Hair loss due to Radiation

The loss of hair is most commonly experienced by cancer patience going through radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The hair loss experienced in this situation doesn’t only happen on the scalp but generally all over the body. The exact pattern of hair loss isn’t characterized by any normal pattern rather it depends on the individual. In some cases lucky individuals will only experience a thinning of hair. Unlucky individuals might have hair that comes off in clumps and sections or have hair simply fall evenly across their whole body. Thankfully in most cases the hair loss is only temporary and will grow back eventually when the radiation stops.

Radiation that is used for chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancers will almost always cause some degree of hair loss because of the nature of the treatment. The mechanics of radiation therapy and chemotherapy are similar in that it kills cells, namely fast replicating cells such as cancer cells. Normal cells have an ability to regenerate however cancer cells have very limited ability thus the treatment’s relative success. The problem is that the cells that make up your hair follicles will most probably be killed off too if focused with enough radiation. On the flip-side when your cells regenerate in the hair follicles it will most probably be healthier and produce hair that is thicker than it once was.

Chemotherapy is a much worst as it will target the whole body thus everything is susceptible. Having said that, not everyone that is subjected to chemotherapy will loose their hair. The amount of hair loss greatly depends on the course of medication that you are on and also how your own body reacts with the medication. Hair loss generally starts to happen within the first few weeks of the treatment and will initially start with very gradual loss of hair, about 10-20% more than normal. With each successive course of medication the hair loss will increase until it hits a stable plateau. As mentioned earlier the intensity and frequency of hair loss is determined by the type of medication, dose, how the drug is introduced to the body and also your own reaction to the drug. When chemotherapy is over it generally takes between 2-3 months before new hair starts to grow.

Radiation therapy is more targeted so unless you have a cancer that is located near, on or in your head then it is unlikely that you will loose your scalp hair unless it is within the field of the radiation (e.g. if treatment is on your neck). As with chemotherapy the intensity of the treatment, area treated and also how a person reacts to the treatment are all very important factors in determining how bad the hair loss will be. If the radiation treatment is very intense then there is a chance that the hair in the affected area might not even grow back or might grow back differently compared to the original hair.

Unfortunately there really isn’t much you can do about hair loss when it comes to treatments that require the use of radiation. Even with the best care and best hair treatment medication hair loss will still take place no matter what. It is often better to take it in your stride in treating the cancer that you might have. It helps to talk to loved ones about the cancer treatment to lessen the impact on yourself and your surrounding loved ones.

Extra Resource:

 - Tips for Recovering Hair After Radiation.