r/cancer 3d ago

Caregiver Hair loss

My wife is loosing hair during her chemo even with cold capping. She is absolutely traumatized and said she would rather die than loose her hair. She is blaming me loosing her hair by her temples because I put the tape to protect her scalp from frost bite, on the exposed scalp with thin hair and it all came out when she removed it. She is devastated beyond reason. I have no idea how to support her through this part? I love her more than anything in this world and I feel hopeless hearing her say she wants to die. I don't know what to do or how to support her, I am speechless other than I can say I'm sorry. This whole thing sux for everyone involved, it sux the worst for her. When I tell her she is still beautiful, my words mean nothing to her. How can I help when my words are empty to her even though I mean what I say? I try to make her laugh and that does not work. Nothing I do or say works. Sorry for the rant I just need to vent, I can't vent to my only friend, the love of my life , because she is fighting cancer.

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u/PenExactly 2d ago

This sounds a bit cold, but if that’s her biggest concern then she is a very lucky woman indeed. Chemo causes such a huge variety of side effects that concern over losing your hair should be at the bottom of the list. And it’s not permanent or life-threatening like losing body parts, neuropathy, heart failure or secondary cancers. I was as bald as a doorknob and it grew back in with time and patience. Honestly, it should be the least of her worries, I hope she comes to realize that so both of you can get some peace.