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• Vicky

  

  • 4 posts
  December 12, 2012 5:38:57 AM WATime

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  It has been two and a half weeks since first round of chemo and finally had to shave my head, after hair coming out in chunks and loosing more hair than my spaniel dog. I have cut it on 3 with the electric shaver, but am finding that it is so spiky and my head is still sore from when I had hair that it is hard to sleep at night with the hair that is left digging into the scalp, what do you suggest, should I shave this off completly down to the scalp, have others found the answer to this?

• SusanS

  

  • 6 posts
  December 12, 2012 6:48:15 AM WATime

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  Hi Vicky,

  I found taking it down to a #1 with the shaver was much better. Feels a bit like velcro! It will wear in patches to bare scalp..eventually all over.

  I found my head used to "catch" on the pillow, so a friend suggested a satin pillow case. It actually worked & was much kinder to my tender head.

   

   

  Yes - the scalp does become tender & sensitive in places, but that didn't last too long for me.

   

   

  I also found that wearing one of those very soft turbans really protected my head at night. It not only acted as an insulator after losing my hair, it was very gentle & soothing, especially at night.

   

   

  My first round of chemo was through Autumn/Winter & my hair didn't start growing back until around October so the extra warmth the turban provided was a God send

   

   

  This round,obviously being in Spring/Summer, I haven't needed the turban. Couple of reasons ... it's been too hot.. and once my hair started growing back it was very very soft, so when it fell out again & I took the rest back down to a #1, it wasn't as "bristly" as the first time.

   

   

  Hope this helps!

  Battle on... warm hugs :)

   

   

  Susan xx

   

   

   

   

  This post was edited by SusanS at December 12, 2012 6:48:15 AM WATime"

  51YO married. DX: MARCH 2012,45mm HER2+ grade 3 IDC. Completed 1x TAC & 3x AC 18/6/2012. Upper RB Quadrantectomy 20/7/2012. Full axillary clearance (2/7 nodes) 10/8/2012. RB mastectomy 7/9/2012. Completed 10x Paclitaxel plus Herceptin 12/12/2012. 25x Rads finished 12/2/13. Herceptin finished 8/10/13  Prophylactic LB mastectomy shecduled for 18/11/13  

• Glenys

  

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  • 162 posts
  December 14, 2012 1:06:08 PM WATime

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  Susan has provided great info Vicky! - hope you've found some relief from the discomfort.
  
  Many ladies (and men) who've suffered painful scalp such as you've described have reported they found shaving head completely provided instant relief! The sharp prickling, itching and 'digging into scalp' usually eases with this. Keeping the scalp moisturised with baby oil or lotions, gentle body lotions, emu oil, aloe vera gel (or mix of both!), or even nappy rash creams has also shown to help ease discomfort and itching. One lady I know swore by olive oil - told me she used it every day on her head and found it kept her scalp lovely and soft.
  
  For most the pain will ease after a week or so, though not always. Gentle massage, soft head cover & satin (or cotton sateen) pillowcase - as Susan has suggested - do often help too.
  
  Would love to hear any more suggestions or helpful hints from others ..
  
  Hope to hear how you go Vicky.
  Sending hugs! Love Glenys xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• bec81

  

  • 4294967295 posts
  December 14, 2012 3:29:38 PM WATime

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  I went straight for the total head shave as soon as my hair started to go. Was a bit achy for a couple of days but soon settled. I put baby oil on every day after a friend who'd been through chemo suggested it, and found that soothed the scalp and itch. I agree soft turban best for sleeping. Weather was pretty warm when I started chemo so had a light cotton one. Worked a treat!
  Wishing you all the best Vicky. Hang in there, it will pass .. I have a short funky 'do' now 5 months after chemo finished! Hugs, Bec x

  30yo Dx Feb 12, Left mastectomy and axillary clearance Feb. 5cm grade 3 tumour with 15/19 lymph nodes +ve. Hormone & Her2+ve. Chemo fortnightly 8 cycles (4 AC, 4 TH), then radiation & hormone therapy

• Vicky

  

  • 4 posts
  December 14, 2012 7:14:52 PM WATime

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  Thank you all so much for your replies and suggestins, I did as you all said I took the hair on the scalp to as low as I could with my electric razor, then promptly lathered it all up with shaving cream and shaved the entire scalp clean with my husbands wet razor, the releif that I have had from this is tremendous, and would recommend this to anyone else, tried the hat on at night but the hair was just too spiky and came through the hat. At last sleeping again, without waking and adjusting my pillows to stop the pain from the spiky hair. All of the very best to eevryone and wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Positive New Year - Vicky
  p.s Just in passing treated myself compliments of HBF to a wig for Christmas, will still use the hats, but for special occasions will wear the wig, purchased it from Cheveux on Hay, in Subiaco, the lady in their was so lovely, nice little area for privacy and one on one attention, nothing was too much trouble for her, would definatly recommend this shop to anyone, have had a hairsyle that I always wanted and could never grow with my thin hair, so feeling a bit pleased with myself.
• Glenys

  

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  • 162 posts
  December 15, 2012 4:38:44 PM WATime

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  Wonderful to hear Vicky! Very glad you've found relief from the discomfort, and nice to know you can go out in style with your new hair!! Also great to have a recommendation for a good place to go.
  Wishing you a restful and comfortable Christmas and New Year. xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse