How to Cope with Hair Loss Caused by Chemotherapy

Being diagnosed with cancer is a very devastating and frightening experience. Cancer sufferers must deal with the news that they will now be living with a very serious and potentially fatal illness. They will have many questions, fears and worries for the future. Will they be in pain? How will chemotherapy make them feel? The most obvious and visible side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss. Even people who did not care a great deal about their hair before their diagnosis may now suddenly worry about what their altered appearance will do for their self-image. Both men and women report that the greatest side effect they fear the most is hair loss. Whether hair loss occurs or not depends mainly on the type and dose of medication administered.

Hair loss

People are often baffled as to why hair loss occurs during and following chemotherapy. The drugs used are very powerful and they are designed to attack rapidly growing cancer cells. As well as treating cancerous cells though, they also attack other growing cells in the body, and that includes cells in the hair roots. Chemotherapy not only causes hair loss on the scalp, but all over the body. Hair loss can occur from the eyelashes, eyebrows, armpits and pubic region. Depending on the type of chemotherapy drugs used, some are more likely than others to cause hair loss. Different doses can range from thinning of the hair to complete baldness. Your doctor or nurse will be able to provide you with information about the type of drugs you will be taking and what you can expect once chemotherapy treatment begins. Hair loss is not permanent though. Patients can expect to see a complete regrowth six to twelve months after treatment ends.

Hair normally begins to fall out between 10 to 14 days after the start of treatment. The hair can come out quickly in clumps or it can occur more gradually. Loose hair often accumulates on pillows, in hairbrushes and in the bath or shower. Hair loss will continue to occur throughout treatment and up to a month afterwards. Again, whether your hair thins or you become completely bald will depend largely on your individual treatment. Some hair loss is not as obvious to other people as you may think. Generally speaking, you would need to lose about 50 per cent of your hair before anyone else notices. It will take about four to six weeks for hair to recover from chemotherapy and start growing again. After treatment, hair will probably grow at about a quarter of an inch each month. Hair regrowth will not be exactly the same as it was before. Your hair may have a different texture or colour. It may even be curlier than it was before. But these changes are usually only temporary.

Can hair loss be prevented?

There is currently no treatment available that can guarantee that hair will not fall out during or after chemotherapy. The best thing cancer patients can do is to plan ahead so that when their hair does start to fall out they are prepared for it and are comfortable with their new appearance. Some treatments have been tried as possible methods of preventing hair loss, but none of them have proved to be completely effective. These would include:

Scalp hypothermia (cryotherapy)

During chemotherapy, ice packs are placed on top of the head to slow blood flow to the scalp area. Chemotherapy drugs are less likely to have an effect on the scalp. Scalp hypothermia works in about 50 to 80 per cent of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. However, this is not a risk-free procedure. This procedure can cause a slight risk of cancer recurring in the scalp, as this region does not receive the same dose of chemotherapy as the rest of the body. It is also quite an unpleasant and very cold course of treatment to go through.

Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Applying minoxidil, a drug that is approved for pattern hair loss in men and women to the scalp before and during chemotherapy is unlikely to prevent hair loss. However, some research does show that it may help to speed up hair regrowth. In one small study on women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, they applied minoxidil twice daily all throughout their treatment and for four months afterward. Their hair eventually fell out, but it took longer for the women who had used minoxidil to lose all of their hair, than those who had not used it, and their hair started to grow back more quickly after their treatment was finished.

Making the best of hair loss

Although hair loss cannot generally be prevented or controlled, it can be managed. It can be very alarming and frustrating to lose your hair, but by taking certain measures these feelings can be reduced. Before chemotherapy begins learn to be gentle to your hair by doing the following:

Strengthen hair before treatment begins

Avoid bleaching or perming your hair, as this can weaken it. Try to air dry your hair and avoid using curling irons or hot rollers. By taking these measures to strengthen your hair right now you are likely to make your hair stay on your head a little longer during treatment.

Consider cutting your hair

You may consider cutting your hair. The shorter your hair is, the fuller it will look. When your hair begins to fall out, it will not be as noticeable. Going from long to short hair can also make the transition easier for you, as you have to cope with your hair loss.

Plan how you will cover your head

It is best to plan the best way of covering your head early on before treatment begins. Start thinking about wigs, scarves or any other suitable head coverings. It is entirely up o the individual to chose whether or not they will conceal their hair loss. Some health insurance companies may help cover the cost of a wig, so talk to your insurance company about it early on. During treatment, be gentle to your hair and use a gentle shampoo that will not dry out your scalp. Many people report that their scalp feels very itchy and sensitive during treatment and while their hair is falling out. Some people choose to shave their heads, particularly men. This can help to lessen the irritation that they feel and it also helps them avoid the embarrassment of gradual hair loss later on. Some men feel that it also looks better than the patchy hair loss they are experiencing. Another benefit of a shaved head is that it can make it easier for a wig or hairpiece to be put in place.

After treatment ends

After treatment ends, you will still need to be gentle with your hair as it grows back. New hair will be vulnerable to styling products. It is best to avoid bleaching the hair for at least six months afterwards. As well as damaging the new hair, hair products could irritate your sensitive scalp. Hair regrowth will not occur quickly, so it is important to be patient. It will not look the same as it once did. But it takes time for hair to return to its former appearance and recover from the damage caused by cancer treatment.

Covering the head

It is a purely personal decision to cover the head as hair begins to fall out. Women tend to associate hair with beauty and vitality, so they may then choose to wear a wig. Others opt for hats or scarves, while others choose not to cover their heads at all. Your doctor or social worker can assist you in finding resources in your area to help you find the best head covering for you. Look Good ... Feel Better is a free program that provides hair and beauty makeovers and other tips to women with cancer. These classes are offered throughout America and in several other countries. They also offer classes for teenagers will cancer, as well as a web site designed just for men.

Hair loss is undoubtedly a traumatic and upsetting experience for cancer sufferers. But there are so many resources available to help people cope with hair loss. How patients deal with it depends a great deal on their attitude to their hair loss. It cannot be totally avoided, but the trauma and anxiety it creates can be greatly reduced through the advice of health care workers, as well as the support of family and friends.

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-loss/CA00037