If you’re undergoing chemotherapy as part of your cancer treatment plan, you’ve likely noticed some side effects along the way. One of the most common effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. While this side effect isn’t a threat to your health, it’s normal to worry about how it will affect the way you look and feel as you fight cancer. Whether you’ve already started losing your hair or just want to be prepared for when it happens, here’s what to know about why hair loss occurs during chemotherapy and what to expect long term.
How Does Chemotherapy Affect Your Hair?
The main reason chemotherapy has side effects is that it attacks all cells that are rapidly dividing in your body. This means it affects not only the cancer cells, but also healthy cells—including the ones in your hair follicles. After all, these are among the fastest-growing cells you have, so they’re going to be targeted by chemotherapy rather quickly—which is why your hair may start falling out as soon as about one week into treatment. [1]
Note that all hair follicles may be affected by chemotherapy, meaning you could lose hair from your head or your body—including your eyebrows and eyelashes. The speed with which you experience hair loss depends on the type, dose, and frequency of your chemotherapy medication. It may be sudden or gradual, or it might not happen at all to you. But if it does, know that it’s often temporary, and there are ways to deal with this issue in the meantime.
When Will Your Hair Grow Back?
In most cases, hair loss after chemotherapy isn’t permanent. But how long will it take to grow back? The answer is different for each person, but on average, you should notice the start of hair regrowth about four weeks after the chemotherapy treatment is over. At that point, your hair may resemble soft fuzz, but within about six weeks, it should start to look like your normal hair.
Generally, it takes about three months after chemotherapy ends to grow about one inch of hair. [2] Within about one year, you should have about four to six inches of hair on your head. Keep in mind that your hair may grow back a slightly different color or texture compared to before, but this is usually temporary and should eventually return to your normal hair. Also, as your hair grows back, your scalp may feel sensitive or even itchy, and your hair might break easily early on. For this reason, it’s best to avoid dying or perming it for a few months. Let your hair grow in for a while before you make any changes.
What Can You Do About Hair Loss?
If you’re worried about hair loss during chemotherapy, tell your doctor. He or she may be able to adjust the dose and frequency of your chemotherapy medications to reduce hair loss, as sometimes getting smaller doses more frequently can keep hair loss minimal. Your doctor may also recommend a cooling cap to reduce hair loss. Of course, you can simply wear a wig during chemotherapy until your hair grows back; health insurance sometimes even covers this option for cancer patients. [3]
If you’re experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy and want to know your options, please call Genesis II at (315) 458-1074 to find out how we can help! Or to contact us via email click here.
Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash
Sources:
[1] American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/hair-loss/coping-with-hair-loss.html
[2] BreastCancer.org: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/hair-loss
[3] Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/hair-loss/art-20046920
