Hair growth usually begins to grow in 8-12 weeks after the chemotherapy ends. Some patients lose some hair in the first cycle but have it in the second cycle of chemotherapy.

Reasons of Hair Loss in Chemotherapy

• Hair loss or alopecia due to chemotherapy is one of the most upsetting side effects of chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy hair loss happens because the chemotherapy affects all the fast growing cells in our body apart from the cancer cells. It affects the lining of the mouth, stomach and the hair follicles as these cells multiply rapidly just like the cancer cells. The good part is that these normal cells repair themselves and hence this side effect is temporary.
• Hair loss does not occur to everyone and in all types of chemotherapies. Whether your hair remains as it is, becomes thin or it falls off totally depends a lot on the drugs and the chemotherapy doses.
• Hair loss could begin as early as the second or third week after the first cycle of chemotherapy and sometimes may not happen even until the second cycle.
• Hair loss could be sudden or slow.
• You may lose all of your hair or just some of it.
• It could fall out gradually or come out in clumps unevenly.
• Hair loss includes hair that grows anywhere including eyelashes, eyebrows and even pubic hair.

Can hair loss be prevented during chemotherapy?

Currently, there is no known prevention for hair loss, which happens due to chemotherapy. Although, in the recent years there were attempts made to reduce hair loss by using tight bands or ice caps. Initially these techniques were thought to reduce the blood flow to the hair follicles. However, they cause nothing more than headaches and do little to prevent hair loss. They have been abandoned in most of the hospitals and cancer treatment centers.

Given that hair loss cannot be prevented, it is best to be focused on your own comfort or discomfort with baldness and adapting to the situation knowing that it is temporary. It is essential to keep your head warm especially if you live in cold climatic conditions because hair in a way protects our head from cold weather. The following options could be considered as per your comfort level to adapt to the hair loss-

• Short hair - Cut your hair short before the chemotherapy begins as there is less pressure on the hair shaft. In addition, since hair often does not fall out evenly it looks even more distressing. You could shave off your heads once the hair begins to fall out.
• Wigs - You could purchase a wig. They are available with some doctors as well as hair stylists. Most insurance companies cover for a wig. However, you should have written prescription from your doctor, which is medically referred to as cranial prosthesis. There are wig stylists who specialize in these kinds of wigs for alopecia.
• Caps and Scarves - The easiest and most comfortable options are wearing caps and scarves. They are easily available and inexpensive. Also chemotherapy hats are available in a lot of variety to choose from in the market. These could vary from the ones you already own to custom made for people undergoing chemotherapy.

Hair growth will definitely happen after chemotherapy. However, it is important to be mentally prepared for that temporary baldness. It is also important to accept the fact that hair would not be the same as before. It could be different in color, texture, curls and many a times like that of small babies.