Hair loss is a commonside effect of chemotherapy treatment.
Hair loss from chemotherapy usually starts in the few weeks following chemo.
Many chemotherapy medications may cause hair loss, but not all of them will.
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Thehair regrowthbegins not long after chemotherapy treatment has ended.
Knowing what to expect can help youprepare for chemotherapy.
They ignore the signals and mechanisms that tell normal cells to stop dividing.
Chemotherapy drugs damage the genetic material (RNA and DNA) inside rapidly dividing cells that guide cell division.
The hair follicles have a good blood supply, which unfortunately allows chemotherapy drugs to reach them efficiently.
As a result, about 65% of people who receive chemotherapy will experience hair loss.
About 90% of your scalp hair is in the active growth phase (anagen) at any time.
Therefore, this hair will be affected by chemotherapy agents.
Which agent is chosen depends on the pop in of cancer.
Alkylating Agents
Alkylating agents damage the cell DNA at all phases of the cell growth cycle.
Not all anti-tumor antibiotics will cause hair loss.
Among these,Adriamycin(doxorubicin) and Idamycin (idarubicin) are more likely to cause hair loss.
In this group, more hair loss is seen with VePesid (etoposide) and Camptosar (irinotecan).
Mitotic Inhibitors
Other plant alkaloids are mitotic inhibitors.
They inhibit enzymes that are needed for cell reproduction.
These chemotherapy agents are more likely to cause hair loss.
Is Radiation Contributing to My Hair Loss, Too?
Some people receive radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which can contribute to hair loss.
Radiation only affects hair on the area of the body being treated.
At lower doses, radiation hair loss is temporary, but at higher doses it can be permanent.
There are also varying degrees of hair loss, regardless of chemotherapy drug bang out and regimen.
Hair Loss Timeline
Hair loss usually doesnt happen immediately after chemotherapy.
It usually starts one to two weeks after the first treatment with chemo.
One preventive measure is the use of scalp cooling.
This causes the capillaries supplying the hair follicles to constrict, exposing them to less chemotherapy medication.
It seems to work best for taxane-based chemotherapy.
They normally go through a cycle of active growth, then rest.
Chemotherapy sends more of them into the rest phase (telogen), which usually lasts for 100 days.
At first, you may see light amounts of fuzz-like hair return, followed by thicker amounts of hair.
By about six months after treatment, you may have enough hair to be able to style it.
Still, some people do not see hair regrowth.
Some types of chemotherapy (such as busulfan and cyclophosphamide) have a higher risk of permanent hair loss.
Summary
Hair loss is a common side effect from chemotherapy.
It occurs due to the way chemotherapy works-by interfering with the way cells divide.
Not all chemotherapy medications cause hair loss, but many do.
Preventative measures for hair loss are limited.
Scalp cooling may be effective but can be expensive and not work for everyone.
Topical medications have also not been found to be effective in preventing hair loss from chemo.
A Word From Verywell
Hair loss is a consequence of cancer treatment that can be very distressing.
There is no right or wrong way to feel about this hair loss or how you face it.
Talk to your treatment team about your risks, options, and their recommendations.
you could choose to wear a wig or head covering or embrace the new look.
Many have been down this same path and can offer helpful suggestions and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Body hair can grow back after chemo.
However, there is a risk that hair loss can be permanent in some people.
Yes, it is possible that pubic hair may fall out because of chemotherapy.
This generally happens later than when the hair on the head is lost.
Yes, it is possible that facial hair may fall out because of chemotherapy.
This generally happens later than when the hair on the head is lost.
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