Shedding

It seems that my full-brain radiation treatments have finally gone to my hair. Starting yesterday afternoon, when I ran my hand along my head near my ears, clumps of hair came out. No bald spots yet—I’m starting from a pretty good place—but it’s time to look into wigs. I know it’s radiation baldness and not chemo baldness because chemo baldness feels different—like the follicles just aren’t big enough to support life. It kind of hurts until the hair’s gone. It also takes a bit longer, so if there’s any hair left in a couple weeks, chemo will take care of it. In the meantime, I’m suddenly plunged back into the sort of disgusted fascination of pulling the hair out of my head and collecting it in soft piles. It’s a little like picking off scabs, the fascination. Like, how am I producing all this? And how easy it is to get rid of it!

I also have a bit of a sore throat today, and sore mouth. As those were also listed as possible side-effects of the head radiation, I think it’s likely they’re related. The thrush seems to have been cleared up capitally by the prescription, but nevertheless I think it’s probably in my best interests to enjoy the rich gentleness of the lasagnas people have been bringing us instead of filling up on spicy fish tacos every day.