| Chemotherapy is the main cause of hair loss in teenagers with cancer. Chemo affects rapidly dividing cells like the cells in your mouth, your gut, your bone marrow and the roots of your hair. Not all chemo drugs cause hair loss and the amount of hair that falls out can really vary for different people. However, many people will lose most or all of the hair on their head. The hair becomes weak and begins to fall out. This usually starts around 2 weeks after the first lot of chemo. Some chemo drugs also cause other body hair to fall out like eyebrows, eyelashes, underarm and pubic hair. |
The first thing you'll probably notice is that your hair starts to come out when you brush, comb or wash it. When you wake up you might find hair on your pillow. It can come out gradually over a week or two until you are bald, or you might find your hair comes out very quickly over 1 or 2 days which can be a big shock.
It’s important to remember that hair loss from chemo is temporary. Your hair will grow back once the treatment is finished. Very rarely, after high doses of chemo hair doesn't grow back, but this is really unusual.
what can help?
- Maybe get your hair cut quite short before treatment. Some people find having shorter hair easier to manage once they start to lose their hair.
- Sometimes hair falls out in patches and can be quite itchy. Some people prefer to shave all their hair off before it starts to fall out. This might make you feel a bit more in control.
- Use gentle products (like baby shampoo) so your scalp doesn’t get too dry and brush your hair gently with a baby brush or wide-toothed comb.
- Avoid hairdryers, tongs or harsh styling/colouring products.
- Don't plait or braid your hair tightly.
- Use an unperfumed moisturiser or natural oils on your scalp if it gets dry, flaky or itchy.
- Make sure you wear sun block and cover your head when you're out in the sun.
Your experiences
See all 2 tips on this topic >>hair loss
hayley (Hodgkin's lymphoma, 20, F, Scotland) , tip added: 05/10/2005
dont worry about your hair 2 much get it cut shorter and do your make up and nails more a got a wig it looks really real and is compfy its so much easter than real hair luv ya's xxx
See all 2 stories on this topic >>The Hair Thing
Angie (Hodgkin lymphoma, 28, F, England) , story added: 27/02/2006
Soo I'm kinda ok..though it's the hair thing. Since my first chemo my hair has continued to fallout.more... - Click to comment on this page
