Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

Originally published at bcvsbc.blogspot.com on 06/12/18

Everyone told me that I was going to lose my hair; my surgeon, my advice nurse, my oncologist, every woman I met through the Young Survivor Coalition, plus all the blogs and research studies I read.  It was a known side effect that I have prepared for, hence the numerous hair cuts to help both my kids, and let us be honest, me.  Though even with all the knowledge of what was to come, all the preparation I have done, nothing can really prepare you for your hair falling out the way it does from chemo.

On average most women on the regimen I am on start losing their hair 12 to 13 days after their first infusion.  For me that was June 6th.  Well June 6th came and went with little fanfare from my hair.  I might have internally high-fived myself and thought I was going to be one of the women that miraculously holds on to her hair longer than others.  Then June 10 arrived.

When I woke up Sunday morning my head felt weird.  The top of my head was hurting, like after you have had a super tight pony in for too long and you take it out.  Obviously I did not have a pony tail in.  There were pins and needles dancing all over my head all day long.  I noticed that my hair was sticking straight up in the back so I reached back to pat it down and a pile of hair was left in my hand...

That isn't normal.  I freaked out a little and decided I would just rock the Alfalfa look from Little Rascals and go about my day.  My scalp hurt all day but I never touched my hair again.  It could be a fluke right?!

Monday morning I awoke to hair all over my pillow.  I didn't get a picture because at first I thought there was a spider in my bed and started trying to kill it before realizing it was massive amounts of hair, oops!  All day yesterday I kept feeling hair tickle my neck, my arm, and my back it was so annoying because most times those short little hairs were right where I couldn't reach. 

Then something really fun happened.  I had to go the bathroom.  No pictures here because that would be NASTY but let's just say I am losing hair EVERYWHERE, and some places, much faster than the top of my head. 

Today while I was working I made a pile of the hair that was stuck to my shirt.  The image below is the shedding I collected.

Pretty sure this means my last hair cut is happening real soon folks.  The next big question is will I lose my eyebrows, eyelashes, and that one stubborn chin hair...