‘Acknowledging the Grief’ – Losing Your Hair During Chemotherapy

Hair loss delivers a hit to a woman’s self-esteem, and serves as a constant reminder of their medical status. "Our classic image of a cancer patient is someone who does not have any hair," Ostacher says.

Acknowledge the Loss

“I try and help [patients] to really acknowledge the tremendous grief that comes along with a cancer diagnosis,” says Ostacher. “You’ve lost your status as an otherwise healthy person.” Losing your hair is another blow. “I help patients acknowledge their grief so they can move on. I think the more we try to push [those feelings] away and say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter,’ it tends to stick around a little longer. “If [a woman] seems like she’s having trouble moving on, we explore" that too.

Once you go through that grief process and get over the shock of losing your hair, you’re able to shift your mindset. “It’s amazing how quickly you can get used to not having any hair.” And women going through chemo have options.

Cut It

Some women choose to take control and cut their hair very short, or even shave their head before their hair starts falling out. “Others just let it come out naturally, but often it comes out slowly, so it can be a bit of a prolonged process," Ostacher says.

Cover It

Many women choose to wear a wig, and often they’ll go looking before they’ve even lost their hair. They’ll try a few on and “find something that feels comfortable for them. Or you can [forego] the wig and wear a head scarf. It’s really a personal choice.”

If you're thinking about buying a wig, buy it before your treatment starts, or soon after. Cancer.org suggests asking if the wig can be adjusted as you might need a smaller size as you lose hair. To match your hair color, they recommend cutting a swatch from the top front of your head, where your hair is lightest. Wigs and other scalp coverings may be partially or fully covered by your health insurance. If so, ask for a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis." (Don't use the word "wig" on the prescription.) Your cancer team can likely recommend wig shops in your area.

Cool It

Some women opt to try cold caps to at least slow the thinning. The caps work by constricting the blood flow to the scalp, which prevents some of the chemotherapy drugs from penetrating the scalp and reaching the hair follicles. However these caps can be very uncomfortable and the extreme cold can cause headaches. “It’s pretty labor intensive,” Ostacher says. “But it is an option, especially for women who, for example, have busy professional lives and maybe don’t want to share their diagnosis. Oftentimes, women with longer hair will choose to use a cold cap.”

Own It

Many patients decide to lean into the experience, with an attitude of, ‘I'm up for the fight and this is my battle scar.’ Being aware of the timing can help women cope, one oncologist says. Hair loss typically begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy, and continues throughout treatment. Woman can expect regrowth around four to six weeks after their treatment is completed. Some people may experience changes to their hair color and texture when the hair begins growing back.

Even if it's hard in the moment, it does help to remember that the hair loss associated with chemo is temporary. It will grow back after your treatment ends.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---