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Hair Loss

Hair loss is the most noticeable side effect of cancer treatment. Certain chemotherapy drugs (and not all drugs) as well as radiation therapy to the head and brain can cause loss of hair.  Severity of hair loss, as well as the timing of it will depend on the type, schedule and the amount of the drugs used. Patients should consult their physician about their individual risk of loosing their hair with the treatment.

Hair loss usually starts 2-3 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy. It may be complete or just thinning and partial loss of hair. Hair may be lost gradually and over a period of few weeks or it may happen in matter of a few days. When hair loss starts, patients may benefit from having their hair cut very short or having it shaved completely. The process of loosing hair is not a pleasant experience and can be very stressful, specially for women.

Hair loss can involve every part of body. Men notice that they don't t need to shave their facial hair. Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes can happen in rare occasions, specially in patients who receive massive doses of chemotherapy in preparation for bone marrow transplantation.

Hair will grow back following the completion of chemotherapy. Re-growth starts about a month after completion of chemotherapy. The new hair may grow and look exactly the same as prior to chemotherapy or it may feel and look completely different. Color of hair may be slightly different. Hair may grow thicker, or thinner, less curly or more curly. Hair loss from radiation may become permanent and this depends on the amount of radiation used.

Following is a list of most commonly used drugs that can cause hair loss:

• Adriamycin

• Ara-C

• BiCNU

• Carboplatinum

• Cisplatinum

• Cytoxan

• Daunorubicin

• DTIC

• Fludarabine

• Idarubicin

• Ifosfamide

• Mitomycin

• Mitoxantrone

• Nitrogen Mustard

• Taxol

• Velban

• VP-16