Sore Head - Will shaving it help?

vlcarr · 11-05-2009, 12:13 PM

Need some advice regarding hair loss and sore scalp. I had my 2nd round of TCH yesterday and not showing signs of hair loss yet.

However, for the past week my scalp has been so sore. It hurts when I lay down or touch my head. My onc said if I go ahead and shave my head it will help with the soreness.

Did any of you experience this soreness and go ahead and shave your head and did it help with the pain?

Part of me wants to wait until it at least starts falling out but the other part of me is so tired of the sore scalp.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me.

Yorkiegirl · 11-05-2009, 12:23 PM

On my gosh yes my head was so sore when it was getting to the hair loss thing. With me it did seem to lessen after I shaved my head.
I also washed my bald head every day as if I still had hair.

Jean · 11-05-2009, 12:37 PM

Hi Vicky,
Yes oh yes, I remember well how sore my scalp was.
Each blade of hair ached. Turning my head on the pillow or touching it.

Then after 21 days a clump of hair started to fall out as I washed it. I went to the hair dresser and had him shave my head. It took away the soreness of the hair and I just could not stand having my hair falling out.

It was just much easier to have my head shaved.
Also do not use a harsh shampoo. After I had my head shaved I came home and took a light clean dish towel and got it wet and placed it in the microwave and lightly heated it up then took a small amount of olive oil a drop
and rubbed it into my scalp and then placed the warm dishtowel around my head. Then soaked in a warm hot tub.

Vicky it does get better, the early days of treatment much is going on at once. Just take baby steps each day.

You are already past your 2nd treatment 1/3 done and behind you. Sending you best healing wishes.

Keep us posted with your progress.
Hugs,
Jean

Diane H · 11-05-2009, 02:29 PM

Hi Vicky, yes it will help to go ahead and shave it off. It sounds like you are doing really well with kicking cancer butt, glad you got great results out of the trial. It's so hard to lose your hair, but I took comfort in that I had a nicely shaped head, or so I think. I lost my eyebrows too and that bothered me more than the hair. You're gonna get through this just fine I know.
Sending out some hugs,
Diane

StephN · 11-05-2009, 03:55 PM

Yes, on a sore scalp. But with my initial treatments, not as bad as when I took chemo for mets. Just prior to beginning my initial chemo, I had my hair cut short which allowed me and everyone around me to get used to no hair gradually. After my 3rd treatment it was seriously falling out, and even though it was short, I got it shaved, which was easy with already short hair.

I used Nioxin products and they were mild on my scalp. You might develop dry skin on your bald scalp since it is winter. Moisturizing does help. I used the Nioxin conditioner.

sally · 11-05-2009, 04:31 PM

This is my 3rd time loosing my hair. I have had soreness with all three. This time I didn't shave my head. It's still thinning out. I will cover it soon but I don't think I'm going to shave it. It is nice to have a little something. I hated the bald head feeling. Sally

vlcarr · 11-05-2009, 04:48 PM

Thank you all so much. I did have my hair cut short before my mastectomy. Like you Steph, I thought it would help ease into it.

I will probably get it shaved this week. My hair guy said he would come to my house and do it. He's the greatest.

I may be wrong but I don't think the hair will bother me as much as not having one breast. I haven't been able to get my fake boob because of my incision problems. I think this is now under control and healing up.

The foobs that come with the camisole are no better than stuffing with toilet paper!

Of course my breasts are so heavy I don't think the fake one is going to match. I have so many clothes that I just can't wear and I'm struggling with that. When your chest is caved in it's hard to wear anything with a neckline.

They don't want me to do reconstruction until a year after rads due to the location of my tumors and they don't want anything in the way. So, I'm looking at 2011 before I can do that.

Although with my neck surgery in April, and then my mastectomy, facing more surgery right now just does not appeal to me either. So, it's probably for the best and I'll learn to deal with it. It's just been the hardest thing for me personally.

tricia keegan · 11-05-2009, 05:09 PM

Yes, it did help me and the soreness went away as soon as all the hair did.
In the meanwhile I did get some soft fleecy sleep caps which helped too. I got them from www.headcovers.com and it made it easier to put my head on the pillow at night !

Darlene Denise · 11-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Yep, sore head. Shaving helped alot. The other tip, either buy a satin type pillow case or take an old slip and put it over your pillow. The slippery fabric feels much better on the sore scalp.

Good luck.

Darlene

vlcarr · 11-05-2009, 10:17 PM

Thank you all again sharing your experiences. Don't know what I would do without ALL you wonderful survivors. I so admire your strength and courage

hutchibk · 11-05-2009, 11:16 PM

Vicky - I have one suggestion before you shave your head. I have lost my hair 3 times to chemo. I learned after the first one to shave it down no shorter than about 1/4 of an inch (I preferred 1/2 inch). I needed to have some sticking out of my scalp that could be rubbed out in the shower each day. When I shaved it down to the scalp the first time, it remained painful longer and I didn't have any length that I could gently rub to help tug the dead hairs out of the shaft. It took about a month for mine to all come out to smooth bald...

MJo · 11-06-2009, 02:19 PM

Make sure you get one of those long little brushes to clean the hair out of the shower drain. I got mine in True Value. I had a sore scalp too with chemo. It felt better once I shaved my head. My hair grew back thick and wavy. Beautiful. Now that I'm on my 4th year of Tykerb, it's thinned. I shed a lot of hair and I blame it on Tykerb. Have to be vigilant about the drains.

WolverineFan · 11-06-2009, 06:19 PM

Vicky,

Having my head shaved was really emotional for me, because I always had fairly long hair. Fortunately, I didn't have a sore head, but after a good week with my hair coming out by the chunks, it became too much for me. I dreaded getting into the shower in the mornings! Even though it looked like I had a full head of hair, albeit thinner, I had my husband shave it for me. I cried while he was doing it, but he would make comments throughout the process to make me laugh such as telling me what a good looking mullet I had. When it was all over, it was relief for me. The bandaid had been stripped off, and I felt like I had some control over it. Everyone handles this aspect differently, but I was really glad I shaved it earlier rather than later.

Good luck to you!!

vlcarr · 11-06-2009, 06:57 PM

Well, I did it! Todd came by and buzzed it to about 1/2 inch and the soreness is better already. I feel like I took control for a change. He said he woud come back and do a full shave when it starts falling out.

I look like GI Jane. In a way it makes me feel strong. Maybe it's my battle mode I'm going into now!

Thanks to all of you for helping me make this decision.

WolverineFan · 11-06-2009, 07:07 PM

I'm so glad you did it. I felt like GI Jane as well...in fact, I watched the movie shortly after shaving it, and one of my friends at work took the cover of the movie off the web and underneath wrote GI Hayley. It is on my bookcase at work!

My philosophy is, as is most people I know that has been dealt this hand, the fight is on, and let's kick this cancer's butt!!!

MJo · 11-08-2009, 07:12 AM

It's very possible that when your hair grows back it will be in better condition than before. You may even get some curl or wave for six months to a year. I just re-read my other post. YIKES. I am not on Tykerb, I am on Femara and I blame that for my hair thinning. My brain went blank for a moment.

Adriana Mangus · 11-08-2009, 09:40 PM

Dear Vicki; I have lost my hair twice now and yes it does help shaving it, rather than waiting for the hair to fall out.

Please keep us posted with your treatment.

Best of Luck,

suzan w · 11-09-2009, 01:44 PM

I, too shaved my sore head which helped! Also washed my bald head just like I still had hair, cream rinse and all!!! I never could wear a wig because it felt funny so I just went bald or wore a nice soft cotton bandanna.

Sherryg683 · 11-11-2009, 12:18 AM

Helped me. I had such a feeling of empowerment when I shaved my head. Never bothered me that much, which was a surprise to everyone because I was always so vain about my hair. My teenage son came home the day I buzzed it off to about 1/4", he said.."mom, you look like a bad ass biker chic"...lol
sherry

vlcarr · 11-11-2009, 11:11 AM

I'm glad I got the buzz cut. Today I can tell what hair I have left is falling out and it will be easier for me to have it this short.

I could not believe I had gray in my hair!! Just kidding of course, but I've highlighted my hair for so many years I really had no idea what color it was--lol.

It's a light brown I think. Think of all the money I will save not coloring my hair!

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. You're the best!