Bald After Radiation for Brain Tumor
Had breast cancer, surgery, chemo, radiation. Then had a brain tumor that they thought could be taken out without radiation (kills follicles, and absolutely left me BALD! I was a hairdresser that went to graduate school with beautiful long blond hair. I CAN NOT find another woman that is as bald as I am. My whole head is permantently BALD. I tried every product on the market and nothing helped because the follicles were killed by total head radiation. I can not work, stay away from longterm partner that I knew since 1973 that I was in love with. I don’t work, have no friends left (my move, because I could not stand their pity). Stopped going to my support groups, and have tremendous stress now. My son is alone too, diagnosed with diabetes after given a medication for bi-polar disorder. I was adopted, and my family has never called me. So I am left completely bald – wear wigs w/pajamas if I have to go out. Thank you for letting me write this since I feel like a grieving “bald” widow !
I was left totally bald 4 years ago from head radiation after removal of a brain tumor. I cannot find another woman as young as I am, or ever older that me, that this happened to. Totally stressed out and won’t go out of the house. Probably will lose my house. Have NO self esteem. Tried everything, creams, lotions with no results. Hair Club for Men and Women (HCMW) are hostile to women, could not afford permanent program. Have alot of wigs, but NO SELF CONFIDENCE/ SELF ESTEEM and have just about given up on the hope of a solution.
Thank you.Have no pictures/ HCMW took pics of top and back ! I kept asking to talk to someone that had my extent of permanent hair loss that they kept telling me about – but did not for a year. Instead they had me talk to a potential client. Very sad.
There is no cure for what you are describing. You had bouts of cancer and beat it. That should tell you that your glass is half full, not half empty. We are the writers, directors, and actors in our own lives. Sometime we need help to do that job and a good psychiatrist/psychologist or counselor may help you direct your ‘play’. Get the help you need and make your life come out they way you want it to be. I have seen many handicapped people who have overcome many liabilities. A relative of mine died from breast cancer and she went through hell trying to beat it. Her life was taken and yours was gifted to you. Do you think that there was a purpose to your survival? Take a look at National Alopecia Areata Foundation. What this should show you is that there are many people working on your type of problem and many people managing their lives with it. Their glass is half full.
I met a lady with alopecia universalis (no hair on any part of her body from genetic causes) who wore a wig and used make-up for eyebrows and lashes for her eyes. Her alopecia could not be detected at all (she chose to look like a hairy woman), and she was fashionable and dynamic in her social and professional life (radio show host and former spokesperson for the alopecia afflicted). She told me that she made a decision that her alopcia was just a handicap and she quickly came to deal with her life when she was young. Living life for life’s value was more important than obsessing over a problem for which there was no cure. She was victorious, something I wish for you.
Hello,
I read that you have lost your hair due to radiation. I had complete brain radiation in 2005 and my hair has never come back. Just in different areas on my head. I too had beautiful blond hair. Always colored and styled my hair.
I began wearing wigs–and have never not gone out and lived my life. If you would like to talk sometime, please let me know. I live a very full life as a Legal Assistant, Realtor, still going throuch chemo for brain cancer.
Take care,
God Bless,
Lori
Maybe its because I’m in my 50’s, have a solid marriage and wonderful adult kids that will do anything to help me, but my hair loss (full brain radiation from brain tumor) just doesn’t bother me that much. I usually go out “commando”, but my Dr.’s office did give me a wig that I really like. It’s only hair. It isn’t you. If people want to stare, stare back. Besides, I have found that people are nicer to a bald lady.
Hello, I had the same problem.
I use to have a tumor on the left side of my head when I was 9. But all of my hair had grow now except the left side – I’m 14 right now.
I’ve been wearing hat everyday and it’s painful. I know it made me lost lots of self-esteem but you just need to live with it. If you think your life is painful, imagine my life. People picking on you, making fun of you in school. You can’t join any sports, feel sick in gym because you can’t take off your hat when it’s sweating. It had happened to me every year, but now I’ll just fight back if any of the kid were bad to me.
I use to go to hair club for men but they really stink. The people weren’t very nice there and I say they are consider of lazy. They made me a wig for the whole head but what they really need to do is just for my left side. I know that because now I go to New Image. The people are great in there, you should try to do lazer treatment. I’m not saying it doesn’t help at all but I think it really helped me. My hair start to grow a little by little, it’s not even thick yet but it’s coming very very slow. To me, I can see nothing that’s growing but the people from New Image and my parents said that it is growing cos they can see the thickness of my hair. They took photos of my balded side from the beginning when I start the lazer and now. It does look a little different. And the lazer is 100 percent harmless. I think you should try it because I’ll try everything to get my hair back.
Just think yourself as a normal person. A wig could really help if you’re full balded because I think my situation is worst than yours. I have half balded have haired. I can’t even put wig on! And I’m only a kid or a teen. We should look upon you instead of you looking upon us. You should enjoy your life and be graceful that you had survived during the harsh battle. Live your life! [:
Hello
I have a similar situation on my head.
I had a brain tumor removed at age 20, in 1999, and radiation & chemotherapy in 2000. Now, 9 years later, the top of my head is like a baby’s – thin and wispy. The back of my head has only peach fuzz. I would be happy to walk around bald except that the lower right side of the back of my head (where the tumor was removed) is scarred up and misshapen – the initial surgery caused an infection, and so the dead piece of my skull had to be removed.
I am saddened to hear your circumstances that followed your hair loss. I wish and pray for you to find the confidence and self-esteem you say you don’t have. It makes a world of difference – not only on the inside, but your outside circumstances too- the universe responds to you.
I just read these posts and wanted to say that I am a half-bald 31 year old woman now, too. I was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor 5 months ago and I feel exactly like these other women who have written about how bad they feel, and how low self esteem and stress and depression are overwhelming them. I can relate completely. I had 5400 rads to the front of my head and I am half bald in front now. I feel really isolated from my friends now, too. Also, in the small college town I live in, everyone always knew me by my big mop of frizzy hair, and kind of made a big deal out of how “awesome” it was. It sucks bad to have had to lose it. But I had no choice, and hopefully they will understand. If not, then they suck. What else can I say? I haven’t given them a chance to see because I also sorta stopped leaving the house. My big frizzy hair didn’t make me who I am, I guess, but it still sucks that I lost it. Well, maybe my personality will just have to be bigger to compensate. I need a big freaky ‘fro state of mind. I hope I am brave and cool enough to pull it off. I hope I get to freakin’ live and not die. I hope you gals ended up doing ok, and I hope some other bald chick reads this among the others and doesn’t feel quite so alone. It won’t grow you hair to read other bald people’s sad tales of bald woe, but you don’t have to feel like such a lonely bald freak cause you aren’t the only one! My life sucks in many other ways right now but I have a dog and cat and that helps. Good luck, everyone. Try hard not to freak out and I hope it grows back! Love, S
My daughter was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in July 2008 at the age of 11. She had extensive radiation and chemo treatments for a year. She has been in remission for 2 1/2 years now but her hair still hasn’t grown in. This is very difficult for a 14 year old girl to live with. Kids make fun of her, people stare and all she wants is to be “normal” like all the other kids at her school. I thank God everyday that I still have her beside me with or without hair but yet I can understand a self esteem problem of a young girl not having hair at this young tender age. I’ve tried alot of products and nothing seems to work. I currently glue in tracks of hair in the back of her head where there has been no re-growth. God bless people that have to go through battling cancer and then deal with the life lasting effects of treatment! My heart goes out to not only my little girl but to all of you that have beat this horrific battle. God Bless!!!!
If they can transplant a deceased person’s face onto a living person’s, then why can’t they transplant a deceased person’s scalp onto someone whose hair follicles were destroyed by brain radiation?
It seems like a much simpler procedure and the anti-rejection drugs you’d have to take for life would be easier to take than a woman’s life of baldness.
By the way I have brain cancer and have had 10 bouts of radiation which has left me totally bald and miserable.
I hope a doctor reads this and comments here.
I think its a great idea.
What do you think?
I had radiotherapy for a brain tumor in 1999, after 13 years I’m pretty confident I’m going to have a huge bald patch forever. It’s at the back of my head – the bottom half. When it came out everyone was saying how lucky it was that it could be hidden by my real hair, which I agreed with, I guess. But to be honest, it still sucks- to me its obvious there’s a bald patch no matter how I do my hair. I’ve seen people looking at it, it makes you feel like crap. I’d say 99% of the time I’m fine about it, my hair doesn’t bother me. But every now and again I mourn my hair, I wish I could have a different hair style, I wish I could wear pigtails or braids. I got over the illness (4 brain tumors between the ages of 9 and 14), but I’m left with an ugly reminder of my formative years. It leaves me both mentally stronger, but equally scarred. I think its important to remember how lucky we all have been, in the most important respect; but sometimes you just need someone to agree with you that yeah, you know what- it DOES suck, its ok that it suckS. Worrying about your hair and your looks is not something to be ashamed of. When I allow myself to wallow for an hour, or a day I can put that aside and get on with life. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, its just my opinion. We’re all survivors, big hugs x
Hi all! I have. Even searching for answers / solutions also. My daughter had a brain tumor at 8 years old. She is now 11 & been finished with treatment almost 3 years. We too struggle with the Bald spots & extremely thin hair. She has 2 spots on the back of her head that will NOT grown hair, where the fields of radiation were given & the rest of her hair is just very, very thin. Not enough to “style” but too much for her to justify wearing a wig. She is about to start middle school & my hearts hurts thinking the new kids are going to not understand & be ugly to her. I have tried everything & no luck. It doesn’t seem to bother her as much as me (only cuz I know how mean girls can be starting the teenage years). She’s confident & so strong but if there was anything we could find to help, it would be so great! Just glad to find others with the same experience.
Hi, I am 21 year old woman and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of 6. I have permanent hair loss from radiation therapy and have received falls or (wigs) from the Locks of Love foundation starting from when I was 11. They are free until you are 21 and are suction fit to fit you personally. They look very natural and are handmade with donated human hair. These have increased my self-esteem over the years dramatically. I encourage anyone with children (especially girls) to look into this foundation.
Hi,I am 24 years old,i was diagnosed with brain tumor at the age of 7.I lost my hair due to radiation.I have a big scalp in middle of my head.I had to suffer all the embarrassments and was low in confidence and self esteem all through my childhood.I use to wear a hat and survived.I cant wear a wig as only the top middle portion is missing.Even now at times i feel very depressed seeing my condition.But may be should have to get along with life..i really wish if there is some natural cure for this.
HI THERE FOLKS!! I TOO AM BALD ONLY AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD,I USUALLY WEAR WIGS, I AM NOT TIRED OF THEM. I AM 61 YEARS YOUNG AND BOY OH BOY DO I FEEL MY AGE MY FACE IS GORGEOUS NO I AM NOT CONCEIDED I AM VERY MUCH ALIVE !! WHEN I LAY DOWN MY WIG JUST COMES OFF. I AM NEWLY DIVORCED EIGHT YEARS AFTER A 20 YEAR MARRIAGE . I have’nt any affairs yet, but I am getting ready to go out and about. I am going to have a good time Charlie Brown. I haven’t had sex in a very long time and I am ready to. I wish that I had a Great guy friend that I could have sex with however, I just do NOT!
HE HAD TO LEAVE ME .
HOWEVER, I HAVE TWO KIDS FROM HIM SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND I MEAN GRATEFUL TO HAVE MY TWO BABIES THEY ARE 15 MONTHS APART. YES IT WAS HARD ONE BUT I DID IT I HAD SOME HELP FROM MY MOTHER IN LAW SHE IS SUCH A NICE AND CARING LADY. MY MOM HAD DIED N 1995.
MY BRAIN TUMOR WAS TAKEN ALL THE WAY OUT SO THEREFORE, IT WAS APRIL 29, 1999. OF COURSE I HAD TO FOLLOW UP WITH CHEMO AND RADIATION . THAT WAS A HORRIBLE DAY.! I WENT TO UCSF TO HAVE IT REMOVED.
I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ONLY 4 DAYS. I RECOVERED VERY QUICKLY. I don’t have any hair on the top of my head Yes, i do have hair on the side and in the back
to me i am very caus of my head some days I just don’t want to wear a wig >
I have so many to count and almost every color. Big f in deal so I wear a wig big deal!!!
okay to sum this up. I wish that I had hair on top. NO biggie to some people but, not to me .People are always telling me . Naida at least you are alive okay folks but I don’t have hair on top of my head . I guess it could be worse . I went through hell and back. all of those pills that I had to take after I got home ., I had my friend come over and help me get the meds and fix lunch and dinner my kids were 9 & 10 at the time . I wish that i had my mother with me. there is noting like your own mother taking care of you!
Good Bye for now!!!
Kindly,
Naida Mercurio from Monterey, California