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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss - Does it Burn off or Fall out?
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic - breast cancer
Cleveland - OH
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss - Does it Burn off or Fall out?
by the_deceived, Jun 17, 2007 12:00AM
When one loses hair due to Chemotherapy, does it just simply kind of fall out / break off? I mean, is there ever any blood on the scalp underneath where the hair falls out due to irritation or burning from the Chemo? It was once explained to me that Chemo chemically burns your hair follicles and that's why they fall out. I was told that a bloody scalp is the result of the Chemo attacking your hair. Apparently, the scalp is supposed to burn and the hair is supposed to fall off in patches. Has anybody heard anything like this before?
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Jun 18, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 18, 2007 12:00AM
Dear the_deceived: Side effects of chemotherapy occur because chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells such as the blood cells, gastrointestinal tract cells and the hair follicles. In most cases, the hair just falls out (usually in clumps) but not in a painful or bloody way. It comes out in the shower, while combing the hair and often people wake up with large amounts of hair on the pillow. Chemotherapy does not burn the scalp. The skin on the scalp may be dry or itchy. Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss. Hair generally grows in uniformly once chemotherapy is completed.
Member Comments (3)
by BJSaws, Jun 18, 2007 12:00AM
To: the_decieved
About 2 weeks after my first chemotherapy treatment (AC), I started losing a lot of hair while brushing and in the shower. It was like normal hair loss, only more. As the next few weeks went by, the hair started falling out in larger clumps and I had a tingling sensation on my scalp, but no pain or burning. At that point, I had my husband cut my hair very, very short and started wearing a wig. As a high school teacher, I felt the wig was necessary. Eventually, I ended up with absolutely no hair on my head...it was as smooth as a cue ball. There was no more need for shampoo! I also lost all of my pubic hair and my eyebrows and eyelashes became very thin. After a few more weeks, the hair started coming back in. Five months after the first chemo treatment, I had enough hair to stop wearing the wig although it was very short. Interestingly, my hair came back in very curly. Before chemo, it had been straight. It came back in as thick as it had been before. With the very short, very curly hair I decided to go for a new look and had my brown hair bleached very blonde and my ears double pierced. My students loved the new look! Of all the things I have endured with breast cancer, the hair loss was the easiest with which to deal.
by Aimee2, Jun 23, 2007 12:00AM
You are fortunate to have your hair back thicker and better than ever. Basically, that happened to me....UNTIL I started taking Arimidex almost three years ago. NO one told me about the hair loss...and this time it is permanent and distressing. I could take losing my hair from chemo, knowing that it would return. However this is different. My brush is always full of a clump of hair. You can imagine that after three years...my hair is very thin. The pattern of loss is greatest from ear to ear; just where you need your hair the most. I have lost at least 75% of my hair around my face and at least 60% all over. I now have to wear a wig when going out...and that can be hot and bothersome in the summer. It was so distressing that for a month or two I stopped taking the Arimidex...then thought better of it, as looking at the information out there, it will perhaps give me a better chance. However...who knows...as medicine is an inexact science. Someone needs to come up with something that does not rob you of your hair on a permanent basis. Call it vanity if you like...but NO woman wants to lose her hair! This has been a terrible side effect that I did not expect. The other sides of Arimidex for me: fatigue, bone pain, and bone loss, etc.
