Readers Respond: What Helped You Cope With Chemotherapy Hair Loss?

Chemotherapy hair loss is one of the most dreaded side effects of cancer treatment. For many of us, our hair is part of our image, and one of the ways we present ourselves to the world.

The way to cope with chemotherapy hair loss is different for everyone. Some choose to adopt a wig or hair cover before their hair starts to thin. Others parade a "bald is beautiful" look. Some people find that diverting attention with a new outfit or lipstick helps, others find a sense of humor helps the transition.

What helped you cope with chemotherapy hair loss?

Chemo hair and chemo curls

Doc said I would loose my hair, and I did. I didn't realize that included all body hair, including places the sun doesn't shine. Like nose and ears! I wore a baseball cap that had NO HAIR DAY embroiderd on it. My wig was too hot and itchey so it was cap or nothing. Now I have chemo curls.

—Guest Spookiesmom

delayed hair loss

My father started chemo six months ago. He started with a crazy italian head of hair. He lost just a tiny bit of hair during treatment. Well, his chemo is a "managing" chemo being it is an agressive bladder cancer in the lungs. He has not responded well to the chemo and his blood counts have been poor. So poor that for the last month he has not been able to receive chemo. The Dr.'s have giving him transfusions and shots in hopes to elevate his white cell counts and platelettes. Just this past week, he suddenly lost all his hair (including face, arms, legs). The tumors were still growing but slowly per the last PET taken a month 5. I am trying to find out why his hair loss is so delayed and if it is common? Any thoughts appreciated. Editors note: We talk about "averages" when hair loss occurs, but nobody is really "average." I don't have an explanation for your father's delayed hair loss, but his oncologist may have some ideas. What I do know is that he is not alone in experiencing delayed hair loss.

—Guest rpetetti

Lost No Hair

My friend and I were diagnosed about 2 months apart. She was first and I was second. Mine was stage 3-4, hers was 1-2. We joked that I caught her cancer. We went through treatment together at six weeks once and week. I suffered from more nausea and vomitting but lost none of my hair. My friend lost all of her hair including her eyelashes and eyebrows. I would recommending finding someone who understands what you are going through. It would have been hard without her. We kept each other positive!

—Guest srb16

Loss of All Hair

At 80 I had lots of hair, 2 weeks later none but two spots which I had shaved and the operator said I had a perfect shaped head. I laughed and said Wow and I covered it up all these years. The only thing I noticed my head was cold when I went to bed and I had to wear a turban, which helped. It is now growing in thicker.

—Guest Lorry Brncich

No Hair Loss

Attachment to 1st response . Please read 1st response. 6 months after completion of chemo & 30 radiation treatments my recovery has been a complete success. I eat and speak without any difficulties, my body hair has completely returned, my weight has balanced out to normal, all areas damaged by radiation have healed. I live a full life as before, 1 day at a time fully enjoying this beautiful gift by the [super medical team] at the Montreal Jewish General hospital Thank you, please always do the follow up appointments.

—Guest robert buchanan

No Hair Loss

Completed 30 rad.treatments [5 per wk.] plus 6 chemo [1 per wk]. During the treatment of chemo I would for 3 hours enter into a meditation state of relaxation, I practise [right brain visualization & meditation] 37 years of training, 2 times a day for 40 minutes sessions, mostly directing the chemo to the throat area and lower body. I have a stage 3-4 condition, right larynx and vocal cord, no travel has been found in my lymph nodes, my hair is slightly darker, 8 weeks since last treatment,[note regardless of the pain i continued eating a good diet of food orally, plus 5 to 6 boost suplements a day, I only lost 10 % of my weight, I feel very well, only body symptom is I require more rest. My hospital is the Jewish gen. hospital in Montreal Canada, thanks to a great team of Doctors and Care givers [the best] Robert Buchanan

—Guest robert buchanan

Hair Loss after chemotherapy treatment

My scalp became dry, itchy and hair started thinning, soon after I was through with chemo treatment. I was not really stressed as I knew it was a common side effect. I started worrying when my eyelashes, eyebrows and body hair began to fall. Getting bald was not an issue for me but dry and itchy scalp irritated me all the time. I was looking for a quick and effective product. I found out about many products online and decided to go for evolife labs. I was not sure about my purchase until my scalp felt better within a week after I started using evocapil spray. It was after 2 months my hair started to re-grow. Thanks to evocapil for making my re-growth peaceful without any itchiness and dryness. It worked for me very well. I believe myevolife products are really effective. You should check that out on myevolife.com for more details.

—brnmoore