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.
Can hair loss caused
by chemotherapy preventable? There is some evidence
that
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
|
About
Scalp cooling
to minimize hair loss (general) cancerbacup.org
