Coping with Hair Loss
Coping with Hair Loss
While hair loss is not a life-threatening condition and it is not physically painful, it can affect a patient’s mental health, elevating stress and anxiety and reducing quality of life.
Specifically, female-identified cancer patients, in particular, experience challenges with hair loss on the psychological, emotional, and social level.
There are many of studies that support the challenges associated with hair loss and cancer. The studies range from explaining why it happens, methods to prevent it from happening, perceptions of hair loss, the stigma around it, and more.
While many of the psychosocial studies have largely been focused around breast cancer and hair loss, the findings are still important and could be relevant to all cancer types, including colorectal cancer.
Hair Loss is Traumatic
A study from 2017 confirmed that hair loss can be a traumatic experience for patients.
In the study, 24 female survivors who had undergone treatment for breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, meaning the cancer had not spread, were interviewed. The responses suggest that there is a perceived stigma attached to being a cancer patient, and a stigma about not fitting in with the societal norms of having hair. Surprisingly, there was also notable distress felt by women who did not lose their hair – again, because they didn’t fit the stereotypical look of a cancer patient. Hair loss on the head, face (including eyelashes and eyebrows), and hair on the body (arms, etc), can all have an effect on the emotional health of a patient.
The interesting thing about hair loss as a cancer patient: if you have hair, it’s quite possible that nobody notices you or knows that you’re in treatment. They may say things like “well, you don’t look sick,” or may throw you a side-eye for taking time off of work. If you’ve lost your hair, it’s likely that people ask about it–thus robbing you of the privacy of your health and wellness.
The bottom line is that hair plays a big role in a cancer survivor’s psychosocial health. It’s important to understand ways to address these unique challenges.
Irinotecan and Hair Loss
Colorectal cancer patients don’t typically experience hair loss as a side effect from treatment unless they’re on a therapy that includes irinotecan. This drug is known for causing hair loss; some patients lose all hair and some lose large amounts of hair. Often patients are receiving this drug as part of a combination therapy:
- Folfiri
- Folfoxiri
- Xeliri
If you’re on one of these drugs, talk to your medical team about what to expect and ways to avoid or cope with hair loss.
“I lost my hair two times. I was diagnosed in 2015 and was put on Folfoxiri. The irinotecan made me start shedding like crazy. The doctors told me that if it was going to happen, it would start within 14 days. And it started, literally, on day 13. I was getting ready to go to brunch with my girlfriends, and I pulled out a huge chunk of hair. I was devastated because I knew I was going to actually look like a cancer patient. I finally had my friend come shave my head because I couldn’t take seeing the hair fall out all around me.Honestly, once I shaved it, I felt like I took control of the situation and said “take that cancer!” It was very liberating.
I made the most of it. I bought several different wigs, all different colors and cuts…styles I would have never tried before. It made getting ready super quick. And let’s be honest, when you are going through chemo, who has the energy to dry and curl their hair? I found the positives in it.
My second round of folfoxiri made me lose my hair again. It was finally getting long enough that I could rock the Pebbles hairdo…but now it is gone again.
My advice to patients losing hair is to remember: It is just hair. It is just a temporary side effect, and it will grow back! Look at the positives: less maintenance when you are so tired from chemo, and you can have fun with it!
Own it. You are going through the hardest time of your life. Losing your hair is another sign you are a warrior and you are fighting for your life.
You are a bald, beautiful, brave warrior…don’t let losing your hair change any of that!
Cancer is tough, scary, and the hardest thing physically and mentally you will probably ever go through in your life. Embrace it, try and find the light in every single situation, from losing your hair to meeting new friends who know exactly what you are feeling and going through. Don’t let cancer take your light–it already takes so much. Lean on the Fight CRC community, because we all understand, and we’re there for you, with hair or without.” – Jessica Dilts Cash, stage IV fighter
“I had FOLFOX treatment for rectal cancer and was told that 1 in 6 have “thinning” of the hair. I did not expect to have too much loss since I already made it through capecitebin with no hair loss. I had 8 treatments and after I was done, I started losing hair to beat the band. I got a hair topper that clipped in and looked at it positively. I got tons of compliments on it. Wigs and toppers are amazing now. People who knew me well asked how my hair grew so fast!! I am still waiting for my hair to grow in thickly. It has been 10 weeks since my last treatment and it is just a light fuzz. I have enough hair to clip my topper on, but can’t wait for the real thing to really grow in! I was most surprised at how much hair I lost AFTER treatment ended. It can be a hard waiting period, but I know it will be growing soon. Thank you for the encouragement.” – Jeanne Longo, rectal cancer survivor
“I had FOLFOX and my hair just thinned. I had to get it cut when my treatment stopped, and the hair started growing in thick again. There was quite a difference. I had to get it cut short and it was the shortest I had worn it since I was a kid. I really felt ‘naked’ with the new length, and couldn’t wait to get it back to where it was. Its almost been two years since I finished treatment, and it’s back to the length it was. It’s so much better, and I feel so much better with it this length.” – Sarah Casey
“I loved the convenience of not having to style my hair. Always so much pressure to look good. I hated the wigs (too hot) but found one that worked OK on special social situations. Growing the hair out is another challenge, but I think I’ll keep it short.” – Patty Murdock
While hair loss is not a life-threatening condition and it is not physically painful, it can affect a patient’s mental health, elevating stress and anxiety and reducing quality of life.
Specifically, female-identified cancer patients, in particular, experience challenges with hair loss on the psychological, emotional, and social level.
There are many of studies that support the challenges associated with hair loss and cancer. The studies range from explaining why it happens, methods to prevent it from happening, perceptions of hair loss, the stigma around it, and more.
While many of the psychosocial studies have largely been focused around breast cancer and hair loss, the findings are still important and could be relevant to all cancer types, including colorectal cancer.
Hair Loss is Traumatic
A study from 2017 confirmed that hair loss can be a traumatic experience for patients.
In the study, 24 female survivors who had undergone treatment for breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, meaning the cancer had not spread, were interviewed. The responses suggest that there is a perceived stigma attached to being a cancer patient, and a stigma about not fitting in with the societal norms of having hair. Surprisingly, there was also notable distress felt by women who did not lose their hair – again, because they didn’t fit the stereotypical look of a cancer patient. Hair loss on the head, face (including eyelashes and eyebrows), and hair on the body (arms, etc), can all have an effect on the emotional health of a patient.
The interesting thing about hair loss as a cancer patient: if you have hair, it’s quite possible that nobody notices you or knows that you’re in treatment. They may say things like “well, you don’t look sick,” or may throw you a side-eye for taking time off of work. If you’ve lost your hair, it’s likely that people ask about it–thus robbing you of the privacy of your health and wellness.
The bottom line is that hair plays a big role in a cancer survivor’s psychosocial health. It’s important to understand ways to address these unique challenges.
Irinotecan and Hair Loss
Colorectal cancer patients don’t typically experience hair loss as a side effect from treatment unless they’re on a therapy that includes irinotecan. This drug is known for causing hair loss; some patients lose all hair and some lose large amounts of hair. Often patients are receiving this drug as part of a combination therapy:
- Folfiri
- Folfoxiri
- Xeliri
If you’re on one of these drugs, talk to your medical team about what to expect and ways to avoid or cope with hair loss.
“I lost my hair two times. I was diagnosed in 2015 and was put on Folfoxiri. The irinotecan made me start shedding like crazy. The doctors told me that if it was going to happen, it would start within 14 days. And it started, literally, on day 13. I was getting ready to go to brunch with my girlfriends, and I pulled out a huge chunk of hair. I was devastated because I knew I was going to actually look like a cancer patient. I finally had my friend come shave my head because I couldn’t take seeing the hair fall out all around me.Honestly, once I shaved it, I felt like I took control of the situation and said “take that cancer!” It was very liberating.
I made the most of it. I bought several different wigs, all different colors and cuts…styles I would have never tried before. It made getting ready super quick. And let’s be honest, when you are going through chemo, who has the energy to dry and curl their hair? I found the positives in it.
My second round of folfoxiri made me lose my hair again. It was finally getting long enough that I could rock the Pebbles hairdo…but now it is gone again.
My advice to patients losing hair is to remember: It is just hair. It is just a temporary side effect, and it will grow back! Look at the positives: less maintenance when you are so tired from chemo, and you can have fun with it!
Own it. You are going through the hardest time of your life. Losing your hair is another sign you are a warrior and you are fighting for your life.
You are a bald, beautiful, brave warrior…don’t let losing your hair change any of that!
Cancer is tough, scary, and the hardest thing physically and mentally you will probably ever go through in your life. Embrace it, try and find the light in every single situation, from losing your hair to meeting new friends who know exactly what you are feeling and going through. Don’t let cancer take your light–it already takes so much. Lean on the Fight CRC community, because we all understand, and we’re there for you, with hair or without.” – Jessica Dilts Cash, stage IV fighter
“I had FOLFOX treatment for rectal cancer and was told that 1 in 6 have “thinning” of the hair. I did not expect to have too much loss since I already made it through capecitebin with no hair loss. I had 8 treatments and after I was done, I started losing hair to beat the band. I got a hair topper that clipped in and looked at it positively. I got tons of compliments on it. Wigs and toppers are amazing now. People who knew me well asked how my hair grew so fast!! I am still waiting for my hair to grow in thickly. It has been 10 weeks since my last treatment and it is just a light fuzz. I have enough hair to clip my topper on, but can’t wait for the real thing to really grow in! I was most surprised at how much hair I lost AFTER treatment ended. It can be a hard waiting period, but I know it will be growing soon. Thank you for the encouragement.” – Jeanne Longo, rectal cancer survivor
“I had FOLFOX and my hair just thinned. I had to get it cut when my treatment stopped, and the hair started growing in thick again. There was quite a difference. I had to get it cut short and it was the shortest I had worn it since I was a kid. I really felt ‘naked’ with the new length, and couldn’t wait to get it back to where it was. Its almost been two years since I finished treatment, and it’s back to the length it was. It’s so much better, and I feel so much better with it this length.” – Sarah Casey
“I loved the convenience of not having to style my hair. Always so much pressure to look good. I hated the wigs (too hot) but found one that worked OK on special social situations. Growing the hair out is another challenge, but I think I’ll keep it short.” – Patty Murdock
