Losing your hair (alopecia) can be quite an emotional experience. As the most visible side effect of cancer treatment, it is often the most upsetting. In fact, you may find it helpful to have your mate or a close friend or relative with you when you talk to your doctor about the potential for hair loss.
Why You Might Lose Your Hair Chemotherapy drugs circulate throughout your body and they aren't selective about which cells they affect. They change normal as well as malignant cells and have an especially destructive effect on rapidly growing cells like your hair and the cells lining your mouth and gastrointestinal tract. So hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, especially with drugs such as cyclophosphamide , doxorubicin and vincristine . Your chances of losing your hair are increased if you are getting combination therapy.
When You Lose Your Hair You may not lose all your hair. It may just become thin or patchy. The loss might also be sudden or gradual. It usually happens within the first cycle (usually around Week 3), but it may not happen until the second cycle. And, whether the loss is partial or complete, you may develop some scalp irritation, dermatitis or scaling that will need medical attention.
The hair almost always comes back. It may take three to six months or it might come back while you are still on chemotherapy. When it does come back it might have a slightly different texture or color or curl.
