Promoting Wellness Beyond Hormone Therapy, Second Edition: Options for Prostate Cancer Patients by Mark A. Moyad

Author:Mark A. Moyad [Moyad, Mark A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781938170409
Publisher: Spry Publishing LLC
Published: 2013-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

HAIR LOSS

Also known as chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) or anagen effluvium.

What is it? Why does it happen? There are three major and most frequent side effects of chemotherapy drugs, namely bone marrow suppression impacts (with fewer blood cells produced), gastrointestinal problems, and hair loss. All three occur because chemotherapy is toxic to the most rapidly dividing cells of the human body (cancer cells among them).

Unfortunately, other healthy rapidly dividing cells of the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and hair follicles suffer some temporary and, at times, permanent damage as well.

What are the signs and symptoms? Hair shedding can occur as early as 1 to 3 weeks, or even several months after chemotherapy has been initiated. The hair loss tends to occur in multiple areas over the whole scalp and is known as diffuse hair loss. It isn’t possible to predict how much hair will be lost.

CIA is usually temporary, with hair regrowth usually occurring 3 to 6 months after chemotherapy is stopped. The scalp is the most common area of hair loss. However, if chemotherapy is given in high doses for a long time, hair loss can occur in other areas including under the arms, eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic hair, and beard. In some individuals the regrown hair shows a change in color and/or feel or texture. The thickness of the hair may be reduced.

Following is a list of drugs by their tendency to cause hair loss. Please note that the major chemotherapy drug approved for HRPC patients (Taxotere) and other drugs commonly used in prostate cancer treatment often cause some hair loss.

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