Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Cancer Treatment
If treatment will cause hair loss, try wearing fun scarves and earrings—or a cap, from time to time.
Some types of chemotherapy cause the hair on your head and other parts of your body to fall out. Radiation therapy can also cause hair loss on the part of the body that is being treated. Hair loss is called alopecia. Talk with your health care team to learn if the cancer treatment you will be receiving causes hair loss. Your doctor or nurse will share strategies that have helped others, including those listed below.
Ways to manage hair loss
Talk with your health care team about ways to manage before and after hair loss:
- Treat your hair gently. You may want to use a hairbrush with soft bristles or a wide-tooth comb. Do not use hair dryers, irons, or products such as gels or clips that may hurt your scalp. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Wash it less often and be very gentle. Pat it dry with a soft towel.
- You have choices. Some people choose to cut their hair short to make it easier to deal with when it starts to fall out. Others choose to shave their head. If you choose to shave your head, use an electric shaver so you won’t cut yourself. If you plan to buy a wig, get one while you still have hair so you can match it to the color of your hair. If you find wigs to be itchy and hot, try wearing a comfortable scarf or turban.
- Protect and care for your scalp. Use sunscreen or wear a hat when you are outside. Choose a comfortable scarf or hat that you enjoy and that keeps your head warm. If your scalp itches or feels tender, using lotions and conditioners can help it feel better.
- Talk about your feelings. Many people feel angry, depressed, or embarrassed about hair loss. It can help to share these feelings with someone who understands. Some people find it helpful to talk with other people who have lost their hair during cancer treatment. Talking openly and honestly with your children and close family members can also help you all. Tell them that you expect to lose your hair during treatment.
Ways to care for your hair when it grows back
- Be gentle. When your hair starts to grow back, you will want to be gentle with it. Avoid too much brushing, curling, and blow-drying. You may not want to wash your hair as frequently.
- After chemotherapy. Hair often grows back in 2 to 3 months after treatment has ended. Your hair will be very fine when it starts to grow back. Sometimes your new hair can be curlier or straighter—or even a different color. In time, it may go back to how it was before treatment.
- After radiation therapy. Hair often grows back in 3 to 6 months after treatment has ended. If you received a very high dose of radiation your hair may grow back thinner or not at all on the part of your body that received radiation.
Talking with your health care team about hair loss
Prepare for your visit by making a list of questions to ask. Consider adding these questions to your list:
- Is treatment likely to cause my hair to fall out?
- How should I protect and care for my head? Are there products that you recommend? Ones I should avoid?
- Where can I get a wig or hairpiece?
- What support groups could I meet with that might help?
- When will my hair grow back?
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Listen to tips on how to manage hair loss caused by cancer treatments such as radiation therapy.
(Type: MP3 | Time: 3:39 | Size: 3.4MB)
Radiation Therapy Audio Transcript
What To Do About Hair Loss (Alopecia)
Narrator:
What to do about hair loss during radiation therapy.
Let’s listen in on a support group as the group’s leader, Janet, opens the discussion by talking with members about coping with hair loss, also called alopecia.
Janet:
Okay—let’s get started.
First, I want to make sure you all know that people tend to lose hair only in the area where they get radiation therapy. Tonight, we’re going to talk about different ways to prepare for hair loss and what can make this a little easier. Who would like to start?
Kim:
I will. [sigh] I hate that my hair is already thinning. I’m getting radiation therapy to my head, and I wake up to a new handful of hair on my pillow each morning. I’m not a vain person, but I love my hair.
Janet:
Kim, hair loss can be very hard. I’m so sorry. Most people find that their hair starts to fall out in the area where they are getting radiation therapy, about 2 to 3 weeks after their first radiation therapy session.
Kim:
That makes sense—I started my first treatment 3 weeks ago.
Rodney:
It helped me that I started out half bald to begin with. But I know what you are saying, Kim. I would wake up to hair on my pillow each morning. I decided to shave my hair off before it fell out on its own from treatment. I used a good electric razor—learned the hard way when the plastic one cut my scalp.
Kim:
Rodney—the bald look is great for you. I’m just not ready to shave it all off right now.
Janet:
Rodney, thanks for letting us know what worked well for you. Who else would like to share?
Cara:
Well—first I cut my hair short so the shock factor was less. And I got a wig before all my hair fell out. The first one I got matched my natural hair color. That one was free. Then I thought, hey, I’ve always wanted to be a redhead—so I bought a red wig.
Kim:
The first one was free?
Cara:
Yes. The nurse gave me the number of a place that supplies wigs at no charge. But wigs can be hot, especially in the summer. That’s why you see me in this colorful scarf wrapped around my head like a turban. Personally, I think a turban is the way to go!
Miguel:
I see a lot of women at the hospital wearing bandannas. Some men too.
Cara:
I’ve seen lots of people at the clinic in baseball caps!
Kim:
These are great suggestions. Thanks, guys. But I still need to know one thing—Janet, will my hair grow back?
Janet:
Your hair may grow back in 3 to 6 months after your treatment is over. It really depends on the amount of radiation you get. People who get very high doses may not see their hair return. In the meantime, wash your hair gently with a mild shampoo and pat it dry. I’d also avoid using a hair dryer.
Kim:
Okay, Janet, thanks. And thanks, everyone, for sharing your ideas. Looks like I’m going scarf shopping!
Cara:
Want some company?
Kim:
Sure, that would be great. Do you think we could go tomorrow afternoon?
Narrator Summary:
Hair loss can be difficult for both men and women. It’s important to remember that people tend to lose their hair only in the area where they get radiation. Most often, hair grows back 3 to 6 months after you complete treatment.
If you’d like to wear a wig, talk with a nurse or a social worker where you receive treatment. In some cases, your wig may be free or covered by your health insurance.
And as some group members shared, you can always wear a scarf, bandanna, cap, or nothing at all on your head. Choose whatever works and feels best for you.
