As the chemicals used in chemotherapy are absorbed into your system, they begin to affect the cells that make up your entire body. These cells reproduce daily. Every cell is affected including the lymph, saliva, and sinus glands, even the tear ducts, and alas, your hair follicle.

The hair follicle is an egg-shaped cell that has two main functions: to grow hair and to hold the hair shaft in place, when the cells stop dividing or reproducing, the follicle goes into a sleep like phase. Hair is released from the follicle because the tiny “muscle” that hold the shaft into your scalp goes to sleep. The hair simply leaves the scalp. I call it releasing because that’s really all it is.

Chemotherapy hair loss occurs gradually and doesn’t happen all at once. It can take a full week or more for all of the hair to be released. The release usually begins about two weeks after the first treatment, or the week of the second treatment, depending on the medication.

Be aware that as the chemotherapy treatment progresses, the chemicals can build up in your system. Depending on the type of treatment, the chemical buildup may take more or less time. When your body has absorbed a certain level of chemicals, the hair follicle will relax and release your hair.

Chemotherapy can be very dehydrating. To counteract this affect, it is important to drink as much fluid as you can. Water works best for rehydration. When you drink a lot of water, you flush the chemicals from your system. This is probably the single most important tip anyone can give for your comfort.

Positive feelings of hope and optimism play a vital role in marshalling all your strength to fight your cancer and handle your chemotherapy and hair loss. Finding the delicate balance between facing reality and creating it can work miracles in healing mind, body, and soul.

Be open to new possibilities, the right look can work wonders. Today’s leading wig styles are truly ready to wear!

Scarves come in abundant colors and patterns that you can choose from to coordinate with your seasonal wardrobe. During colder weather, you might select soft fluffy knitted shawls. Or if you knit yourself, make something cozy for wrapping around the neck while relaxing at home or driving. This type of knitwear can take the place of fur on particularly chilly occasions. Something homemade always makes for a touching gift. If you find yourself at home during recovery, some cancer patients have found that keeping busy with knitting gifts for family and friends can be a welcome distraction. It is time well spent.

For warmer weather, an oversized white cotton scarf is indispensable for covering the shoulders or wrapping around the bare head underneath a large brim straw hat. It looks fashionable and achieves a level of comfort shielding sensitive skin from harmful sunrays. Matching a large soft scarf to your favorite hat is a way of being out and about when you would rather not wear your wig.

There are many websites that sell scarves specifically for cancer patients. These unique scarves are usually lined with 100% cotton to help the scarf stay in place and wick away any moisture. They are also soft and comfortable and will feel soothing on newly bare skin.

Giving yourself options in addition to your wig will allow you the freedom to address each individual occasion separately and effectively. Having a few scarves on-hand will help you to easily adapt your look to be appropriate anywhere from a wedding to a backyard barbecue.

Below are a handful of websites that sell scarves for cancer patients:

http://www.topsyturban.com/

http://www.4women.com

http://www.headcovers.com/scarves/

http://www.hatsscarvesandmore.com/

The handmade monofilament top is a wonderful recent innovation. We call this the “breathing cap” because it is so lightweight, ideal in wigs for cancer patients.

Strand by strand the hair is sewn into transparent nylon netting. When placed on bare skin, the hair appears to be growing right out of the scalp. This feature is similar in appearance to custom wigs.

Most of these wigs have a machine-made stretch back to assure the best fit. Since everyone’s head has a shape unique to that person, today’s wig cap is detailed with adjustable Velcro tabs that can be easily adjusted to conform to your head.

These natural looking wigs are now available in human hair as well as synthetic and blends.

Many of today’s leading wigs for cancer patients are truly ready to wear as they are, but you may want to take it from there adding custom personalization to your wig. In styling, additional layering to create wisps of fringe will frame and enhance your facial shape. A light feathering of bangs can help to conceal the hairline of the wig.

There are lifelike blends of coloring to match almost anyone’s natural or enhanced hair color. For those with distinctive coloring, adding accents of color or highlights in the area framing the face will often achieve the desired first impression.

At first, almost everyone feels like “the whole world knows I have a wig on.”  In fact, a properly fitted and styled cancer wig is really hard to detect.

Keep in mind her particular fashion sense. For example, if she wears jeans frequently make your gift denim-friendly. If the gift is for a younger person, make it playful to cheer things up a bit when appropriate.

One particularly touching idea as a gift for cancer patients is something as simple, yet unforgettable, as a get-well card with a hand-written certificate. The gift can be anything your imagination conjures up. For example, it could be good for a home-cooked meal or help with housework, running errands, helping with monthly bills, etcetera. It is the spirit of giving and participating in the cancer patient’s recovery that works so effectively in her healing, mind, body, and soul.

Keeping in mind your friend’s personality and unique lifestyle, with a little thought you can easily come up with fresh and lively ideas for taking her on a brief but fun outing to the local museum or matinee, anything that will engage your imagination to keep your spirits bright. This is a great time to perhaps become a bit more involved, spending special time together either at home or somewhere inspiring and scenic whenever possible. It is the gift of time together, which is priceless.

There is an abundance of thoughtful websites that offer pre-made gift baskets specifically for cancer patients. I have included a few below to help inspire you to come up with that perfect gift.

http://www.thepamperedpatient.com/

http://www.healingbaskets.com/cancer.htm

http://www.cancergifts.com/

http://www.headcovers.com/headwear/

http://www.4women.com/

Carrying a crushable hat made of cotton, linen, micro fiber or straw in your shoulder bag will give you piece of mind and confidence.  When you remove your hat, fluff your wig gently with your fingers, and perhaps mist lightly.  Get in the habit of checking yourself out in a mirror after removing a hat or in windy blustery conditions. You are looking for stray flyaway areas to tidy up a bit.

Hats for cancer patients are best in a loose weave and should also have adequate ventilation. A really clever idea is to install loops on the inside rim of your sunhat. You thread a long lightweight scarf through the loop to act as a strap. It’s so versatile to be able to mix and match any scarf. For times when you don’t wish to wear a hairpiece, you can tie a scarf as a head wrap under the sun hat, using the loops to secure it.  A hat worn at a slight angle looks sportier, while hats worn with sunglasses add glamour to any look.

A terrific alterative to wear under hats or turbans is the “halo of hair.” This practical hairpiece consists of a fringe of hair around the circumference of the head with bangs, nape and sides only. You tape it on in place of your full wig. Halos come with Velcro attachments that you may use for hats, turbans, and scarves. The halo can be styled and highlighted to look just like your own hair, providing a good-looking workable option.

Hats for cancer patients come in abundant styles and materials. Turbans in a soft stretchy fabric are ideal to keep you warm and comfortable at night and during your private time around the house.

There are numerous websites that sell hats for cancer patients. Check out a few of these to start researching your options:

http://www.headcovers.com

http://www.softhats.com

http://www.tlcdirect.org

http://www.chemosavvy.com/

http://www.hatswithheart.com/