Radiotherapy with wig on?

Hello Janet, I did not wear a wig but I believe you can leave it on I saw others wearing them, I wore a turban or hat  and there was no problem with them, you can only wear deoderant if it is a crystal one not sure if you are aware of that and Moogoo is great for the skin after each treatment I also used it on my head which was quite sore once all the hair fell out. All the very best for your treatment.

Kathryne

Hi

You are not being vain. I was never comfortable without my wig and I wore it for the whole time I was having radiotherapy without anyone saying anything. Good luck with it all.

Janice 

They don't make you take your wig off at the public hospital where I go... :-)

Thanks Kathryne, Janice & Jenn. That makes me feel a little bit less anxious about the next step.

Hi Janet

I am in the middle of my radiotherapy at present.  I would never step foot out of the house without my wig on, ever when I was at home. 

I am currently staying in accomodation for country people in Perth which is within walking distance to my treatment every day.  I decided it was too much hassle putting on the wig every day (I have my rads 1st up in the morning) and worrying about it getting knocked off or falling off when laying down so I now wear lil hats to zapping and then slip on a beanie while having treatment or sometimes I am very brave (like when I left my beanie at home) and give the staff the full monty head look which they don't even bat an eye at.  So I think you could definitely wear your wig if you wish or a hat, beanie, scarf, etc. whatever you feel comfortable wearing.  If you are having face or neck radiotherapy then that may be a different situation again.

Hope that helps, wishing you all the best with your treatment.  The first day is the most daunting, like every thing we have been through but after that is just becomes routine and day to day.  Keep yourself creamed up.  I just used QV soap, no deodorant (as i am part of a trial for the hospital) needless to say I shower a lot with hot flushes being constant.  I put Sorbolene (hospital supplied) on a few times a day to keep moisture in the skin and over the counter cortisone for the itchy spots.  So far so good with 18 down and 17 to go so over half way there yahooooo!!!

Mich xoxo

Thanks Mich for all your information & advice. I'm glad your treatment is going well. (It must be nice to be in Perth - so mild and sunny!  Here in Melbourne it's cold, wet and dreary at the moment.) It's good to know I can wear my wig although I worry a little that it might slip off. Oh well, as you say, I guess those radiology people see lots of bald heads.  :)

Hi,

I did not wear a wig, but used beanie.  I also took sorbolene creme(without additives)into the hospital and put it on immediately after each treatment and had no skin problems to speak of.

Good Luck, Julia

Hi Janet

I don't think you're being vain at all.  Each of us react differently to our baldness...initially I was quite embarrassed and did wear my wig everywhere, although as the Chemo went on I got too sick to bother and really didn't care.

I used to work in Radiotherapy and really, speaking from experience the staff are quite used to seeing baldness but they totally understand if you're feeling anxious about it so if you decide to wear the wig, then do so.  Don't feel embarrassed as the staff would not be shocked or bothered by whatever you chose to wear. They are used to it.  I'd love to know where you are being treated if you don't mind me asking....it might be where I used to work.

But I do have to say I think a beanie is warmer!  Particularly for Melbourne at the moment...isn't it alwful!!!  

My hair is growing back at the moment. but I was bald as a badger for most of my treatments of Chemo and didn't care who saw it. (see photo - taken not long ago when I went out for a meal)  I only wore caps, beanies etc for the warmth!

When I first went back to work I used to wear my wig but thanks to Chemo I am going thru menopause and having delightful hot flushes so the Wig soon got abandoned in favour of a cooler head!! 

As my hair is growing back I tend to wear my cap/beanie combo so I take it all off as soon as I settle into work (as the aircon is always warm!).  It's easier to put that away rather than a wig!

Funnily enough, my hair has now become a topic of discussion amongst my colleagues which has been a bit of bonus for me as I was only new and didn't know many people.  Once everyone saw how comfortable I was with it, they relaxed and introduced themselves and started chatting.

Now we're all joking about how it's come back completely different!!!  

I was a red auburn colour, looks like I'm going to be black now which is so weird!  And it's still dead straight (like it was) but just so fine - it's like baby hair!

I hope this has eased any anxiety you may have - oh and don't worry about the rads - you'll be fine and you're in excellent hands.