Wash and condition your hair every 2 to 4 days. Use baby shampoo or other mild shampoo (such as Aveeno® or Vanicream™). You should also use a cream rinse or hair conditioner. Use shampoos and conditioners that have sunscreen to prevent sun damage to your scalp.
Wash your hair only as often as necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo. Consider shaving your head. Some people report that their scalps feel itchy, sensitive and irritated during their treatments and while their hair is falling out.
Following the tips below will help protect your skin from damage and infection: Bathe every day and use warm water. Avoid soaking in spas or hot tubs. Use a mild soap for bathing.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize Your Bald Head
When going through chemo, try to keep your skin in the best shape possible by applying moisturizer. Opt for an ointment or cream as they're usually thicker than lotion. Apply it soon after getting out of the shower so your scalp doesn't have a chance to dry out.
Caring for your hair
Chemotherapy can cause your hair to become dry and brittle, so take good care of it. Use a neutral pH shampoo and conditioner (baby shampoo is too alkaline). Cut down on the number of times you wash your hair each week. Use a wide-toothed comb to avoid pulling at your hair and hair roots.
Eating more proteins through salmon, eggs, beans, and legumes can also promote hair growth throughout the treatment. Some people often feel nauseous and unable to eat after a session, which makes it more important to start a healthy and balanced diet before undergoing chemo.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
Around the third day following a chemotherapy treatment, some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains. If you experience these aches, you can take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil. If necessary, contact your doctor for stronger medication.
Chemotherapy can be dehydrating. Drinking plenty of water before and after treatment helps your body process chemotherapy drugs and flush the excess out of your system.
In severe cases with heavy decay, we may recommend using Gel-Kam or other strong fluoride toothpaste like Prevident 5000 or CTX5000, and placing fluoride gel in the trays overnight.
You may want to keep bleach or sanitizing wipes around your house. Use gloves when you clean. You may be more sensitive to smells if you're in chemotherapy. Strong odors from cleaning supplies might make you feel sick.
The following timeline indicates what most people can expect to happen after chemotherapy: 3–4 weeks: Light, fuzzy hair forms. 4–6 weeks: Thicker hair begins growing.
If your loved one is receiving chemotherapy or other similar medications, wash their laundry -- including sheets and towels -- separately from the rest of your household's laundry. If you can't wash them right away, put them in a plastic bag until you're able to take care of it.
However, it can be helpful to ask a hairdresser to help. Most hairdressers have experience of cutting hair prior to chemotherapy treatment, as it is a common form of cancer treatment. You may prefer to ask your hairdresser to come to your home so that you can have your hair cut in private.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
You may also want to avoid cold drinks and frozen treats like smoothies and sorbet with certain types of chemotherapy, as they can cause discomfort if you have chemo-related cold sensitivity.
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
You might notice an improvement in cancer symptoms, such as less pain, reduced lymph node swelling, and improved energy levels. If you use topical chemotherapy on skin lesions, the area might feel irritated and look red and swollen for the first few weeks. These are all signs that chemotherapy is working.
Whether it's due to pain from a growing tumor, swallowing difficulties caused by radiation therapy, or the nausea, loss of appetite or mouth sores that are sometimes caused by chemotherapy, involuntary weight loss is a serious side effect of cancer and its treatment for many patients.
It's best to wait until your hair has grown out at least 3 inches. Then it's safe to ask your hairstylist to trim the ends. This will get rid of the most brittle, dry hair. You may even like to get the ends trimmed once a month or every other month until your hair returns to its normal texture.
Hair loss will usually begin gradually within two or three weeks of starting chemotherapy. For some people it may be sooner and more sudden. You may lose all or some of your hair. Your scalp might feel tender as the hair thins and falls out.