Hair loss can be one of the most difficult side effects of cancer treatments to deal with for both women and men. Hair loss occurs because many cancer treatments affect cancer cells and normal cells. This includes the cells that make hair grow.
Hair loss from cancer treatment is most often not permanent. Hair loss may affect all the hair on your body. Usually hair grows back once therapy has been completed. The amount of hair loss depends on the cancer treatment, the dose of treatment, and how it is given. If your treatment affects the hair, your hair may start falling out between seven to 21 days after you start your treatment.
In radiation, only hair that is in the area of radiation will be affected by hair loss. Only if radiation is given to the head will one lose hair on the head. Radiation given to other parts of the body will not cause hair on the head to fall out. Very rarely with radiation there might be an area where the hair is permanently thinner.
Patients often ask if there is anything that can be done to prevent hair loss because of chemotherapy. Generally, nothing can stop hair loss if you are taking a drug that causes hair loss. However, not all chemotherapy drugs will cause hair loss. Some drugs may only cause a small amount of hair loss or thinning.
Most of the time, hair loss because of chemotherapy is temporary and will grow back. The hair may grow back a different color or texture. This change may be temporary or permanent. Hair will start to grow once you finish treatment. It may take six to 12 months see the hair grow completely back.
If your hair does not grow back, it’s good to know that you have the option of hair restoration. The best news on that topic is the development of technology that takes half the time of other hair transplant or hair restoration procedures. It’s called NeoGraft.
The patented NeoGraft device has been used in over 20,000 hair transplants performed by Dallas NeoGraft in the last few years . Using the most modern FUE (follicular unit extraction) method, NeoGraft involves no incisions, no cutting of the scalp, suturing or visible scarring. There is virtually no bleeding and almost immediate surgical recovery. Most patients are back to their regular daily activities the next day.
If you need a solution for hair growth following your cancer treatment, it’s comforting to know that there is a tried, tested and proven procedure that will give you back the hair you’ve lost.
