One of the first things that comes to mind when talking about cancer treatment is sudden hair loss. What actually throws her off chemotherapy itself. So how does chemotherapy reveal this type of hair loss called “alopecia”?

Chemotherapy, one of the leading fields of medical oncology, can serve several purposes; It can be aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the disease, prolonging the patient’s life or getting rid of the disease completely. This one, kind of cancer and it depends on the patient’s condition.

Why does the hair of patients on chemotherapy fall out?

A patient treated for systemic hyperthermia.

Various techniques can be used in chemotherapy. In systemic therapy, one of the common techniques, patients are administered intravenously. pharmaceutical and chemical components is given. Sometimes surgery, radiation, or systemic hyperthermia therapy may be used as an adjunct to systemic therapy.

A variety of drugs and treatments that try to prevent cancer it has side effects. Hair loss is one of the most obvious of these side effects. Hair falls out 2-4 weeks after chemotherapy treatment begins. While the shedding is sometimes slow, sometimes it can happen suddenly and quickly.

Why do these drugs affect the hair?

Cancer cells spread quickly throughout the body. Because cancer drugs know this attack fast-growing cells. However, it cannot distinguish which cell is cancerous and which cell is healthy.

Therefore, those responsible for producing hair and known for its rapid growth The cells of the hair follicle also get their share of these drugs. While medicines sometimes only affect the hair, they can also affect other body hairs such as eyelashes, hair, feathers.

the amount of spillage, It may vary depending on the patient’s condition and the type of medications. Drugs such as Adriamycin can cause the patient to lose eyebrows and eyelashes within weeks. Drugs such as taxol, on the other hand, affect the body in general.

Scalp before and during chemotherapy minoxidil Hair loss can be prevented by applying it, but it cannot be said that it always works.

2-3 months after the end of chemotherapy starts stretching again. This loss is a temporary side effect. When the hair first comes out, it may be straighter or curly, the color may be different, but it will return to its original state later.

A treatment method other than chemotherapy smart medicine When used, drugs target cancer cells directly. These drugs have differences, such as inhibiting the division and proliferation of cancer cells instead of being lethal. We can say that smart medicine is one step ahead in terms of effects.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6