Hair loss

Not all chemotherapy drugs will cause you to lose your hair. Some may have no effect on your hair at all, while others may thin your hair, but not cause it to fall out completely. Your medical oncologist will be able to tell you if the chemotherapy you are receiving might make your hair fall out. 

Hair loss from chemotherapy usually involves most hair on your head and body, including eyelashes and eyebrows, pubic hair and nasal hair.  

Prolonged or permanent hair loss has been reported in a very small number of cases. Talk to your medical oncologist if you have concerns about hair loss and chemotherapy.

If you are having a chemotherapy treatment that is likely to make you lose your hair, there are things you can do to prepare yourself. 

Hair usually starts to fall out about two to three weeks after the first chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy hair loss is usually quick and happens over a couple of days. 

You may decide to shave your head when your hair starts falling out. The advantage of this is that it keeps the mess to a minimum and gets the process over with. Some hairdressers have a private room where they can shave your head in private, or you may like to ask your hairdresser if she or he would come to your place for a private visit. 

Alternatively, you may prefer to wear a scarf, cap or turban until most of your hair has fallen out and then shave what is left. 

If you have children, it’s a good idea to let them know that you might lose your hair so they can be prepared as well. 

To help prevent hair loss from your head, some oncology centres offer the use of scalp cooling machines. These work by chilling the scalp and reducing blood flow to the scalp to prevent the chemotherapy drug from getting into the hair follicles. This means the hair is less likely to fall out. Using scalp cooling during chemotherapy treatment increases the amount of time you need to be in the oncology centre, as the cap needs to be put in place approximately 30 minutes before treatment starts and stay on for a similar time after your infusion has finished. 

If you are interested in considering using scalp cooling, speak to someone in your treatment team. 

Yes. The good news is that hair loss from chemotherapy is only temporary and your hair will grow back once your treatment is finished.

Approximately six weeks after your final treatment, you will have grown a short but thick covering of hair over your entire scalp.