Data for cancer treatment balding.

Alopecia due to chemotherapy can deal a severe blow to people's self-esteem, causing them to lose confidence and drive. Bearing in mind that chemotherapy, treating cancer as it does, is literally a life and death issue, losing hair might appear to be a side issue, logically speaking. Human thought does not always take the logical route though, and the psychological effects can be overwhelming when the internal struggle comes out in a very open external manifestation of the disease.

The emotional impact of hair loss, one of the many horrid side effects of chemotherapy, is genderless. Effecting men and women, the amount of hair loss or even whether you may be affected is dependent on the type and quantity of medicinal treatment that the cancer warrants. Nevertheless, hair loss, unfortunately is a likely side effect.

Hair loss is one of the side effects of cancer treatment most commonly linked to chemotherapy. The reason chemotherapy causes hair loss is the way that chemotherapy targets cancer cells. Cancer cells are some of the fastest growing and multiplying cells, so chemotherapy works by attacking fast growing cells. Unfortunately, hair cells are also fast growing, so chemotherapy kills off the living cells of the hair follicles causing it to fall out. Luckily though, this hair loss is usually temporary (though it might grow back with different texture and color).

There is no guarantee that hair will not fall when someone is treated with chemotherapy. There are, however, several treatments that may make the situation more manageable. There is some indication that Minoxidil may slow the rate of loss and encourage regrowth more quickly. Rogaine is a name brand that is well known. A method that is considered alternative is applying ice packs during chemotherapy to slow the blood flow to the scalp, with the intent of minimizing damage to the area. To some extent, there have been reports of this being effective. Some, however, some have reported it as uncomfortable and risk may increase for the same reason it preserves hair.

You can minimize to some extent the impact of the hair loss on your life if you plan ahead. You should not engage in any activities which stress your hair prior to treatment, such as bleaching, coloring, or dying your hair. You can consider whether you are going to use a wig or perhaps cut your hair short or even shave you head prior to treatment to minimize the visual impact of the hair loss during chemotherapy treatment.

You can learn more about hair loss here: Hair Loss News. Check out our other hair loss articles including chemotherapy hair loss at http://Hair-Loss.Teach2.Us