Real stories: Hair loss, identity and cancer treatment

"I had hair halfway down my back. When I used to go to hairdressers, I would always ask for just a few inches off. That was my armour and identity.

I decided to cut it into a bob, which felt amazing and free. Then before I started chemotherapy, I shaved the sides to change up the style.

When I was in hospital, I called my friend who is a barber to come shave it all off. It was the most empowering thing I've ever done in my whole entire life. I felt so light and free." 

"My hair actually took a while to fall out. Maybe because they were locks. 

One day I was tying my hair back and one lock popped out in my hand. A couple of evenings that week I started plucking them out. My friend lent me his shaver and I initially did it myself. Upon seeing me, my son said: 'Mummy, you can't go out looking that that.' I sat down and he shaved it.  

I cried, but to be honest, I cried more when I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes. I just didn't look like myself." 

"I had hair loss and had it very quickly. In fact, it was losing my eyebrows and eyelashes that bothered me the most. The wigs were just ridiculous, so I bought a lot of scarves and hats. But when you look in the mirror without brows and lashes, you look like a very sick person. I actually just couldn't look at myself. I didn't like to." 

We have more information about changes to your eyebrows and eyelashes, including how to redraw eyebrows using make up.

"I went to an event at a Macmillan Support Centre. It was aimed at making you feel better about your appearance with makeup tips. They gave you lots of makeup which was good because I didn't really use it before. That event was one of the best things I could've gone to. I was able to draw on these features and actually feel a bit more normal."  - Penny

“I attended some lovely Macmillan workshops which I was not sure about at first, but was so glad I did as I met cancer patients dealing and going through the same thing as me and it was lovely to hear their stories and swap information which was happening to all of us - hair loss, body hair loss, eye lashes falling out and so on.

I attended the head scarf workshop. I did feel that I didn't want people seeing me with my turban off. After a while I felt ok to try different head gear on and we all had a laugh. I was also picked to be interviewed for the Kingston hospital cancer website which was great if it helps other people going forward.  

I also attended the Look Good Feel Good workshop with make-up. This was brilliant as I got so many tips and professional makeup artists showing you how to put on makeup and draw on your eyebrows. We were given a fantastic make up bag and contents to take home, I was pleased.” - Karen