Chemotherapy

When someone begins to lose their hair  for normal reasons like aging, they become highly emotional and experience levels of low self esteem and self consciousness. Chemotherapy hair loss is no different except this person also carries the associated worries and stress of having cancer.

Chemotherapy hair loss is a side effect of receiving chemotherapy, whether it be oral chemo, radiological, or injection. Levels of chemotherapy hair loss depends on the type of medication being used for treatment. Since the chemotherapy affects all the cells in the body the hair root cells get damaged too hence causing hair loss.

Chemotherapy hair loss usually starts about 2 to 3 weeks after starting chemotherapy treatment. For some patients, hair loss begins as losing clumps of hair at a time and others suffer chemotherapy hair loss as a little here and a little there until for both patients, the loss is noticeable to others. Hair loss due to chemotherapy can even continue for up to a month after treatment is over.

Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed treatment for chemotherapy hair loss. The best way to deal with this side effect is to become educated about it and be prepared for what you may look like. The use of popular hair loss remedies haven’t had much effect on chemotherapy hair loss and for those that really can’t handle the idea of losing their hair, purchasing a wig or other hairpiece may help.

Preparing for chemotherapy hair loss is just about taking extra care of your hair before treatment begins. The use of dyes, perms, and hair dryers can weaken your hair and cause hair loss to happen faster during treatment. Another good idea is to cut your hair short in preparation for hair loss due to chemotherapy  because the loss won’t be as noticeable as it would if hair style were longer.

Chemotherapy hair loss doesn’t have to add to the stress of having cancer if it’s taken in stride. Being prepared and having friends and family helping with emotional support will add to the lessening of self esteem due to chemotherapy hair loss.

During chemotherapy treatment, there are few things to do that might lessen the chemotherapy hair loss. Using a satin pillowcase while experiencing chemotherapy hair loss will lessen hair being snagged and pulled out by other fabrics such as cotton that are rougher in texture. Using a soft bristled hairbrush and a gentle baby shampoo will also help in lessening chemotherapy hair loss.

After cancer treatments are over, most patients will still have chemotherapy hair loss.  Some  hair loss may be permanent due to strength of radiation used. However, in most cases, chemotherapy hair loss is a temporary side effect. Depending on the type of treatment, hair lost to chemotherapy hair loss may grow back coarser and a different color than normal. Chemotherapy hair loss doesn’t have to be a major setback during a patient’s cancer treatment if they keep in mind that most times, hair will grow right back.