Wrestling with Cancer and Hair Loss

Cancer and Hair LossA cancer diagnosis involving you or a loved one creates powerful emotions. It can be numbing, it can cause great sorrow, and sometimes it will trigger great anger. Coping with cancer means that your life is going to change in many different ways. One particularly difficult part of a cancer diagnosis is anticipating the hair loss that’s a common side effect of cancer treatment. RHRLI specializes in hair restoration and we know how difficult it is for cancer patients who are struggling with a terrible disease and its side effects.

What Cancer Treatments Cause Hair Loss?

According to cancer.net, hair loss can be a side effect of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplants. Hair loss from cancer treatment is not limited to the head. Chemotherapy patients will see hair loss throughout the body including the face, arms, and legs.

Some Chemotherapy Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss

  • Altretamine
  • Carboplatin
  • Cisplatin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Docetaxel
  • Doxorubicin
  • Epirubicin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Gemcitabine
  • Idarubicin
  • Ifosfamide
  • Paclitaxel
  • Vincristine
  • Vinorelbine

In general, radiation patients will only see hair loss where the radiation is aimed so the resulting hair loss will depend on how the number of radiation treatments. In some cases that require large doses of radiation, permanent hair loss is possible.

Coping with Hair Loss

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, coping with hair loss is one of the most challenging adjustments for cancer patients. It is one of the most visible signs of the disease and affects a patient’s self-confidence. Patients who feel self-conscious about going out with noticeable hair loss should consider asking a close friend or family member to accompany them on outings until they feel more comfortable on their own.

One way to make the situation more bearable is to plan for common questions people may ask. If somebody asks a question about yours or the patient’s appearance that you don’t feel like answering, you have the right to say, “This is a hard subject for me to talk about.” A cancer support group can be a tremendous source of help. It’s vital to realize that you’re not alone and incredibly helpful to be able to interact with others who understand what you may be going through.

RHRLI Gives Each Patient the Care They Deserve

If you’re experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment, RHRLI has a minimally invasive permanent hair loss solution. The ARTAS® robotic hair transplant system uses state-of-the-art technology to transfer donor hairs to where they’re needed most, giving you the healthiest head of hair possible. ARTAS® is minimally invasive and won’t leave the network of scars common to other forms of hair restoration. RHRLI can transform your appearance and ARTAS® can be a weapon in helping cancer patients wrestling with their illness.

Get Individualized Care and a Free Consultation

RHRLI gives each patient the best care possible. Our board-certified surgeon Dr. Baiju Gohil M.D., will consult with you individually and only performs one procedure per day so he can focus all his attention on the patient. We believe in answering all questions and providing the highest quality individualized care. To learn more about ARTAS® and RHRLI, contact RHRLI today.

Subscribe for Email Updates
Every week we publish fresh new content, that is designed to be informative as well as give some great tips before and after your procedure.