Chemotherapy Hats/Turbans

[Flybye]

Hi. My dear, sweet mother in law has to have chemotherapy starting tomorrow for non-hodgkins lymphoma. The prognosis is good, for which we are thankful.

I would like to purchase a turban or hat for to wear. She is not sporty at all, so baseball caps are out of the question. I understand that her scalp will become sensitive and so a soft hat or turban would be best.

Any suggestions of things family members have used and liked or avoided?

[solobiker]

Hi, sorry to hear about your MIL. My thoughts are with you and your family. One of my patients where I work wears a nice looking turban/soft style hat that looks really nice and is not sporty at all. I will ask her tomorrow where she got it.

[rubywagon]

Would she consider something like this?

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wLX0JB4CttCtJSVyd_sWKCMh_yvDJI7tVVl3m46_2Xd421wrvsB9o6I-Ycj2qjssgjBCBvvnBw_WU0hytH7674FMFf8kakFlNYzFS8InPiMNWqAA54zYI5dS2kpbjHSqKZdy2Gtq3s4D4CzZupA7mF-uJg

It provides coverage but is breathable for summer.

My thoughts are with your family.

[zoom-zoom]

I'll bet a Buff would be nice...she would have so many ways to wear it and they have some made with a UV protective fabric, too, which would be of extra benefit to protect her scalp.

[Aggie_Ama]

I think you get very cold, my father was constantly having trouble with his body temperature and my MIL as well. Maybe a nice wool cap? I think you might be able to find one at REI even in the summer. I have an Alpaca wool beanie, it is heavenly soft.

[indysteel]

Several of my friends have purchased various hats and scarves during their chemotherapy from hatsscarvesandmore.com.

[blackhillsbiker]

There is an amazing yarn made of a blend of cashmere and microfiber. I knitted my friend a couple of soft, roll-brim hats from it when she lost her hair. The were lightweight, non-itchy, breathable and comfortable. Her husband said she even wore one to bed.

Deb

If you could get me her head measurement and favorite color(s), I'd be glad to make some.

[rubywagon]

I saw some really nice Icebreaker wool caps on Sierra Trading Post the other day, for a great price, too!

[blackhillsbiker]

+1 on the Icebreaker merino wool caps. I got a really thin one for late winter/early spring. It's very comfy!

Deb

[PamNY]

No advice, but lots of good wishes for your mother-in-law. I think a Buff sounds like a great idea. So soft and versatile as well.

[colby]

There is an amazing yarn made of a blend of cashmere and microfiber. I knitted my friend a couple of soft, roll-brim hats from it when she lost her hair. The were lightweight, non-itchy, breathable and comfortable. Her husband said she even wore one to bed.

Deb

If you could get me her head measurement and favorite color(s), I'd be glad to make some.

Not much to contribute other than to say that this is just one of the many reasons I love this forum. This entire thread, and especially Deb's offer above. You ladies are awesome. :)

[NbyNW]

Best wishes to your MIL's treatment and recovery. It's probably a very individual thing ... another idea might be for her to find a beanie like we cyclists wear under our helmets -- a soft baselayer that doesn't irritate her skin, and then she can wear any stylish hat that she likes over it.

[salsabike]

There is an amazing yarn made of a blend of cashmere and microfiber. I knitted my friend a couple of soft, roll-brim hats from it when she lost her hair. The were lightweight, non-itchy, breathable and comfortable. Her husband said she even wore one to bed.

Deb

If you could get me her head measurement and favorite color(s), I'd be glad to make some.

What's the name of the yarn??

[blackhillsbiker]

It's called "Cashsoft" – I found it at a local yarn shop.
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/cashsoft-baby-dk.aspx

Deb

[salsabike]

It's called "Cashsoft" – I found it at a local yarn shop.
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/cashsoft-baby-dk.aspx

Deb

Thanks! It sounds perfect for this purpose.

[Flybye]

I just want to say thank you for all of your replies. You are all very thoughtful and helpful. Makes my heart happy to get so many replies and so much help. As I sit here in the comfort of my office with my puppy on my lap, she is about 15 minutes away from her first treatment :( The fact that I can do something for her so small means a lot to me.
I am looking into the options that you all suggested. I can't get to an REI - I live in Idaho and the nearest REI is 3 1/2 hours away - UGH. I love the idea of wool and have some local options to explore.
I will look at the .com suggested by indysteel. Also, I have a buff that I can pass on to her that just did not work for me and my 50 gallons of hair :rolleyes::
Deb, I will get some measurements and get back with you next week if she is interested in going that route. You are very compassionate and kind :) I love that in a person! I got a nifty knitter at a yard sale for 25 cents a week ago. I might find some yarn and try to make one myself - although I am much more a tomboy than a crafty kind of gal :D
Love you all!!

[indigoiis]

I am so sorry to hear about your MIL.

Alpaca is also a soft, hypo-allergenic yarn. It is lightweight as well. I farm alpacas and so I might be a little biased, but I do know for a fact that the diameter of alpaca hairs is finer than that of cashmere, and has better tensile strength, is easier to cultivate (i.e. does not have to be imported from the dustbowls of China) and is readily available in the U.S. (just google a local alpaca farmer near you.)

[blackhillsbiker]

Alpaca is also a dream to knit with.

Deb

[indysteel]

Not much to contribute other than to say that this is just one of the many reasons I love this forum. This entire thread, and especially Deb's offer above. You ladies are awesome. :)

I was thinking the same thing. I was in a funk last night and when I read Deb's kind offer, I teared up. It really warmed my heart.

[ClockworkOrange]

Ooooooooooooooooooooh, there I was, waiting to see my consultant to.......dare I say it, to be weaned off my brace and I saw this:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Missbe/Decorated%20images/ea6326b6.jpg

I checked out their website and it looks extremely good, hats and head wear for hair loss, hats for cancer patients, now if you want me to get anything for you, just PM me and I am sure we can sort something out.

http://www.suburbanturban.co.uk/default.asp?id=100&name=Turban%20Tying%20Instructions

Best wishes to your MIL too.

Hugs

Clock

[sundial]

Fly, I'm sorry about your mother-in-law. :( :( Do you have a wig shop in your area? Many wig shops also carry soft hats for hair loss. Also, here is a website of hats and turbins:

http://www.headcovers.com/headwear/

I wish your family all the best. (((((Fly and family))))

[MomOnBike]

Well, this thread couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Thanks Fly (I think) for starting this.

I'm about to (like in a few hours) start chemo, with attendant hair loss (breast cancer). No, I am not happy about this, but at least I have some useful hat links. I will use them.

I just wish the hats there are had more attitude. These seem, um, shy and retiring. Oh well, that's what thrift stores and family are for, right?

So, thanks again. I just wish I weren't interested.

MomOnBike, the soon-to-be bald
(scurries off to look for attitudinal buffs)

[blackhillsbiker]

Send measurements and what you like in hats (color, style, etc.) – I might be able to fix you up! :) I love to knit fun and funky hats!

Deb

[Miranda]

My head is 54cm w/my hair being baby fine, wear size small Giro bici helmet.

I have an army of Buffs from the peeps that own this site...

http://buyabuff.com/

The original size was a bit loose for my taste. I wear the slim fit ladies version, or youth-junior version. Same size basically.

Both my mom and MIL lost their hair for chemo. It's nasty medicine, but it helped them to live. Sometimes, we do what we must.

(((hugs)))
Miranda

[roadie gal]

I don't have any suggestions, but I want to send my good wishes and prayers to MomOnBike and to Fly.

[Dutchgirl73]

Kangol knitted hat (http://www.kangolstore.com/p/265403/Bamboo-Cloche.aspx?c=1746)

I had chemo some years ago, and the most comfortable head covering I had was my Kangol knitted hat. They are expensive, but very well made, very stylish, and I still love wearing that hat; I can't recommend it highly enough! I bought mine at Nordstrom.

The reason I liked it so much is that it is soft and lightweight. My scalp was very tender, but this hat felt good. It was unlined, so cool in the summer (which was when I was going through chemo). It completely covered my head, so that other's couldn't see my baldness, and the brim provided additional coverage and shaded my eyes, but was not so big that it obstructed my vision, a major annoyance with many other hats.

It is costly, but not nearly as much as a wig, and a lot more comfortable.