How to Deal with Hair Loss from Chemotherapy

There's nothing quite more devastating to a woman than losing her hair. Yet, that's the reality most women face when they undergo chemotherapy treatments for cancer. While some drugs don't cause any hair loss, others can cause a chemo patient's hair to slightly thin. Most patients experience total hair loss. In addition, you can lose more than just your crowning locks, as your eyelashes, eyebrows, as well as underarms hair can also fall out.

Although hair can start falling out immediately in some cases, hair loss is usually gradual, beginning around the tenth day (around the second or third week of treatment, as Chemotherapy drugs make your hair break off close to the scalp.

What to Do About Your Hair if You Need Chemotherapy Treatments

*Ask your doctor or nurse if your particular chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss. However, if it's inevitable that the drugs your doctor recommends will cause your hair to fall out, be sure to match the colour and texture of your real hair for a wig before you start treatment.

*Cut your hair before beginning treatment. If you've always had your hair long, it won't be quite as much of a shock if you first sport a short haircut before losing your hair.
Options for Thinning Hair or a Bald Heat

*Wigs--- If you're thinking of covering your bald head with a wig, your chemotherapy nurse will be happy to help you, as well as a therapist who visits you in the hospital. They can advise you of colors and styles of wigs, so you'll know to select the one that's most flattering, as well as comfortable. Try on different wigs before making a decision. If you've ever fantasized about being a blonde, now's a perfect opportunity to see if blondes really have more fun. It's good to invest in more than one wig, so you can wash one while wearing another one.

*Caps/Hats---Although wigs are an obvious option, wearing them in the summer can be uncomfortable and hot. In fact, younger people actually prefer caps and hats to wigs. Stock up on a wide variety of caps and hats, as well as fashionable scarves.

*Go natural---Of course you also go natural. At first it may seem scary, but once you bare your bald head, you may be surprised how freeing it can be. Besides, you see lots of men who shave their heads, so this should motivate you somewhat, knowing it's not that weird. What's more, celebrities such as Kylie Minogue opted for baldness when she battled breast cancer.

Tips for Coping While Your Hair Falls Out

*Hair net---Wearing a hair net at night is a good idea as you won't wake up with hair all over your pillow. It's possible such the sight of hair all over your pillow and bed can bring you to tears.

*Be gentle on thinning hair----As your hair thins, avoid hair dryers, and curling irons, as they only further damage your hair.

*Use moisterisers----If you see scalp flakes or feel itchy, this means your scap is dry so you need to moisterize it.

Cold caps---Although they don't work for everyone, some people find that cold caps help reduce the amount of hair that falls out. A cold cap lowers your scalp's temperature, reducing blood flow. Because smaller doses of chemo drugs are reaching hair follicles, you may not loose as much hair.

Finally, be encouraged that you hair will grow back as soon as your treatments stop. It will probably grow back as fast as it's always grown in the past (about half an inch each month), so in six-eight months you should have a full head of hair. Realize that your hair may not be same as it was. However, this could be a positive, if you used to have straight hair and finally get curly locks without having to get a perm. What's more, hair usually grows back softer and the color may also be a different shade.