What Cancer Treatment Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss, or alopecia, is a common and often very distressing side effect of chemotherapy for cancer treatment, which chemotherapy agents cause this and what can be done about it?
Understanding Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
Chemotherapy drugs are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, these drugs do not distinguish between cancer cells and other rapidly dividing cells, such as those in hair follicles. This collateral damage can often lead to hair loss, which can be a devastating side effect for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy Agents That Cause Hair Loss
Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, but several are known for this side effect:
Anthracyclines:
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin): Often referred to as the "red devil" because of its color and potency, doxorubicin is commonly used to treat breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma.
Taxanes:
Paclitaxel (Taxol): Used for a variety of cancers including breast, ovarian, and lung cancer, paclitaxel is known to cause significant hair loss.
Docetaxel (Taxotere): Similar to paclitaxel, it's used for breast, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers.
Alkylating Agents:
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan): Commonly used in combination with other drugs for cancers such as breast cancer and leukemia, cyclophosphamide can cause hair thinning or complete hair loss.
Ifosfamide: Used to treat testicular cancer and sarcoma, ifosfamide can also lead to hair loss.
Preventative Strategies to Mitigate Hair Loss
While hair loss from chemotherapy is often unavoidable, there are some strategies patients can consider to help mitigate this side effect:
Scalp Cooling Caps:
Scalp cooling, or cold caps, can reduce blood flow to the scalp during chemotherapy, thereby limiting the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach hair follicles. Studies have shown that scalp cooling can be effective in reducing hair loss for many patients.
There are quite a few Cold Caps available on the market, please be sure to check with your insurance provider if they will cover the cost and if they have a preferred vendor.
A retrospective evaluation of Penguin Cold Caps for chemotherapy-induced alopecia
The median-reported percentage of hair maintained was 75%, and 92.1% of patients had favorable results, defined as ≥ 50% of hair retained.
The only patient-level factor associated with favorable response was chemotherapy regimen.
Patients not receiving doxorubicin-containing regimens (Adriamycin or the red devil) had more successful hair retention compared to other chemotherapy types.
Gentle Hair Care:
Use mild shampoos and conditioners, and avoid harsh treatments like coloring, perming, or heat styling.
Protective hairstyles and practices - like wearing a silk bonnet to bed!
Wigs and Head Coverings:
Many patients find comfort and confidence in using wigs, hats, or scarves during treatment. These can be stylish, helpful in maintaining a sense of normalcy, and bring some fun and joy to the experience.
There are many organizations that offer discounted or free wigs to cancer patients!
The hospital where you receive your treatments should be able to direct you to resources in your area.
If they don’t have a list check out this list put together by Cancer Care News
What can be done after treatment?
Hair loss doesn’t have to be a permanent reminder of your cancer experience. Although it is important to note that when your hair does come back, it may not be the same texture as it was before. You may hear people refer to this as Chemo Curls.
Check out Hank Green talk about his experience with Chemo Curls here.
Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogane, has been the most effective agent to regrow hair (Click here for a link to the study). Don’t feel pressured to buy the name brand, the off-brand can be just as effective - simply double check the active ingredient list!
Check out Zeph Sanders’ journey to regrow his hair on Instagram here.
Conclusion
Hair loss is a challenging side effect of chemotherapy, but understanding which drugs cause it and adopting preventive measures can help you manage this aspect of your treatment. As always, discuss any concerns with your healthcare team, who can provide guidance tailored to your specific treatment plan. Remember, hair loss from chemotherapy is usually temporary, and in most cases, hair will grow back after treatment ends!