Taking “Big Girl” To the next level
By now, if you’re one of our regular readers, Panda and Foster have already “broken the news” to you about my having been diagnosed with breast cancer and going to chemotherapy once a week. At that time, I had promised to address the topic in a post directed more to grownups than to Foster and Panda’s faithful fans in the Christian school library. There are so many angles to write about, but this is going to be about HAIR. And be forewarned, it’s not pretty.
I’d had a certain degree of experience with chemo from 2011 to 2016, when my husband was in treatment for pancreatic cancer. But that was from the outside looking in.
Now, although early-stage breast cancer is quite treatable and has a much better prognosis than what he had, I find myself on the inside looking out.
One of the first things people think when they are diagnosed with cancer is “Will I have to do chemo?” The next thing they ask is, “Am I going to lose my hair?”
I’m not a “selfie person” by nature, but I’ve always liked “before and after” pictures. And at this point it’s all “blog material” anyway. To be accurate, not all chemo drugs make your hair fall out. It just happens that the ones used for breast cancer typically do. From a woman’s standpoint, especially a Pentecostal woman’s (we don’t cut our hair), this is upsetting to say the least. But that’s life, and we just have to put on our “big girl hat” and deal with it.
I know a lot of people shave their hair before or during chemo, just to get it over with. I can see where they are coming from, because this long, drawn-out process of losing hair every day is not fun. But according to scripture, if my hair is my glory, then every last bit of glory I have left is going to stay there until the bitter end, when it falls out by itself. Besides, there’s always the possibility that maybe it won’t all fall out. One can always hope.
My hair has never been really thick, and despite not having been cut or trimmed since 1987, it’s never grown past a certain length. What a lot of people don’t know is that hair length is determined by a number of factors, not the least of which is genetics. And as you can see in these photos from August 18, chemotherapy and genetics don’t mix.
I apparently didn’t inherit my hair genes from Grandma Johnson!
About a year ago, I got the idea to save my hair “combings”, after seeing this ad while searching the 1916 Ludington Daily News for family history information. I looked online and learned that in the late 1800s and early 1900s, women would often save the hair that came out on their combs, and they could have “rats” or “switches” made which would add volume to their hair styles. And all this time I thought Victorian women just had better hair than we do today! Once I got over the disillusionment, I decided it might be a pretty good idea.
Now I have even more “combings” to work with. So technically, I’m not losing my hair. I know exactly where it is: it’s in a baggie in my bathroom drawer. More on that later.
It’s been a much more emotional process than I had anticipated, and it’s not over yet. But I guess the best thing to do is to keep a positive attitude, and try to believe everyone who says, “It will grow back!” Plus, it’s nice to have an inspector to approve or disapprove your choice in hats.
Nana's Whimsical World 
“So technically, I’m not losing my hair. I know exactly where it is: it’s in a baggie in my bathroom drawer.” hehehe The best attitude I can think of! And I completely agree about not shaving it off and hoping for the best 🙂 I wish you the best with this endeavor and pray you have a complete remission.
Thank you so much! It’s so sweet of you to comment. 🥰
You just have the sweetest attitude about all of this. Most of us would be going crazy right now. God is going to bless you
May it grow back more beautiful than ever. In Jesus name.
But most important is YOU. May God heal you quickly with no more pain and no more Cancer. In Jesus name
We love you, Deb. We are all praying 🙏 for you
Sandy kilby
Thanks Sandy! I really appreciate your comments and your friendship!
You have a great attitude! I’m praying for you!💜
Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We wish you a swift and complete recovery.
Thanks Yvon!
It will be okay. I am sure that you will come back all the better, and I wish you a speedy and total recovery. 🤗💝🙏
Thanks, Chris! Hoping you are doing well also!🥰🐱🐼
For both of us!
No, I had not gotten the message of your diagnoses. So sorry as it is a long treatment and one that is not very easy. You have God on your side whatever that may be. Love you girl and will be praying for you.
Thanks!
My prayers are with you as well Sis. Tracy.
Thank you so much!
You are in my daily thoughts and prayers! You are strong!
Thank you so much! That’s very sweet of you☺️
I’m happy to hear you are weathering the chemo despite the hair loss. Its hard to lose hair (even naturally as we age) but if the chemo does the job then it’s worth it. Maybe you will find lovely hats or even wigs you enjoy wearing. Also, I didn’t know your length of hair was genetic. Interesting that yours didn’t reach to the floor after so many years of not cutting! Much grace to you on your journey.
Thanks, Susanne! Yes it’s been pretty frustrating, but I’m thankful I haven’t had a lot of other side effects to date.👍🏻 Believe it or not I know a few ladies with hair almost to the floor😮 but I guess they got the good genes 😂
I used to wear my hair long down my back but never past my waist. When I was much younger!
Yes, the style in the 60s and 70s😀