TOPIC:

Your Changing Appearance & Hair loss

Cancer treatment is complex and can cause anxiety and incredible stress. One aspect that can be hard to deal with is hair loss and changes in your skin. 

Here are some ideas to help you through this part of your treatment:

1.     When discussing your treatment with your oncology doctor or nurse, be sure to  ask if your treatment will cause hair loss. It is better to know from the beginning if this will happen so you have time to get prepared. Often oncologists can tell you when during the course of your treatment your hair will fall out.

2.     The American Cancer Society has a TLC catalogue with reduced costs wigs and information about how to measure for and select a wig. It is best to get a wig BEFORE your hair falls out. After you get a wig, you can take it to your hair stylist to customize the look for you.

3.     You may lose all facial hair including your eyelashes and eyebrows. Before you lose your hair, ask someone to take a picture of your face up close so you can see where your eyebrows are, or take a selfie. Later on, the picture will be helpful if you want to use a brow pencil or powder to draw on your eyebrows or to use eyeliner. It sounds funny, but after your eyebrows fall out, it is really hard to remember where they were! Remember that in almost every case, your hair and facial hair will grow back.

4.     You will probably be advised to throw away all of your used makeup and purchase new makeup. Makeup that has been used will likely contain bacteria that you may not be able to fight off during cancer treatment. Start fresh with new makeup to be safe.

5.     You may experience changes in  your facial skin including paleness and some acne. Do not despair! The Look Good Feel Better Foundation is dedicated to helping patients with cancer so that they can look their best. When you look better, you WILL feel better! In my own experience, this was particularly helpful.

Contact the Look Good Feel Better Foundation:

https://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/programs/

https://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/virtual-workshops/

6.     For help with wigs, scarves, make up and other issues, call the American Cancer Society: 1-800-227-2345

Losing Hair During Chemo: For Friends and Family

Losing your hair during chemo can feel like the last blow you can bear after all you have already agreed to risk and give up in order to get well again. Here are some suggestions about what may help and what may not help. Sort out the suggestions knowing the person you are concerned with.

Here are some things that people who are losing their hair might NOT want to hear but are frequently said by others:

1.     “It’s only your hair, not your life. Well worth the trade off.”

Note: It is not like the person in chemo does not know this. They already chose chemo. Don’t minimize the impact of the changes in appearance.

2.     “It will grow back thicker and better.”

Note: You do NOT know that this is true and when you say it, the person is reminded that you do NOT know that it is true. The person in chemo has signed a paper saying that they know they might never have hair again as a possible side effect. So, give it an “I hope…” or “It will be interesting…” or “I wonder...”

3.     Do not say (again) “It is only your hair.”

Note: you cannot imagine the shock of seeing yourself with no or almost no hair AND no eyebrows or eyelashes. Other people might be able to recognize the person who has lost all of this, but the person is freaked out when looking in the mirror. “This cannot be me” is often the reaction and it can be very difficult to hold on to ones view of oneself. It can be one of the lowest moments in all of treatment…as bad as feeling sick. Or worse. Let the person vent any emotions being experienced without judgement.

4.     Do encourage using cute hats, wrapping scarves creatively around the head and neck, using jewelry to fancy up or distract from the hair and using new, totally clean, unused makeup to emphasize eyebrows, lips, and cheeks. Go for pretty, handsome or elegant. Do not be surprised if the person cries about hair loss even if the person did not cry about chemo!

5.     With permission, take a close-up picture to assist with drawing on eyebrows when they are gone. It is amazing that when they are gone, without a picture, you might not be able to remember where they were!

6.     You may want to commiserate. These statements do not sound supportive, but they are:

I hate it that you must lose your hair on top of everything else.

Let’s look up what you can with nutrition or essential oils. Then we can ask someone on your medical team if we can use it.

You must be shocked to see yourself without hair/eyebrows. I cannot imagine!

It will be interesting to see your hair when it grows back.