Hair loss
Hair Loss (Alopecia)
Hair loss is when some or all hair falls out and can happen anywhere on the body. Hair loss can happen when chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells. Most cancer patients find it the most difficult part of their treatment because men and women commonly feel upset about hair loss. Some drugs can cause hair loss of the scalp, loss of pubic hair, arm and leg hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, while some drugs cause hair loss of the scalp only.
Hair loss often appears after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment and worsens in 1 to 2 months. In most cases, the hair will start growing back once the treatment ends or sometimes even before that. However, the length, thickness and color of the hair may be changed when it starts growing back.
Radiation therapy to the head also can cause loss of scalp hair. If the intensity of the radiation is high, the hair may not grow back the same as it was before.
Before pursuing any treatment option for hair loss, one should talk with the physician to determine the cause of alopecia.
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