By now it is well-known that cancer treatments can produce a number of undesirable side effects, with hair loss being one of the most obvious. Why does cancer treatment so often lead to hair loss, though? And more importantly, is there anything that can be done to prevent it? We’ll tackle these questions and more in this blog post, which is all about having the right expectations with regard to medically-induced hair loss in the midst of cancer treatment.
Why Cancer Treatments Lead to Hair Loss
Cancer treatments come in different forms, of course, and radiation therapy is one of the two big categories. Radiation treatment certainly can lead to hair loss, but usually just in the place where the radiation is targeted. If you’re having radiation treatments on your leg, for instance, it likely won’t lead to hair loss on your head.
Chemotherapy is the other big category of cancer treatment, and the one that’s more likely to lead to hair loss. The reason for this is that chemotherapy aggressively targets all rapidly dividing cells in your body—the bad ones that cause cancer, but also good ones. This includes the cells in your hair follicles, which are among the fastest-growing in your body. In combatting cancer cells, chemotherapy also tends to combat those follicles—which is why, once chemo is under way, hair loss can be expected.
The Extent of Hair Loss
Different chemotherapies will work in different ways, and the extent of hair loss will depend on the type of treatment, the duration of the treatments, and more. Some individuals may experience total hair loss; others, no hair loss at all.
It is also worth noting that some chemotherapies only lead to hair loss on the head. Others will impact hair growing on the face, eyebrows, pubic hair, and so on. Again, this is highly variable, and the best way to know what you should expect is simply to talk it over with your oncologist.
If you do experience hair loss as a result of cancer treatment, it will probably happen all at once—a lot of hair falling out in big clumps, as you brush your hair or shampoo. This can be disheartening, but knowing to expect it can make it a bit easier to handle.
Preparing for Hair Loss
If you are starting a cancer treatment, we recommend joining us at New Image sooner rather than later; by coming in early, you can be fitted for a wig or a hair system that can help mask the effects of your hair loss, and can prepare you to tackle hair loss before it even begins.
We are here to provide you with the guidance you need through your cancer treatment. Come meet with a New Image stylist at your convenience.