Chemotherapeutic treatments for cancer involve the oral, intravenous or other administrations of what are known as cytotoxic drugs and chemical agents. These cytotoxic substances, as their name implies, are poisonous to a class of cells that are characterized by a rapid rate of mitosis (cell division). Cancer cells are fast dividing cells that can be damaged or destroyed by chemotherapies that also target rapid mitosis hair follicle cells, and as a result, alopecia (hair loss) can occur. As outlined below, there are three distinct types of alopecia that can present as a typical side-effect of chemotherapeutic treatments:
- Alopecia Totalis: The complete loss of all hair on the scalp
- Alopecia Areata: Well-defined bald patches on the scalp that are typically round or oval in shape
- Alopecia Universalis: The total loss of all hair on the body, including eyelashes and eyebrows
The form and severity of cytotoxic therapy-caused hair loss will vary from one cancer patient to another, and different types and dosages of chemotherapies will also result in varying forms of alopecia. At the present time, there are no known medical interventions that can wholly prevent the occurrence of what many individuals describe as being one of the most psychologically debilitating aspects of their disease. To better prepare for the mental challenges of alopecia, it is recommended that cancer patients consult with those health care professionals who can oftentimes reliably predict the nature of the chemotherapy-caused hair loss that lies ahead.
More Facts About Alopecia
Fortunately, hair loss caused by chemotherapy isn’t permanent. Most cancer patients can reasonably expect to regrow a full head of hair and/or replace their body hair within six months to a year subsequent to the completion of their treatments. Some people may notice a distinct difference in the color and/or texture of their newly grown hair, but this, too, is only a temporary condition that will correct itself over time.
There are no specific timetables, but cancer patients can typically expect to see the initial signs of hair loss within 10 to 14 days after beginning their chemotherapy treatments. Hair loss can be gradual, though, oftentimes it will be dramatic and swift; hair may fall out in large clumps during the entire course of treatments and up to a month beyond. For those individuals who only experience a gradual thinning of the scalp hair, experts agree that patients can lose up to 50 percent of head hair before it becomes obviously noticeable to others.
As a general rule, hair follicle cells that have been damaged by chemotherapies will begin to repair themselves within one to two months subsequent to the end of treatments, and after complete cellular regeneration has occurred, new hair growth will progress at an approximate rate of a quarter inch a month. There is some evidence to suggest that topical scalp applications of the female and male pattern baldness preventing drug Minoxidil (Rogaine), both before and during chemotherapy treatments, may speed up the hair regrowth process, though, further studies are needed to determine if this is actually true.
Cancer Patients Should Prepare Themselves
As stated earlier, chemotherapy-caused hair loss can have a devastating impact on the emotional well-being of a cancer patient at a time when their spirits are already low due to the presence of a potentially debilitating and life threatening disease. To minimize the physical and psychological aspects of chemotherapy-caused hair loss, experts recommend that patients prepare for what is to come by following the suggestions outlined below:
- Make arrangements for a suitable head covering: Cancer patients shouldn’t wait until they are already experiencing alopecia before they select a head covering that will provide them with an optimal, spirit-lifting solution to their hair loss condition. While some individuals are satisfied with the wearing of hats or scarves, others will prefer to wear a wig. Many clinics, hospitals or other cancer treatment institutions offer patients an opportunity to participate in a program that will provide them with a wide selection of wigs or other head coverings free of charge; doctors can also write a prescription for a wig that will sometimes allow its cost to be covered by a patient’s health insurance plan.
- Cut your hair prior to treatment: Most hair experts agree that shorter hair appears to have more volume, and as a result, a gradual thinning of a more cropped hairstyle will be less noticeable. An additional benefit of a shorter hairstyle is that it will allow a cancer patient to make a more gradual transition to further hair loss. Taking that philosophy one step further, many individuals decide to shave their head prior to beginning chemotherapy, an act that seems to provide some cancer patients with an increased sense of control over their disease.
- Protect your newly exposed scalp: The complete loss of head hair will expose the scalp to sun, heat, cold, and other elements that could cause damage to an area that may become newly and overly sensitized by some chemotherapies. Cancer patients with alopecia totalis should take care to protect the scalp with sunscreens and suitable head coverings until new hair growth is complete.
The BeauBeauTM scarf was designed for women facing hair loss due to chemotherapy.
