Should I cover my baldiehead?

daisiegg

lostinrates wrote: »

I would just like to say it isn't just you who reacts badly to those adverts. I have lost no one very close to cancer, though two close family members have had cancer. But those adverts really, really frustrate me and have the opposite impact on me. They make me feel the fight is futile and I find them profoundly depressing and rather idiotic, like a mouthy, cocky kid in a playground who mouths of but inevitably gets a walloping anyway. I really, really, detest those adverts.

I hate them too. I don't think it is remotely helpful to personify cancer and turn it into some sort of monster figure.

Pechow

There was a teacher who went through chemo while I was still at school, doing A-levels, and she would either wear headscarves or go bare. I don't recall a single person making fun of her for it, from any year, but if anyone had tried I don't think they'd have had many supporters. Considering how many families have been impacted by cancer at some point or another, and thus how many students would have already experienced someone with cancer at that point in their lives, I'm pretty sure if anyone had tried everyone else would have turned on them in a fury.

Yes, there will probably be the odd one or two who do make fun, there are horrible people everywhere-but overall I don't think you'd have problems from the students. So do whatever is most comfortable for you!

bluenoseam

I think the thing to remember here is that there's one person here who actually counts, it's YOU who has to put up with it, so do what makes YOU comfortable, sod what everyone else thinks!

I know it's rich of me to say that, when I lost mine due to chemo I wore a hat when in public, mostly because people would stare at me and I felt I looked somewhat "thuggish". With that said I lost my hair at the end of my first cycle so didn't look stereotypically "ill" for a little bit at the start, at which point people just thought I was a skinhead. There's also the fact I am a guy, so hair is not really as big an element to us, so I might have a skewed view of things.

I know during my treatment there was a woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer and she hated wearing her wig, mostly because she felt it uncomfortable & very warm. Thing is she had a really nice wig which if you didn't know you'd never have known it was a wig (I personally didn't know til she took it off one day for a good ol scratch).

cheeswright

I think the odd thing about hair loss is not the top of the head - its eyebrows that make the most difference - as they are such good emotional indicators...a close friend of mine who went through this tried allsorts of headgear / wigs - and also like you found it quite itchy - but we were both startled to find how different she looked with even just a faint colour along her brow line to "fake in" some eyebrow lines
the hair was strangely less important to the way she looked and less odd than the abscence of eyebrows - but that may just have been her particular face...
but whatever you decide remember nobody notices what you look like after the first ten mins anyway - so do whatever makes you feel least selfconcious

j.e.j.

elisebutt65 wrote: »

What do you think? If you were a fellow member of staff or a parent, would you think I should cover up or just be proud to be bald?

If I were a member of staff or parent (or student) I wouldn't want to make decisions on your behalf.

But I do feel a bit uncomfortable about the proud to be bald thing. I think you have to tread a fine line between being open and honest and not wanting to hide, and flaunting something that others might find upsetting. Was the last time the students saw you before your treatment started?

I hope I haven't said something out of line here, just wanted to give my honest opinion to the original question. I think you're incredibly strong to be able to cope with the things you're going through. I couldn't do it, I know I couldn't.

Good luck with your treatment, Fingers crossed you'll get the all-clear and be able to get back on with your life and put all this behind you.

mcja

My kids are little compared to the age you teach (8&6), and I would be pleased to see a teacher comfortable enough to be able t be themselves in school.

You have been through an awful journey, like you say wear your badge and just be ready for questions from the kids, and I am sure, parents.

Good luck and bl00dy well done.

Xx

neverdespairgirl

Up to you, I agree with the other posters.

My mother had chemotherapy from last September until Feb this year, and mostly wore hats - the chemo made her feel cold a lot of the time, and her head felt particularly chilly. She took them off indoors sometimes if it was nice and warm

It's your head, your illness, your choice.

DUKE

You know elise I was going to ask in your other thread (but I didn't wanna start a riot), am I the only person who thinks that bald is beautiful? I went bald & absolutely loved it! As you say the wigs (although lovely) are far too hot to wear, the hats are the same & stick to your head. Actually this probably sounds awful but I found being bald was an advantage of having cancer. Do what's right for you & be proud xxx

clare64

Elisebutt,
I had breast cancer when my children were very young, as theyliked my long hair I did wear a wig. However I found it very uncomfortable so I took it off when my hair was only about 1/2 inch long.
Even though I would never have normally worn my hair that short it felt liberating and most of my eldest childs friends thought it was cool!
You must do what feels right for you and congratulations on finishing your chemoxx

Gra76

I did the whole hairless thing 18 months ago when I was having a 6 month course of chemo to fix my cancer.

I wore my bald head with pride. I guess it's a lot easier being male though.

It's a good idea to cover up anyway as I found my skin burnt surprisingly quickly when I was having my treatment and for a while afterwards too.

Ultimately it's what you're comfortable with though.