A common assumption surrounding cancer is that it causes hair loss. In fact, we can’t really think of cancer as a cause of hair loss.
It is more likely to be a side effect that we call alopecia areata. This condition can occur in the case of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell or bone marrow transplants, and targeted therapy. The motive behind these treatments is to address the rapid spread of cancer cells in your body. However, there are consequences to these treatments. The body’s healthy, fast-growing cells, such as hair follicles, are damaged, causing hair loss. The good news is that it is not a long-term condition.
While it is certainly true that chemotherapy drugs often cause hair loss, it is still a myth that hair loss is a certain condition that every cancer patient must experience. The medications you take, the dose, and the frequency of treatment are all factors that determine the severity of your hair loss problem.
The severity of the hair loss problem varies from person to person. Some may experience serious complications, while others may experience only mild cases of hair loss. Other treatments, including radiation, tend to cause hair loss in the treated areas.
However, cancer patients need not be dismayed by the condition. You can control hair loss during treatment in several ways. Your medical team will even be able to teach you supportive or palliative care to deal with hair loss during your treatment.
Reason
Some cancer treatments specifically cause hair loss. You should discuss the details with your doctor before starting treatment and ask them about the possibility of hair loss. Sometimes, there may be other reasons for hair loss that you may not have considered. These include low iron levels and thyroid problems.
Chemotherapy
Not all types of chemotherapy cause hair loss. You may experience more hair loss while taking the following medications:
- Cisplatin
- Altretamine
- Docetaxel
- Carboplatin
- Cyclophosphamide
- Gemcitabine
- Epirubicin
- Fluorouracil
- Ifosfamide and many others.
What you can expect
In the case of chemotherapy, hair will fall out two to four weeks after treatment begins. The problem may also increase after a month or two of treatment. This situation may alarm you, but rest assured that the scalp often feels soft and hair falls out when washing, combing or even sleeping.
The severity of hair loss also varies from person to person. It is even possible that some people taking the same cancer drug will experience varying degrees of hair loss. As mentioned, the type of medication and dosage your doctor prescribes has a big impact on how much hair you lose. It is also possible that the method of consumption, whether intravenously, orally, or applied topically, affects the amount of hair you lose.
The good news is that hair loss is only a temporary condition and you will see your hair grow back as soon as the treatment is over. Your hair should start to grow back within one to three months after stopping chemotherapy.
Maybe your new hair will have a different texture, i.e. it will be coarser or thinner than before, with a different color. This is not uncommon, and you must not lose heart as your hair will return to its original shine within a few years.
Is there a way to prevent hair loss?
So far, we haven’t discovered a perfect way to treat cancer without causing hair loss. Although medical professionals have tried to investigate treatments that do not cause hair loss, they have not found one that is 100% effective.
Optionally, you can use a cap to cool the scalp. This involves placing a tight-fitting lid containing the liquid that has been cooled. Wrapping this fluid around your head means it will reduce blood flow to your scalp, thus making the chemotherapy effects inactive. One point to note here is that this is not a perfect recipe either, and it is possible that you will still experience thinning hair. However, this will help you keep at least some of your hair.
You can also use FDA approved laser hair growth cap equipped with low-level light therapy. The laser cap uses state-of-the-art technology and addresses all of your hair growth needs, right in the comfort of your own home. The hair loss industry is buzzing with excitement about the effectiveness of these caps. Laser caps are not only non-invasive compared to traditional methods, such as implants, but are also more effective at minimizing your hair loss troubles.
You can also seek your doctor’s advice about Rogaine or Minoxidil. You may apply this medication to your scalp during chemotherapy. There are no definite claims about the effectiveness of this drug, as extensive research is still underway. However, what people have observed so far is that this drug accelerates hair growth, not prevents hair loss.
While there’s no way you can prevent hair loss from occurring, it’s still a good idea to keep the problem under control to reduce its severity during treatment. Some simple things you can do include:
- Wash your hair less often and very gently. Use baby shampoo and warm water when washing your hair.
- Pat your hair dry instead of rubbing the towel vigorously to avoid damage.
- Choose a mild and fragrance-free shampoo, if not a baby shampoo.
- When styling or combing your hair, choose a wide-tooth or soft-tooth comb.
- Do not use chemical products to style your hair.
- Avoid semi-permanent or permanent colors.
- One way to reduce hair loss is to use a silk or satin pillowcase while sleeping. This will reduce tangles and friction that cause your hair to break while you sleep.
- Do not use curling irons, hair dryers and flat irons for your hair. Also, avoid hairstyles like cornrows, braids, and ponytails.
- You can also cover your head with a turban, scarf, or wig if necessary.
- Your insurance may cover the cost of a wig. All you have to do is ask your doctor to prescribe something to restore the hair.
