Hair loss (alopecia)

Some - but not all – cancer drugs can affect your hair. How much hair falls out depends on which drug is being used, the dose and your reaction to the drug. The effects can include:

• Total hair loss – including facial hair like your eyebrows, eyelashes, underarm hair and pubic hair.
• Some hair loss - from a little thinning to quite a lot.
• Little or no hair loss
• Damage to your hair - making it dry and brittle

Your doctor and nurse will tell you before treatment if the drugs you’re taking are likely to cause hair loss. It can help to have your hair cut short before treatment or soon after it begins. Hair will grow back 3-6 months after you stop chemotherapy.

When does hair loss happen with chemo and other cancer drugs?

If you do lose your hair, it usually happens about 1–3 weeks after starting chemotherapy.

Before your hair starts to fall out, you may get tingling or your scalp may feel very sensitive. This is normal and may last a day or so.

When hair loss happens, it is usually gradual. It can fall out in clumps when shampooing or brushing. Sometimes you may find clumps of hair on your pillow or on your hairbrush. You might prefer to have your hair cut very short or to shave off your hair entirely. Most hairpiece suppliers provide this service. 

Can hair loss from chemotherapy be prevented?

In general you cannot prevent hair loss entirely if it is a side-effect of your particular drug treatment. But for some patients having certain types of chemotherapy, it may be possible to reduce or delay hair loss by using a ‘cold cap’ (also known as scalp cooling). A cold cap is a hat you wear during chemotherapy to reduce blood flow to your scalp so less of the drug reaches your scalp. The cold cap does not always prevent hair loss and it only blocks the action of certain drugs. Your doctor or nurse can tell you whether a cold cap is available in your hospital and if it might work for you. 

When will my hair grow back after cancer treatment?

Your hair will start to grow again once treatment stops. It may take a few months. When it regrows, it may not feel the same as before. It might have changed colour, texture or style. It might be darker or lighter in colour, thinner or become straight or curly.

At first, fine downy hair appears on your scalp and then stronger hair develops. It grows at about one centimetre each month. After about 5 or 6 months, you should have a full covering of hair on your head.