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Does Breast Cancer Cause Hair Loss? Understanding the Facts
By Raveena M Prakash
A breast cancer diagnosis often shakes your nervous system, and it can raise many questions in patients and their families. Will I lose my hair? But here’s the answer: it's not the breast cancer that is causing the hair loss, but rather there are cancer treatments that used to trigger the hair fall in patients.
In this blog, we’ll explore more about what you can expect during your cancer treatments, what can be done, and how to emotionally prepare for the treatments!
How does breast cancer itself cause hair loss?
The answer is a big No, breast cancer itself won’t cause hair loss in patients. While these cancer treatments and their side effects can cause hair falling and hair thinning. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and sometimes hormonal therapy can often lead to hair thinning in most cancer patients.
If you are experiencing hair thinning due to breast cancer, then it's not a symptom of the cancer. Losing the hair can be due to the side effects of treatments, which destroy the rapidly growing cancer cells, and how these treatments are working effectively.
Why do cancer treatments cause hair loss?
Cancer treatment usually targets rapidly dividing cancer cells. Cancer cells usually divide and grow quickly. Along with cancer cells, these treatments can adversely affect the rapidly growing cells like hair follicles in the body.
For example: Some chemotherapy drugs flow through your bloodstream, which can’t be distinguished between cancer cells and healthy fast growing cancer cells. That’s why hair follicles often get affected, which often leads to temporary hair falls on the scalp and sometimes other parts of the body, including body hair, eye lashes, eye brows and arms, etc.
What types of breast cancer treatments can cause hair loss?
Here are some of the cancer treatments that can cause mild hair thinning, heavy hair fall in these cancer patients.
These may include:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is often considered the main cause of treatment-related loss of hair in these types of cancer patients. Specific chemo drugs like doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and docetaxel are commonly used in these breast cancer treatments. These are known as a big trigger to hair fall.
In some patients, hair thinning and loss usually begins 2-4 weeks after starting chemotherapy and it may continue for a few months as well.
Targeted therapy
In some cases, your healthcare provider might suggest targeted therapies that come with drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) or pertuzumab (Perjeta), which might cause mild hair thinning, but not complete hair loss. These side effects are usually considered less severe than those of people undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Hormonal therapy
Hormonal treatments such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors like letrozole or anastrozole might cause gradual hair thinning, especially in patients with postmenopausal women.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is an effective treatment that affects the area being treated. If radiation is directed at the chest area of the patient, it typically won’t cause any scalp hair fall, unless the scalp itself is targeted.
How to manage and cope with hair loss?
Hair loss can be emotionally difficult, which can affect the identity and self confidence of many patients. While hair thinning is not just a physical side effect, it is a visible reminder of your cancer battle and affects your mental health adversely.
Many women find strength and confidence through some coping strategies, such as:
- Using head coverings such as wigs, scarves, turbans and hats
- Cooling caps: Using these can helps to reduce hair falling during chemotherapy by restricting the blood flow to the scalp
- Join support groups and counseling: Sharing the treatment experience and your journey can help to ease emotional stress. These can make you feel your experience gets validated by people who understand your journey.
Tips to protect and care your for hair during the treatment
There are some of the tips that helps to protect your hair during the treatment, including:
- Use gentle, sulphate free shampoo only
- Avoid styling your hair with heating, colouring, and tight hair styles
- Protect your hair from sun exposure with hats
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals to support hair growth.
When does hair grow back in patients?
Hair loss from breast cancer treatments are considered almost temporary. Many studies suggest that hair regrowth usually starts from 1 to 3 months after completing the chemo sessions. While the texture and color of your hair can appear changes due to the side effects of treatments, which is quite common in many breast cancers.
Many women can find their hair comes out as curlier or grayer than before. Within 6 to 12 months, most patients have a full head of hair again. Always try to be gentle while taking care of your scalp and using mild, chemical-free hair products, which can support healthy hair regrowth.
Consult Today
Breast cancer doesn’t directly cause hair loss, but the treatments can cause hair fall. While losing your hair can be distressing, these can be temporary side effects of treatments. With time, proper care, and patience, your hair and confidence can grow back stronger than ever.
Hair regrowth is possible, while the speed, texture and thickness of your hair might differ after the treatments. Keep in mind that your hair does not define your strength, value, or recovery. But your treatment will help you to live and improve the quality of your life.
At Oncare, we offer premium-quality cancer treatments, including advanced cancer surgeries at an affordable price range with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with our experienced cancer specialist today! Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s how breast cancer gets treated, including:
There are some breast cancer surgeries are performed, these may include:
- Mastectomy
- Lumpectomy
- Breast reconstruction
In some cases, a healthcare professional might combine other cancer treatments with one or more of the following treatments, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
Here’s how breast cancer gets diagnosed in cancer patients, including:
- Breast ultrasound
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging scan
- Breast biopsy
- Immunohistochemistry test to check for hormone receptor
- Genetic tests to identify the mutation that cause breast cancer
There are some complications of breast cancer; when the cancer is not diagnosed at an early age, then this disease might spread to other areas of the body, including your brain, bones, liver, and lungs. Studies show that 1 in 3 women who have an early-stage cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer.
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