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My hair loss journey


Today I lost my hair, but gained inner strength knowing that chemo is fighting bloody hard to fight this cancer inside of me. The chemo attacks rapid cell growth which includes hair and skin cells. So knowing that the chemo is making my hair fall out means knowing that it is attacking the triple negative cancer in my breast. 

I didn’t know what to expect when they said you will lose your hair. Do I just wake up with no hair, does it come out in clumps?? So I have journaled the process to show you what you can expect if you have chemo and lose your hair. 

This was me before chemo, blonde curly hair.


I started chemo 19 days ago so I managed to keep my hair for 19 days. It started to fall out slowly at first at around day 6 and then each day it significantly got more and more strands of hair coming out. On day 9 my head felt tender like it was sunburnt and was lacking nutrients, feeling like straw so I decided to give myself a little hair cut to freshen it back up somewhat. 



I brought some silk pillowcases which helped me sleep comfortable while my hair was beginning to fall out. I also ended up just using conditioner as the shampoo was drying my hair out so much more. 

Day 14 was my second round of chemo and this is when I really noticed handfuls of hair coming out just by running my fingers through my hair.


I was significantly losing hair from day 14 to day 19. I ended up with a massive dready where my hair just matted together and there was no way I could get a hair brush through it. So I cut it out. 


My hair had thinned out really bad on top. It seemed to come out from the top half of my head first and then started lower down. It was last night that I felt like I had little prickles sticking in my scalp when trying to sleep and I woke up today knowing that day 19 was the day that I would lose my hair. 

I borrowed my partners clippers and got my two daughters and my mum to help me out and be part of this experience with me. My eldest daughter cut and shaved it for me with help from my mum. My youngest daughter was happy to sit and watch and give moral support. 



I couldn’t believe how grey my hair is and it is still really patchy. That will probably continue to fall out. Once finished, we had some pictures to mark the occasion. 





I tried some of my turbans on to see how they fit without hair. I also tried my wig on that I borrowed from the wig library at cancer council. I am not overly keen on the wig, but feel very comfortable in the turbans. 





So physically I have removed my hair and am feeling relieved that I have finally done it. Emotionally, I feel ok. My biggest fear of all of this is now knowing that I can’t hide from everyone knowing I have cancer. When I step into the community people will know by looking at me which simply takes away my ability to control my environment. I suppose day 19 for me was the day I come to terms with the fact that I have cancer and I am fully into fighting this.  

I can no longer hide behind my hair but instead show the world that I am in this fighting hard. The strength I have gained from knowing that the chemo is working its powers to fight this is unbelievable. I love the person who I am on the inside and I know that those surrounding me love me for who I am on the inside also. 

For anyone who has to go through this, you are also a fighter and a warrior and I support you the whole way. One step at a time, one day at a time and we will get through this. 

I am looking forward to my hair journey at the end of all this. Will be interesting to see how it grows back 💕





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