Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
Chemotherapy and hair loss: What should you expect?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Can hair loss be prevented?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: How to make the best of it
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Cover your head
Why does it occur?
What should you expect?
When will your hair grow back?
Can hair loss be prevented?
How to make the best of it
Covering your head
Radiation therapy also can cause hair loss
Content
What causes chemotherapy hair loss?
How long does it take to lose your hair during chemotherapy?
When does hair grow back after chemotherapy?
Can chemotherapy hair loss be prevented?
Can cold caps help with chemotherapy hair loss?
Can medicine help regrow hair after chemotherapy?
What is the best way to care for hair during chemotherapy?
What are some ways to hide hair loss during chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Why does it occur?
Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body — including those in your hair roots.
Chemotherapy may cause hair loss all over your body — not just on your scalp. Sometimes your eyelash, eyebrow, armpit, pubic and other body hair also falls out. Some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss, and different doses can cause anything from a mere thinning to complete baldness.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about the medication you'll be taking. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect.
Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. You can expect to regrow your hair three to six months after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.
