The first time I lost my hair was in 2012, the year I was diagnosed.  It wasn’t a surprise to learn I would lose my hair whilst on chemotherapy, but it was upsetting, nonetheless. Once I started chemo within days my hair started to fall out so I asked my husband to shave it off.  I vividly remember sitting in the kitchen whilst he tried in vain to shave my head “bloody clippers they aren’t working” he said.  Then I noticed he hadn’t taken the plastic cover off the blade!! Well we laughed and we cried, so many mixed emotions!

 Losing my hair was such a trauma, I felt that I was losing part of my identity, I didn’t recognise the person in the mirror.   I now had the “cancer badge”, and had to endure pitying looks from strangers!

I had a wig which I immediately fell out with!, I struggled to look like someone who wasn’t me, so I wore headscarves and hats, and when I was too warm I went au naturel!

I consoled myself with the fact that I hadn’t lost my eyebrows and lashes- then, just as my treatment was ending they fell out!

My hair has grown since then and I’ve had lots of chemotherapy treatments in the meantime. Fortunately most have enabled me to keep my hair. I’m happy about that as I’m not instantly recognisable as a cancer patient!  My current treatment has left me with some very thin patches though, and recently my lashes and brows have dropped out. I’m kind of relieved to be shielding as I look like a half plucked startled chicken!  Fingers crossed that by the time I’m allowed back out into the world my hair will be growing back!