Hair Loss and Chemotherapy

 

Yes… when you get chemotherapy, your hair falls out. Well, not always, but mostly. It depends on your chemo, but the nurses can guide you as to what you can expect.

 

Guys

My advice, for what it’s worth, is wait until it starts to comb out very easily, and then bite the bullet. Go and have a number one, and if the barber can do it for you, get a wet shave as well. If he/she won’t shave you, get plenty of shaving foam, and do it yourself.

 

I’ve seen a couple of guys who didn’t want to say goodbye to their curls, and without exaggeration, there is nothing more noticeable or silly looking than a guy with tufts of hair randomly sticking out of his head.

 

Anyway, that’s my advice, it’s up to you what you do.

What’d ya think of my new hair cut?

Design by Bernie of Antrim Chemotherapy Hair Salon

For an appointment telephone 029 94424201

Tints and rinses at ridiculously low prices, just

leave your hair with us, and we’ll do the rest.

Girls

My sympathies are with you. I know how much it means to you, but it’s only short term. It’ll grow back again, once chemotherapy is finished, with the added bonus that you are still alive, so prepare for it from the start, and organise a wig if you are going to need one, or get it shaved and treat it like a fashion statement.

 

Guys and Girls

Hair loss is not only restricted to the head. Basically, everything from top to toe falls out eventually, including eye lashes, and eyebrows. I found out that this isn’t as bad as it sounds, and if I had the choice, I think that it’s much more hygienic not to have hair all over your body, but as I say, that’s just my opinion.

 

If you’re used to having a full head of hair, you will also notice just how warm your hair kept your head. It’s freezing without hair, but eventually, you get used to it. My advice is to buy yourself a selection of woolly hats and have them ready to use.

 

The hair inside your nose will also vanish which means that you will constantly be sniffing, and using hankies.

 

 

Free/subsidised wigs

 

You are automatically entitled to free wigs and fabric supports if:-

      you they are a hospital in-patient at the time the wig or fabric support is supplied;

      you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education;

      you or their partner are in receipt of Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based);

      you are in receipt of a War Disablement Pension and they need a wig or fabric support for

      their pensionable disability;

      you are a person whose name is on a current HC2 full help certificate.

 

If you are not included in the groups mentioned above, you may be able to get help with the cost of wigs and supports if you are on a low income. This is in the form of a full help with health costs certificate (HC2) or a limited help with health costs certificate (HC3).

 

If you are an NHS outpatient receiving treatment and qualify for free wigs and fabric supports, you should take some proof with you. e.g. HC2, Tax Credit award notice etc.

 

If you are claiming on the grounds of low income you should complete form HC1

 

All these certificate application forms are usually available from your doctor.

 

Click on this link for more information from The Social Security Agency Northern Ireland

http://www.ssani.gov.uk/gbi/Benefits/HSWigsandFabricSupports.htm

 

 

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Here is a company I found, who are based in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

You can contact them on 028 82252516

or e-mail them at helenaswigs@hotmail.com, and ask for a brochure, or make an appointment with Helena.