Hair loss

Many people having chemotherapy worry about hair loss (alopecia). Whether you lose your hair will depend on the drugs prescribed.

Some people lose all their hair quickly, while others may lose only a little hair or none at all. Although losing hair from the head is most common, you may find your eyebrows and eyelashes fall out, and you may lose hair from your underarms, legs, chest and pubic area.

Learn more about:

• What might happen?
• Coping with hair loss
• Scalp cooling
• Ways to manage hair loss

What might happen?

When hair loss does occur, it usually starts 2–3 weeks after the first treatment. Before and while your hair is falling out, your scalp may feel hot, itchy, tender or tingly. Some people find that the skin on their head is extra sensitive, and they may develop pimples on their scalp.

After chemotherapy ends, it takes 4–12 months to grow back a full head of hair. When your hair first grows back, it may be a different colour or curly (even if you have always had straight hair). In time, your hair usually returns to its original condition.

Coping with hair loss

Many people find losing their hair difficult. Its loss can affect your self-confidence and make you feel sad or vulnerable. For many people, it’s a public sign of the cancer diagnosis. Talking to your treatment team about how you feel may help.

Scalp cooling

Some people may be able to reduce scalp hair loss by wearing a “cold cap” on their head while chemotherapy is delivered. The cap is attached via a hose to a cooling unit, which fills the cap with cold liquid. This reduces the blood flow and the amount of chemotherapy drug that reaches the scalp.

The cold cap can only be used with certain drugs and types of cancer, and doesn’t always prevent hair loss. Ask your treatment centre if they offer cold caps and if they are an option for you.