Can Hair Loss from Cancer Drugs Be Treated?
When cancer is diagnosed, there a million and one things that a person will be thinking and feeling. When it comes to treatment and the challenging side effects involved, hair loss is often a worry for many. As recently reported on the Belgravia blog, new machines are being made available for some cancer patients that will help to prevent hair loss.
Twenty-one scalp cooling machines are to be installed at St James’s Institute of Oncology in Leeds, one of the largest specialist cancer treatment centres in the UK. These machines will help reduce the damage to hair follicles caused by chemotherapy drugs and make hair loss less severe or even prevent it.
How Does Cancer Treatment Cause Hair Loss?
Chemotherapy and radiation are two forms of cancer treatment that can lead to hair loss. Chemotherapy involves pumping powerful drugs through the body to attack the cancer cells. In doing so, these drugs often kill the healthy cells that make up the hair follicle. Radiation involves shining high-energy rays on the cancer cells to destroy them. This only causes hair loss when the treatment is used on the scalp.
The extent of hair loss that results from these treatments varies between patients. The hair loss can occur just on the scalp or over the entire body, it may be just patchy or it may lead to complete baldness. It may happen suddenly or the hair can shed in patches over a number of weeks. Hair loss that is caused by chemotherapy usually appears one to two weeks after treatment has started. Radiation, on the other hand, usually causes immediate hair loss.
Will Hair Regrow After Cancer Treatment?
For about 80 – 90 % of cancer patients who have undergone treatment, the hair will re-grow within a year of finishing therapy. Senior trichologist at The Belgravia Centre, Leonora Doclis, says, “A hair loss treatment programme may benefit some adults (they are not suitable for children). It depends on the state of the hair follicles. Sometimes they are shriveled after cancer treatment and to what extent treatment will help, depends on how shriveled they are.” Doclis advises a consultation with a specialist to discuss how a hair loss treatment programme may help but emphasises that any treatment being considered must be discussed with the patient’s doctor.
If you would like to find out more about hair loss treatments, contact the Belgravia Centre for a free consultation with one of the centre’s specialists. To book an appointment, just call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, complete the online diagnostic form and a Treatment Advisor will be in touch to discuss matters further.
More Information:
Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss
New Cancer Treatment That Doesn’t Cause Hair Loss
Interesting Articles:
Machines That Prevent Hair Loss from Cancer
More Support Needed for Hair Loss Sufferers
