Boy do I feel naked!
“My hair had been thinning since the end of the first week of chemo, but I hadn’t been ready to shave it yet. I wanted to wait until it was coming out in chunks and was noticeably thinning. That day happened on a Wednesday… On that day, I woke up and went to the bathroom to apply deodorant. As I pulled away the Right Guard, I noticed the top was covered in armpit hair. I immediately put a hand to my head and brought it down. It had finally happened. Seemingly overnight... It was definitely a surreal experience.
…Oftentimes, we hear of female cancer patients mourning the loss of their hair but don’t often hear the perspective of men. I suppose this is due to the fact that men are “allowed” to have a bald hairstyle, and many men eventually do go bald. I mercilessly tease my bald grandfather and my balding father about their lack of hair. (Looks like I was about to beat my dad to the punch). However, even as a male, watching my hair fall out brought back a flood of memories about the impact my hair has had throughout my life. Just because I am a guy doesn’t mean my hair isn’t important to me...”
Want to know what Justin did about his hair loss? Continue reading his story here, entitled Losing My Hair, But Not My Control
Medically reviewed by Urologic Oncologist Dr. Robert J. Hamilton on 05/29/2022
Why does it occur?
Hair loss is a fairly common side effect of various chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body, including hair follicles (roots) causing hair loss from the head and body.
The severity of hair loss depends on things like the specific drug used, whether drugs are used in combination, the dosage, and how it is given. You should ask your doctor to describe the likely course of hair loss and ways to manage this side effect.
If indeed, you will most likely lose your hair due to your drug regimen, here are a few ways to prepare for your much anticipated… new look.
Sporting a short haircut is one thing, shaving your head is a whole nother bald game!
You could consider preparing for the anticipated hair loss by taking a proactive approach. For example, cut your hair shorter before any hair loss occurs. Psychologists call this “anticipatory coping.” Basically, it means you stop anticipating the hair loss and make a deliberate choice about it — in this case, to cut it shorter.
As the hair loss begins, you may want to take the lead and… shave it all off!
It eliminates the trauma of watching your hair fall out, clump by clump, and you’ll avoid waking up and finding hair on your pillow, on your bed sheets, in the shower or on your Right Guard deodorant.
As an encouragement, if you type famous bald head celebrity on Google, you’ll end-up looking at famous bald dudes wanting to prove losing your hair doesn’t mean losing your edge. To name a few, Samuel L. Jackson (Captain Marvel), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Fast & Furious), Kelly Slater (surf legend), etc.
If you decide to take the clean-shaven approach, use an electric razor, not a hand razor. A hand razor may cut the scalp or skin. If your immune system is compromised as a result of chemotherapy, a cut could increase your risk of infection.
Protect your scalp. If your head is going to be exposed to the sun or to cold air, protect it with sunscreen or a head covering. Your scalp may be sensitive as you go through treatment, so extreme cold or sunshine can easily irritate it.
When will it grow back is called the art of being patient!
Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow your hair three to six months after your treatment ends, though your head hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.
When it starts to grow back, you can massage your head with your fingertips. It may not make the hair grow faster, but it increases blood circulation to your scalp, which is always good for the hair.
Ask your doctor about using an over-the-counter topical remedy for regrowth, to help the process along. Products for thinning hair and hair loss are also possibilities.
Be gentle to your new growing hair by using a gentle, moisturizing shampoo.
Finally, who knows! You may want to simply embrace the shaved head as a fashion statement, changing your image in the process to prove losing your hair doesn’t mean losing your edge.
Take the necessary time to visit each of our pages on this website to familiarize yourself with the disease. Do you have questions or concerns? Above all, do not hesitate. Contact us via Messenger on our Facebook page. It’s simple, free and confidential.
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Written by Testicular Cancer Canada. © All rights reserved - 2022