Loss of hair during chemotherapy
When a person has the devastating news that they have cancer, they then want to know what type of treatment is available to them as well as knowing what their life expectancy will be.
As soon as people hear the words, chemotherapy they will think of hair loss. Somebody they will know will have lost their hair during their treatment. There are now many different options for people who lose their hair through chemotherapy.
Some people will start to lose their hair within seven days after treatment; but others might not lose their hair until after their second or third treatment. It is also possible to lose your eyelashes and eyebrows, when you have your treatment.
If you think you would want to wear a wig then you could consider going to buy your wigs before you start your treatment. You might like to consider matching your existing color with the choice of the wig, and this will give time to have one made if you need to. But you might want to have a number of different wigs, to suit different occasions. You might have always dreamed of being a blonde or a brunette, and this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for. You could have a wig with long blonde hair and a wig with short hair in a brown, and then confuse people as you become different people appropriate to the wig you are wearing.
Ask about where the hospital would recommend you to go to get your wigs. You will need a good firm who takes care in making sure your wigs fit and you can get good advice about the care of your wig. Talk also to your hairdresser, who will be able to give you advice. If you have a wig made from real hair then it can have various things done to it, like styling, curling and even the use of hair care products.
At some stage you will need to decide whether to have your remaining hair cut off. Again you might want to talk to your hairdresser especially if it is someone who knows you well. They can give you the advice you need as well as the company who are supplying your wigs. Talk to them about having tape tabs which will hold the wig in place while you are having it styled or even brushing it.
As already suggested you might want to have more than one wig. It is a good idea to have two wigs even if they are identical because it will take time for your hair to grow back, and your wig will need to be cleaned and unless you don't want to be without your wig then you will need another wig.
The cost of the wig can be expensive especially if you have to give up work at this time. The majority of insurance companies will cover the cost on the grounds of it being a medical necessity. You might need a letter from your doctor, and ask the company supplying the wig to include a note on the invoice that the wig was prescribed by the doctor. In the US it is a tax deductible item, keep your receipts.
Now you may not want to wear a wig all the time, especially at home, you might prefer a turban, hat or scarf. There are many different styles around, and when hats are fashionable they are inexpensive as well. There are some caps designed for women to sleep in.
The final thing to remember is once the hair does start to grow back it can take up to 12 months for you to have a full head of hair. People do like to continue to wear their wigs even after treatment has finished. Some people have noticed that when their hair grows back it can be a different color and also curly. But these changes are not normally permanent. You will have to wait patiently while your hair grows back but try and think of your wig as a fun accessory which means you have the hairstyle you have always secretly wanted.
