Coping with Hair Loss During Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer commonly includes the following drugs: carboplatin and paclitaxel, also known by the brand names, Paraplatin and Taxol. If your chemo regimen includes one of those drugs, it's more likely that you will lose your hair.

According to Dr. Zachary Reese, medical oncologist at Intermountain Healthcare in the Salt Lake City area, hair loss usually begins about two weeks after the first administration of chemotherapy. It often starts with the hair on top of your head, and eventually includes the eyebrows and eyelashes. Plan for hair loss to continue as long as you're getting the chemotherapy, but remember that the hair will grow back after treatment ends.

"After you stop the chemotherapy treatments, somewhere between four and eight weeks after that last dose of chemotherapy, the hair will start to regrow," says Dr. Reese.

It's normal to feel upset about losing your hair, even when you know it will grow back once treatment stops. "We understand that it's a big deal for most patients, and there's no wrong or right way to deal with it," says Dr. Reese.

So, what can you do to better cope with the experience?

How to Prevent and Cover Hair Loss

There are several ways to make the experience less distressing. "Wigs, scarves, hats–however an individual wants to address that is perfectly fine," Dr. Reese says. "There are lots of resources available to help cope with it."

One option is cryotherapy, which may help women keep some or a lot of their hair during chemotherapy.  This "cold therapy" entails wearing what are called cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment. In one study, women who used scalp cooling throughout their chemotherapy sessions experienced less hair loss. Many of the women lost 50% or less of their hair.

Cooling caps are worn helmet-style and fit snugly around the head. They are filled with a gel coolant that's around -15 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. They essentially cause the scalp's blood vessels to narrow, and by doing so, limit the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles. The caps help protect the scalp from the chemo's damaging effects. If you want to give scalp cooling a try, your doctor may recommend that you bring warm clothing and blankets to prevent your body from getting chilled during the procedure.

The other option is to buy a wig. Fortunately, some insurance companies now cover the cost. If you think you might want to try a wig, it can be helpful to buy it before your chemotherapy starts, so that you can match the color of your natural hair as closely as possible. Also keep in mind that you might need a smaller wig as you lose your hair, so ask if the wig can be adjusted as time goes on.

Some women find wigs to be itchy or hot and may prefer wearing head scarves or turbans instead. There are several ways to tie and wear a headscarf, plus you can use them in other ways after your hair grows back. Helpful tip: Wearing a cap underneath can help hold a scarf in place, and cotton fabrics tend to stay on a smooth scalp better than nylon or polyester.

Though it can be difficult to deal with the loss of your hair, remember that the loss isn’t forever. "The important thing is to keep in mind that when the chemotherapy stops, when the Taxol goes away, the hair is going to start to come back," says Dr. Reese.

 

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