Chemotherapy Side Effects

Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Treatments – Hair Loss

One thing is for certain when it comes to causes of hair loss, and that is that 99% of men and women who undergo radiation treatments for disease, such as chemotherapy, will lose their hair.

There is a specific reason for this side effect. When a person is going through chemotherapy, this treatment is designed to attack cells in the body that are rapidly dividing, such as cancer. However, the cancer cells are not the only ones that get affected. Radiation affects the entire body and since it targets all cells that rapidly divide, the hair follicles are also attacked because they too split and divide at a fast pace. Any cells that are producing hair follicles are immediately shut down. The specific term for this type of hair loss is called “anagen effluvium”.

Hair Loss Due The Chemotherapy Treatment

Chemotherapy is necessary for some types of cancer. This is a form of treatment that may save a life, but has serious side affects. One of the known side effects is hair loss. When using chemotherapy, a person may have hair loss for up to five months following the treatment. It is usually temporary and the hair will grow back over time. If you normally have fast hair growth, then your hair should do the same after treatment.