Chemotherapy » What Is Chemotherapy
Hair Tips for Women about to Undergo Chemotherapy
Hair Loss is not a certainty when you undergo chemotherapy but is rather dependent on what and how much medication you’re required to take. Hair loss is caused by the powerful drugs that chemotherapy subjects you to, and it may cause you not to lose hair on your head but on other parts of your body as well. Thankfully, however, when you have completed your chemotherapy treatment, you can expect your hair to grow back in half a year or a year at most.
Once you start undergoing chemotherapy sessions, you will experience hair loss after a week or so. Falling of hair can be a gradual or abrupt process, in which you’ll notice in horror that your hair is falling in clumps. Signs of falling hair can be seen on the amount of hair stuck on your brush or on your shower drain. This however is natural so there’s no need to panic.
Loss of hair will continue as long as you are still undergoing chemotherapy sessions or taking powerful medications. Even when these sessions stop, hair loss might still continue for a month or so. It’s possible that you’ll be nearly or already bald by the end of your treatment. Again, this is very normal so try your best not to feel panicked or scared.
The bad thing about hair is that it’s so easy to lose and yet so difficult to grow. As such, when the effects of chemotherapy and other cancer medications have completely worn off, expect your hair to grow approximately ¼ inch every month only.
It’s possible that your newly grown hair will be different from your old hair in certain aspects. The changes could be in the color or texture, but once more, these changes are completely normal and will fade away in time once your hair cells are able to function normally.
During chemotherapy, there are certain medications you can take to prevent or lessen hair loss. Ice packs, for instance, can be placed on your head to reduce the flow of blood to your scalp and consequently lessen the chances of your hair cells being destroyed by medication. Minoxidil or Rogaine is a drug that has also shown to be effective in reducing the chances of hair loss although it’s not capable of restoring hair cells into life.
In the end, all you can do is take the necessary precautions in nurturing your hair before, during, and after the treatment.
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Charlene J. Nuble
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