After your treatment

Hair loss is usually temporary. Talk to your doctor about what to expect after your treatment.

Learn more about:

• When chemotherapy finishes
• When radiation therapy finishes
• When your hair grows back

When chemotherapy finishes

After chemotherapy your hair will grow back. Often the first soft hairs reappear within a month or six weeks of treatment ending. Hair usually grows about 1cm every 28 days. You can expect to have a reasonable head of hair four to 12 months later.

When radiation therapy finishes

When you finish radiation therapy your hair will usually grow back. The time it takes and the way it grows back depends on the dose of radiation you received. Hair usually grows back a few months after treatment. Occasionally after a large dose of radiation therapy the hair may not recover completely, new growth can be patchy and there may be some permanent hair loss.

When your hair grows back

As your hair grows back you may notice some changes. It may be curlier, thicker or finer than it was before treatment or it may grow back a different colour. A hairdresser may be able to help you manage thinning hair and hair care during regrowth. If your hair loss is partial, talk to your hairdresser about different styling to give the appearance of thicker hair. Hairpieces can be effective in covering partial hair loss.

Seek advice from a professional about how soon after treatment you can colour your regrown hair and the colours or products that may be suitable for you. If your scalp is sensitive, your hairdresser may be able to recommend henna or vegetable-based dyes that may be gentler on the hair and scalp than chemical hair treatments.