Regrowing hair after chemotherapy
Chemotherapy and radiation
are common treatment
options for people
who have been diagnosed with
cancer. While radiation may
be targeted at specific areas,
chemotherapy is systemic.
This means it affects the entire
body. As a result, as chemotherapy
kills fast-growing
cancer cells, it also kills or
slows the growth of healthy
cells, including hair cells,
that divide and grow quickly,
explains the National Cancer
Institute.
When chemotherapy treatment
is completed, the body is
typically capable of regenerating
new hair, but that can take
some time. Women who consider
their hair a large part of
their identity may have strong
concerns and fears regarding
hair loss and what their hair
may look like when it begins to
regrow. Understanding what
to expect and what they can
do to facilitate the regrowth
of hair can help women better
handle what lies ahead.
New hair typically begins
to grow within one to two
months of the last chemo treatment.
Breastcancer.org says
people who have undergone
chemotherapy may notice soft
fuzz forming on their head
roughly two to three weeks
after the end of chemo. This
will be followed by real hair
growing at its normal rate one
month afterward. Two months
after the last treatment, an
inch of hair can be expected.
How hair grows back elsewhere
on the body, such as the
eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic
area, varies from person to
person. Experts at the Robert
H. Lurie Comprehensive
Cancer Center’s Dermatologic
Care Center at Northwestern
University in Chicago recommend
speaking with a doctor
if hair is not regrowing quickly,
which can be the result of
low levels of iron or zinc or
even thyroid problems.
To help the process along,
some doctors suggest the use
of supplements like biotin.
The National Institutes of
Health says biotin is a B vitamin
found in many foods that
helps turn carbohydrates,
fats, and proteins into energy.
There is some evidence that
taking biotin can help thicken
and speed up the growth
of hair and nails, but more
research is needed. Rogaine,
the baldness treatment, also
may be advised, as it’s been
shown to speed hair regrowth
in breast cancer patients who
have lost their hair, advises
Health magazine.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 76 CTOBER 11-17, 2019 BTR
It is not uncommon for hair
grown after chemotherapy to
look and feel different from
hair prior to treatment. Someone
who once had straight
hair may develop a wavy
mane afterwards. While drastic
changes are not common,
blonde hair may darken.
As hair grows in, certain
areas on the head may grow
faster than others. Working
with an experienced stylist
can help a person achieve a
look that is evened out and
stylish at any length. Rosette
la Vedette, a headwear retailer
and cancer resource, suggests
making a first trip back to
the salon a special experience
with a glass of champagne.
Cutting hair won’t make it
grow faster, but it can help a
woman return to a sense of
normalcy.
It can be nerve-wracking
to wait for hair to regrow after
chemotherapy. But patience
and understanding the road
ahead can assuage any fears
breast cancer patients may
have about regrowing their
hair.
Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells, and kills or slows the
growth of healthy cells, including hair cells, that divide and grow quickly,
explains the National Cancer Institute.
/Breastcancer.org