Hair loss (alopecia) is also a common side effect of many chemotherapy agents. Many chemotherapy agents damage or kill rapidly growing cells, which includes normal cells: hair, and blood cells that form in the marrow. Not all chemotherapy drugs, however, cause hair loss, and sometimes the hair loss is minimal. Radiotherapy causes hair loss only in the area being treated. Hair loss after chemotherapy and radiation treatment is almost always temporary.
Will I recover? Your normal cells will usually recover when chemotherapy is over, and with this recovery the side effects will gradually subside. Many
How long will it take? This depends on many things, including your age, health status, and the kind of chemotherapy you have received.
Patient-to-Patient: It took less than two weeks for it be clear mine was ready to come out. I shaved it so that I could have control over it, instead of it over me as it fell out (like Lance says below). Many people prefer wigs, but I just used scarves, caps, and hats. It seems to me that there are so many people *being treated and surviving* cancer nowadays, that I see people with the tell-tale scarves as part of any crowd wherever we go. It does grow back, so it's only temporary...think of it that way.
The most difficult hair loss for me was of the eyebrows and particularly eyelashes--I had no idea what practical purposes they serve in shading and protecting the eyes. Many people, however, do not experience the complete hair loss that Lance and I did.
I think--if you can do it--that there can be a certain amount of pride in wearing your scarf or wig, and still being yourself, out there with people, getting your job done, and so on. Like a hair-badge of courage. My favorite cap said-- No Hair Day. - Carol
Chemotherapy agents and hair loss
Usually cause
hair loss
|
Sometimes cause
hair loss
|
Usually don't cause
hair loss
|
Adriamycin
|
Amsacrine
|
Methotrexate
|
Daunorubicin
|
Cytarabine
|
Carmustine (BCNU)
|
Etoposide
|
Bleomycin
|
Mitroxantrone
|
Irinotecan (Campto)
|
Busulphan
|
Mitomycin C
|
Cyclophosphamide
|
5 Fluorouracil
|
Carboplatin
|
Epirubicin
|
Melphalan
|
Cisplatin
|
Docetaxel, (Taxotere)
|
Vincristine
|
Procarbazine
|
Paclitaxel, (Taxol)
|
Vinblastine
|
6-Mercaptopurine
|
Ifosphamide
|
Lomustine(CCNU)
|
Sreptozotocin
|
Vindesine
|
Thiotepa
|
Fludarabine
|
Vinorelbine
|
Gemcitabine
|
Raltitrexate (Tomudex)
|
Topotecan
|
|
Capecitabine
|
|
|
Bendamustine
|
Source: cancernet.co.uk