Preventing Hair Loss During a Cancer Journey
- Catherine, the Princess of Wales, otherwise known as Kate Middleton, 42, has completed chemotherapy in her battle against cancer, which she first announced earlier this year. She said in March that an abdominal surgery ultimately revealed that cancer “had been present.”
- Chemotherapy, like Middleton underwent, and radiation therapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. Most people can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment.
- Although it’s unclear what Middleton has done to preserve her hair, understand that if losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things, to maintain your self-esteem.
- Scalp cooling devices can also help. They constrict the blood flow to the scalp; the caps limit the amount of circulating chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, protecting them from some of the chemo’s damaging effects.
Hair loss is often a side effect of chemotherapy, and it is also one of the most difficult to experience. Luckily, it appears Middleton hasn’t endured such a loss of hair—and although it’s unclear what exact type of chemotherapy treatment she recently underwent, and if she did anything to prevent hair loss, there are various ways to preserve one’s hair amid treatment.
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“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.”
Middleton, who is mom to her three children George, Charlotte and Louis, continued, “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.
“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”
Now, Middleton admits she’s doing whatever she can to remain “cancer free”
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can,” she explained.
“Despite all that has gone before I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.”
Middleton, who has had her husband, three children, and supportive loved ones by her side throughout her cancer battle, concluded, “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light so let that light shine bright.”
Although specific details regarding her cancer diagnosis remain undisclosed at this time, her ability to keep her hair throughout the possible chemotherapy side effects she may have experienced is certainly inspirational.
Tips On Managing Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment
- If You’re Looking For Ways To Deal With Hair Loss During Cancer, You’re Not Alone
- How Ovarian Cancer Survivor Teri Chow’s Wig (& Humor) Helped Her Cope With Hair Loss
- Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
- Chemotherapy Side Effects – Hair Loss
- Inside Alex Trebek’s Dramatic Cancer Hair Loss and Super-Realistic Wig
- Preventing Hair Loss During Chemotherapy: Scalp-Cooling Devices
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How to Navigate One of the Most Emotional Steps Amid Cancer— Hair Loss
Hair loss is challenging for women and men alike, but it can be incredibly difficult for cancer patients. Losing your hair or seeing it thinning is a common side effect of some cancer treatments. And although it appears Kate Middleton hasn’t lose any hair, we think it’s important to understand how to cope with such a cancer treatment side effect.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. It occurs because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemo.
To better cope with this emotional stage of the journey, Dr. Boardman suggests reaching out to other survivors who have been through a similar situation.
Radiation is another treatment that can lead to hair loss if the hair is in the path of the tumor being treated. Radiation for a brain tumor, for example, may cause hair loss.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” radiation oncologist Dr. James Taylor told SurvivorNet. “Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.”
Fortunately, hair loss during cancer treatment is not all bad news. Most people can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way for saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.
WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?
The caps, which are tightly fitting and strap-on helmet-style, are filled with gel coolant chilled to negative (-15) to (-40) degrees Fahrenheit.
The caps “cause vasoconstriction, or a narrowing of the blood vessels bringing blood to the scalp,” Dr. Urban explains. By constricting the blood flow to the scalp, the caps limit the amount of circulating chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, protecting them from some of the chemo’s damaging effects.
The cold also decreases the activity of the hair follicles, slowing down cell division and making them less affected by chemotherapy medicine.
“This has been shown to reduce hair loss by 50 percent,” Dr. Urban says. “I do try to let patients know it’s not a 100 percent prevention strategy, and it’s not been studied in all hair types, but it is at least an available strategy for patients to try.”
Keep in mind you will be experiencing some cold temperatures. Some women find the caps give them a headache. To help withstand the chilly temps, some women will dress warmly and bring blankets.
Remember to always talk with your doctor about potential treatments to mitigate the loss and the resources you have available to handle it.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re going through cancer treatment and experiencing hair loss, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:
- Are there any treatments to help manage or minimize my hair loss?
- What are scalp-cooling devices, and how do they work?
- Do you recommend scalp-cooling devices?
- What other options are available to help me cope with hair loss?
- Can you recommend a wig maker?
- I’m struggling mentally with my hair loss; can you recommend a therapist to talk to?
- How can I find a local support group with people going through similar things?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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