Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

The most notable side effect from chemotherapy is hair loss, and statistically 100% of patients receiving the kind of chemo I am taking will lose their hair. The hair typically falls out about 2 weeks after the first treatment, so I decided this weekend since I was getting close to the two week mark to take matters into my own hands. Actually, the entire family took matters into their hands since we all took a turn cutting my hair. Doing it myself allowed me to retain some control over the situation, and to have a little fun with it rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of losing my hair. Don't get me wrong - I'm not happy to be sitting here typing this sporting the Mr. Clean look, but I think I feel better about it this way than if I woke up one morning with my tresses clinging to my pillow instead of my scalp. Cutting it before it got all scraggly also gave me the opportunity to donate the hair to Locks of Love, which is a very cool organization that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition or treatment. Something I just learned about Locks of Love is that although they require 10 inches of hair to utilize in making a wig, they can accept hair at any length and if it isn't long enough they can sell the hair and use the proceeds to offset the cost of making their wigs. How cool is that?

I made a little video to memorialize the haircut, and as you'll see the kids really got into helping me. I guess it's not everyday you get to help your mom shave her head! The crazy hairdos the kids were wearing were Casey's idea.



I think my favorite look might have been this "punk Mommy" style. Maybe I was a skater chic or a punk rocker in a former life? It felt strangely comfortable.



I head back to the oncologist tomorrow for the second round of chemo, and I'm armed with some new drugs this time and hopeful for a smoother week than the first round. If not, at least I no longer require someone to hold my hair while I get sick!