10 facts about breast cancer and hair loss

1. When you are being treated for breast cancer, you do not always experience hair loss. 

You only lose your hair when you are being treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves administering drugs that kill fast-digesting cells, such as cancer cells. Unfortunately, the cells in hair follicles are also fast-digesting. Now, chemotherapy is not always necessary, and besides, not all chemotherapy makes your hair fall out. 

2. Hair loss is perceived as one of the worst side effects for women treated for breast cancer.

Hair loss has a very big impact on women's mental well-being. It comes with a lot of anxiety and sadness. If you are being treated for breast cancer, be sure to discuss this with your hairdresser beforehand. There are solutions.   

3. Immediately after stopping chemo, your hair does not start growing again.  

You need a little more patience. It takes 3 to 4 weeks after the last chemotherapy treatment before the first hairs reappear.   

4. After chemo, new hair may have a different texture, e.g., from straight to curly.  

Usually you get your hairstyle back as before. Occasionally, however, it has a different texture and feels different. Some women, who had their hair dyed for years, rediscover their natural hair color.   

5. Hormone therapy for breast cancer can cause hair loss.  

Unfortunate. Hair can thin and fall out locally during hormone therapy. Sometimes it takes months to notice. After treatment stops, hair grows back.   

6. Radiation does not, in principle, cause hair loss.  

In principle, radiation does not cause hair loss, but when your head is irradiated, in case of a metastasis in the brain for example, your hair can fall out. Usually only your breast is irradiated, then you don't get hair loss. Unless you have hair around the nipple. Those fall out.   

7. Scalp cooling can ensure that you can preserve your hair if you are receiving chemo.  

An hour or so before chemo, you get an ice pack on your head, which causes the blood vessels to your hair follicles to close and prevent chemo from reaching them. In about 70% of women, hair does not fall out thanks to this scalp cooling. You have to be able to stand the cold, though.   

8. For hair loss due to cancer, it is best to choose appropriate scarves and hats. 

There are special scarves and hats for chemo patients, which have the advantage that they are not too warm, have no seams inside and are soft to the touch. Color advice is also important here.  

9. A wig is best fitted before hair loss is a reality. 

It is important to discuss hair loss in advance with your hairdresser. The latter will refer you to a wig expert who will discuss options with you based on your hair.   

10. There are no dietary supplements that prevent hair loss. 

Nutritional supplements for your hair can possibly boost existing hair, but do not counteract hair loss. If that were the case, there would be no bald men, right?