The cost of hair loss

MINAL KHONA offers tips on how to deal with hair loss after chemotherapy, possibly one of the most traumatic of side-effects hen I heard of a friend recovering from cancer, it set me thinking about how women deal with hair loss while fighting this deadly disease.

I recently met up with a friend who is all of 42 and a cancer survivor, and she arrived with a scarf covering her head. This vivacious lady had a really thick mane of hair before she began the treatment. Half her hair had grown back and she was looking forward to the rest of it coming back too. That got me wondering how women dealt with hair loss during cancer treatments and what can be done to look after it during that phase. Here are some details and tips on what can be done to minimize the trauma of losing your hair during cancer recovery.

Research says that most women begin to lose their hair about two weeks after they begin chemotherapy. Also, experts at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota say that a person usually loses about 50% of their hair before the loss is really noticeable to people. Hair loss is not just hair falling out in clumps, but sometimes it can be painful and I am not talking about emotional pain. What happens is that the hair follicles get irritated and the scalp becomes extremely sensitive.

However, it is the emotional trauma of losing hair during the treatment process that is the worst part, and how a woman handles it is part of rebuilding her life, looks and self esteem after her hair has fallen out.

Coming clean

Some women decide to shave their heads rather than put themselves through the extreme stress of watching their hair fall out. I believe that most of us consider our hair to be an integral part of our looks. Besides having clear skin, the quality and sometimes length of our hair is the second biggest concern for most of us. So, making a preemptive decision like going bald can be an empowering one, provided you have the confidence to carry it off. Sometimes family members get involved in doing the same as a way of showing support. Also, those with long and lustrous hair can do a good deed and donate their hair, while building confidence and lessening the trauma.

Going undercover

There are other patients who are resigned to the brutal side-effects of chemotherapy and allow their hair to fall out naturally. Such people notice clumps of their hair falling out and go for a near-buzz cut after it has almost completely fallen out

Other patients don’t pick up the scissors until they’ve already dealt with the emotional pain of pulling out handfuls of their own hair.

So what is the best way to manage your hair during chemotherapy? Is there a right way at all, because each person’s level of trauma at losing one’s hair and fighting cancer is very different. My research gave me a few tips which I have listed below:

* Wash your hair only when it is absolutely necessary and use a gentle shampoo and conditioner. The milder the better.

* If you are used to colouring your hair, don’t do it any more. Till your hair grows back, any kind of chemical-based treatment like perming and colouring will only weaken the hair further.

* Pat dry your hair or let it dry naturally. Use a soft brush or a wide-toothed comb and stay away from hair dryers and curling irons.

* When you step out, wear a scarf or a hat as that protects your thinning hair and scalp from harsh sunlight and very cold air. It also gives you confidence, and you will feel less embarrassed or awkward because of your thinning hair.

* Some women who have always had scanty hair and lose their hair during chemotherapy are okay with losing it, so if you are in this category you can always shave it all off.

* You can also go to a non-surgical hair treatment clinic with a nice picture of yourself before starting the chemotherapy. Ask them to make you a wig that is the closest fit to your hair colour, style and texture and use it when socializing, after your hair has fallen out. Let them keep a sample of your hair so they can get the right match for the texture of your hair. Remember that with a wig too, it is best to go with a natural look, a light one which is not too thick. So even if you had long and thick tresses, go for a shorter style as that will be light and won’t make your scalp feel hot and scratchy.

* Make the wig a shade lighter than your usual hair colour because you will look pale and dull during chemo, and the wig may appear darker and unnatural.

To care for the wig, you can alternate wearing it with scarves, turbans or hats. During the break when you are not wearing the wig, have a hairdresser clean it for you.

* Invest in a good wig with real hair because once you start recovering, your hair will grow back.

The important thing to remember is that hair loss is a side-effect of the chemo, not the main disease. So, traumatic as it may be, don’t focus on falling hair and instead concentrate on fighting and beating the cancer.