Chemotherapy refers to the treatment of cancer using medicines that get the body cleansed of cancerous cells. Regrettably, it also has certain harmful affects on the healthy cells, the most visible of which is the hair follicles. This leads to an excessive and instant hair loss, resulting in baldness, which in majority cases is only temporary. The hair comes right back once you no longer need chemotherapy.

Depending on the kind of drug being used during chemotherapy, there are times when there is absolutely no hair loss or if there is, it's negligible. Mostly, however, this is not the case and besides scalp hair, hair from other parts like eyes, chin, and legs etc also come out. It all depends on the type and dose of medicine being used during chemo and individual response.

People, who are going to loose hair due to chemo, usually start noticing the hair fall in the span of a couple of weeks but sometimes it can be immediate. While brushing or washing hair, a patient may notice the hair fall or, on waking up in the morning, may find hair on the pillow. It's a dreadful feeling for some who loose hair within a couple of days. Besides the physical discomfort of soreness in the scalp, it causes immense emotional turmoil. Loosing hair during chemotherapy, for some people, is the worse thing of all. It's like losing the last straw. A constant reminder of their illness, it makes them go through a roller coaster ride of emotions like anger, depression and sadness. Socializing becomes a horror for most as they are unable to reconcile with their hairless state. At such a time, emotional support provided by family and friends becomes extremely important. Making the patients feel they are not loved because of their physical appearance but because of their other qualities that go skin deep, becomes a challenge for family and friends that one way or the other they have to face and win through. Otherwise, the already sick patients may get even more hopeless. Patients can meet with others going through the same phase at their hospital and talk and listen to people who actually know what it feels like.

Usually, hair grows back right after the chemo is finished. Although fine in the beginning yet a full growth of hair occurs within three to six months after the treatment. The hair texture and color may change. Some people with straight hair may get a growth of curly hair. Or those with blonde hair may get brownish hair. But important thing to remember is that the baldness stage is only temporary and will pass.

Some treatments like scalp cooling can prevent the chemo drugs from reaching the cells responsible for hair growth. This can be done through commercially sold cold caps or by a special machine.

These are attached to the head with Velcro and have to be put on a while before chemotherapy session starts. They have to be worn throughout the treatment and for two hours after it's finished. These are not efficient when combined with all kinds of chemotherapy medicines.

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