Caring for 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
COURIER L 36 IFE, OCT. 11-17, 2019
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.
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
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.
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.
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