are blessed to have such wonderful women in your lives to help you with this... I am sure that you know that the people that are put into your lives and the prayers that are offered up by the many are so important. I hope that Cathy's treatment continue to go smoothly and that you will be able to take that trip that you have been offered. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and with your new grandbaby and his/her new mom and dad!
HUGS!
Barbara

Sharon · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:51 pm Post subject: Hair loss

Dear Pastor Rich: How life affirming to celebrate the birth of your first grandchild. I am about in the same cycle as Cathy. I will have my second chemo today, AC. My head is a bit tingly and if I tug on my hair it will come out. I had it cut very short in anticipation of losing it all. It still represents one more loss and saddens me. I can't hide my diagnosis any more. Some people don't seem to get the emotional magnititue of hair loss. It is like you knew it was going to happen so why is it bothering you...duh. It is bothering me and I don't like it. Will I tolerate it? Of, course. Glad that Cathy had very little nausea and your wonderful church women are coming through with a wig which she can tolerate. It is so wonderful to know we are not alone on this cancer path. In love and spirit, Sharon

Pastor Rich · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:44 am Post subject: Re: FEC100 and hair loss

Hello everyone;

Cathy got her hair trimmed yesterday... It was very traumatic but she has come through it well.

Our grandson was born early this morning so now she is all ready to go and visit before her next chemo. God's timing is perfect.

Blessings,
Pastor Rich
_________________
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

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