Support with Hair Loss

Below are some basic details about the number of different reasons why and when you may lose your hair. If you would like to read more detailed information you may like to choose one of the websites we have listed below or of course you can do your own web search. You may wish to watch one of the videos of other cancer patients talking about their experience of losing their hair.

Hair loss due to having chemotherapy treatment

Many people assume that they will lose their hair if they have chemotherapy. This is not always true. Some drugs can cause hair loss, while other chemotherapy drugs do not cause any hair loss. 

If you are having Chemotherapy for your cancer treatment, one of the nurses will be able to tell you the likelihood of whether you will lose your hair or not.

Hair loss may vary from mild thinning that is hardly noticeable to complete hair loss. This will depend on a number of factors; the chemotherapy drug or combinations of drugs you may be given, the dose and of course the way your own body reacts to the drugs.

Whilst the websites below will all give you relevant information regarding hair loss, they may be written in a slightly different ways or may contain some additional relevant information that you mind find useful.

Cancer Hair Care

They are the only charity in the UK who are dedicated to supporting people throughout their entire hair loss journey. They offer free, expert advice and support on all aspects of hair loss, hair loss prevention (scalp cooling) and hair care, before, during and after cancer treatments.

Their aim is to take a holistic approach that means people are supported with the practical, emotional and physical aspects that hair loss and illness brings. The team have completed extensive training, including in-hospital clinical experience and hundreds of hours in working practice. It is this experience that enables them to support hundreds of people in need every year.

They offer female and male services that cover all age ranges (including children and teenagers) and encompass every individual’s ethnicity and unique approach to how each person wishes to approach hair loss. They promote and protect the physical and mental health of an individual with illness and hair loss by provision of support, education and practical advice.

To access their website, click here.

Scalp Cooling

If you have been told you will definitely lose your hair, you might, depending on your type of cancer and the drugs you will be given, be able to ask about reducing or preventing hair loss using a system called Scalp Cooling. This involves wearing a scalp cap that keeps your head very cold before and during your Chemotherapy. 

We do have a limited number of these systems at the Collingwood Centre at Colchester Hospital (the oncology day unit). If you would like more information about whether this system would be suitable for you then please ask one of the nurses before you are due to start your treatment.

The links below provide additional information about scalp cooling.

Hair loss because of having surgery

The only reason to lose your hair due to surgery is because a particular area may need to be shaved in preparation for the surgery. This is usually a small area and it will grow back after the operation. You can ask questions about this at your Pre-Surgery appointment.

Hair loss due to Hormonal and Targeted (biological) therapies

Sometimes people will notice their hair becomes thinner, curlier or more brittle while taking hormone therapy. This is often mild and will grow back at the end of treatment. If you have a beard you may notice less beard growth. You will be able to ask questions about this prior to being prescribed the drugs.

Losing hair from other parts of your body

Some chemotherapy drugs make other body hair fall out too. Such as eyebrows, eyelashes, nasal hair, beards, moustaches, chest hair, leg, arm and underarm hair or pubic hair.  

Macmillan’s Beauty of Support initiative

Talking hair, culture and cancer in Black women's hairdressers.

From their focus groups Macmillan found cancer can be a taboo topic in some Black communities. Whether that is talking about a cancer diagnosis with family or sharing advice about where to get help.

The good news is that cancers that are diagnosed at an earlier stage have better survival rates due to different treatment options being available. By raising awareness and learning from each other we can make a difference through the power of sharing.

We decided to launch the Beauty of Support project in hairdressers as we know they can be a comfortable space at the heart of the community for a lot of Black women.

It is a place where people can talk about family, relationships and sex - so why not cancer?

To find out more, click here.

Videos

Here are two videos of patients telling their story of coping with hair loss

Further information about hair loss can be found by clicking on the tiles below:-