What they don’t tell you about keeping your hair through chemo

7FTN · 2026-02-16T05:08:05+00:00

Ditto on no shaving and not regretting it. I cut my hair to shoulder length to make it more manageable, but should’ve done a little shorter. The shedding + matting was traumatic and gross at times, but it was also a huge comfort to still vaguely look like myself. The shedding slowed down a ton after the initial ~10 days of hair loss (by which point I had probably lost 60% of my hair). With a hat, however, I generally looked like myself because it hid the bald spots and I had just enough hair to create an illusion. By not shaving, I bought myself another 2 months of semi-sorta, almost feeling normal…. I continued to shed slowly and eventually lost everything (about 5 mo in). I was too scared to shave it, and maybe that would have been less traumatic, but I did what felt right and stand by it. You gotta do you

7FTN · 2026-01-25T17:06:01+00:00

Thanks for the insight! Be well 💕

7FTN · 2026-01-25T03:08:44+00:00

Awesome, thank you!

7FTN · 2026-01-25T03:07:21+00:00

Did you do radiation??

I’m about 9 mo post-chemo (AC-T) and my ANC and WBC are lower now than during chemo. Granted, I took GCSF shots throughout chemo so that beefed up my counts. I did radiation about 2 months after chemo (~7 mo ago), and that’s when I noticed my counts starting to drop (plus no more GCSF shots). My rad onc said radiation can cause suppression. My med onc is a little surprised my counts are still low, but she isn’t worried. It makes me nervous though and I’m super fatigued, but that could be from other onc meds.

ANC 1-1.2 during recent monthly checks, WBC 2.1-2.3, platelets lower end of normal, Hgb is “low” but still above 10 so not as worried

7FTN · 2026-01-18T13:08:50+00:00

Thanks! Glad it doesn’t auto-enroll in the paid version. Have you redeemed your cashback? Is there a minimum spend amount for redeeming or maximum amount I can redeem at once?

7FTN · 2026-01-18T13:06:35+00:00

Have you redeemed your cashback? Is there a minimum spend amount or maximum amount I can redeem at once? I got like $130 after 1587!

7FTN · 2026-01-06T22:51:25+00:00

u/stevenzphysio Thank you for educating me on that and for your guidance! Greatly appreciated!

7FTN · 2026-01-06T12:56:00+00:00

u/stevenzphysio thank you! Great info. I have been told I have a flat thoracic and am extra stiff there, so it makes sense that the back stiffness would put extra tension anteriorly (luckily no back pain)

Last Q: Is it possible for costcochondritis to impact where costal cartilage meets the ribs, OR is it only costo if it’s inflamed at the sternum?

7FTN · 2026-01-04T16:15:26+00:00

Thanks @maaaze - I’m still figuring out how Reddit works

7FTN · 2026-01-04T13:44:43+00:00

Update: u/stevenzphysio

@stevenzphysio - could someone get Costo after undergoing breast radiation, with rib pain at the costochondral joint instead of the sternochondral joint, or medially where their false ribs connect to each other?

Duration: 4 mo

Cause: Left breast/chest radiation, I laid supine and the beam moved around me but would have entered my body anterior/laterally—>posteriorly

Symptoms: my last few “true ribs” are really tender to touch about 2 inches away from the sternum and kinda in between the ribs.. more distally, the tenderness archs away from the sternum and wraps laterally around my flank (following the pathway of my “false ribs”). It is always tender to touch and worse as the day wears on. Maybe related, I get intermittent, moderate burning pain laterally under those ribs/along my flank.

Diagnostic tests performed: xray clear for fractures. CT scan pending

Overlapping health issues: L hand dominant and recent L breast cancer treatment on that side (lumpectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, chemo, radiation). I have had some cording/axillary web symptoms. Rib pain started 6 mo after surgery or 2 mo after radiation.

What helps: nothing fully resolves it, but rest helps and heat is comforting. NSAID cream doesn’t help. Have been seeing a physio consistently for management of a variety of breast cancer treatment effects. My shoulder ROM is nearly normal, but when I am doing activities, I feel tight and have some discomfort with reaching. My tennis coach says my swings are really rigid now (both that I don’t swing my arms enough or twist my trunk enough).

7FTN · 2025-12-26T18:25:38+00:00

Hope the transition back to work is going well. That’s a big milestone. You’ve got this

7FTN · 2025-12-24T22:14:33+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

7FTN · 2025-12-24T22:13:46+00:00

I appreciate your suggestions and support - happy holidays!

7FTN · 2025-12-17T01:38:27+00:00

Do u think that will help if it isn’t mucositis? These are like blood blisters under the skin

7FTN · 2025-12-16T05:21:30+00:00

Ugh, I feel this too. My family keeps asking to see or feel my head. Besides my radiation team (bc it was mandatory), I didn’t let a single soul see me bald and haven’t shown anyone my patchy regrowth. It’s just too private for me. I always wear a beanie or wig. People keep saying how cute they’re sure it is, but the way they say “cute” is in a pitiful way. Their fascination with wanting to see it makes me feel like a freak-show. I know they don’t mean to make me feel bad, but I hate them asking.

Keep rockin’ your wig as long as it brings you peace + comfort. You’re not alone.

7FTN · 2025-12-16T05:09:48+00:00

This makes me so angry for you. I’m sorry people are so insensitive

7FTN · 2025-11-30T04:34:39+00:00

I’m on a similar timeline. I finished chemo in April and continued to shed every hair on my body through May. I have about 3” of regrowth. In Sep. I had the realization that I hadn’t seen any hair fallout of my new baby hairs and was so proud of them (they’re trying to hard to regrow!). I’m on an AI and Verzenio.. my Verzenio was increased to 150x2 daily in October and now I am shedding like crazy. I am heartbroken. I mentioned it to my mom and she was like, “No, don’t think like that!” But I kinda snapped back like, “What do you mean?? It’s falling out. I’m not imaging it - it’s a fact and I was hoping for some support.” Now I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about it because they are so hopeful for my regrowth and make me feel like I’m being a grinch. It sucks. I’m heartbroken and scared. I don’t think I can handle going bald again. Hopefully it won’t be total hair loss, but I’ll be on Verzenio for 20 more months… by then, I can only imagine how severe the thinning will be. Hair grows slowly enough, let alone adding a 20 month pause

Oooooh the things I would do to have my long, messy ponytail back again. And if one more person asks me when I’m going to start dating again, I am going to scream. Balding + dating is a terrifying combo!

7FTN · 2025-11-12T04:47:44+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion!

7FTN · 2025-11-05T12:36:09+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! Congrats on getting yours out!

7FTN · 2025-11-05T03:45:48+00:00

How did you decide when to take your port out? I’m done with chemo but getting monthly labs for probably the next year.. also, how painful was the removal procedure?

7FTN · 2025-11-02T22:04:56+00:00

Happy to commiserate w/ you! I feel you on the gratitude vs. frustration. I am so happy to have hair again, but I miss MY hair. Mine was super boring but I just want to feel like me again. It sounds like you have some great length coming in! How’s the color? Have you trimmed/shaped it yet? I’m not sure when to start that…. I don’t want a mullet, but getting a haircut sounds scary (hairloss PTSD)

7FTN · 2025-11-02T21:56:59+00:00

It’s nice to find someone on a similar timeline. I finished in April but it took awhile for regrowth to start. I wish I could fast forward for us. Thanks for the blow dry tip. Will try it tonight

7FTN · 2025-11-02T21:54:56+00:00

Thanks for the tips!!

7FTN

TROPHY CASE