Chemotherapy is indeed a testing stage not just physically but also emotionally on many levels. One has to deal with major changes and losses all of a sudden. And for women, it is a little more difficult given the amount of hair loss that accompanies the therapy sessions. We all know how much women love their hair and how painful it is to shed them incessantly. Well, nothing can ease the pain or reduce the burden but there are certain ways to deal with the hair loss during and post-chemotherapy sessions.
Why does hair loss occur?
When the strong dosage of medicines during therapy affects the growth of cancer cells, it also affects the growth of normal cells like the ones in the roots. Yes, the therapy effectively destructs them, preventing them to function normally, thus leading to many sudden abnormal changes like major hair loss, which increases with the increase of the medicinal dosage.
What should one expect?
Well, the actual hair loss begins around 2-4 weeks after the treatment starts. One starts noticing the hair on the hair brush and other random places of the house. There is major hair shedding while one combs through the hair.
Normally, when the hair falls the process to grow it back starts within a very short period but during chemotherapy, the drugs affect this functioning. This means that the hair falls off and it takes more than the usual time for them to grow back.
What can you do?
1) Opting for a short haircut is a very common way of dealing with the after-effects of chemotherapy. It is also seen that there is major hair loss due to stressing about the hair loss, which means that if you nip it at the bud then you can avoid unwanted stress.
2) Human hair wigs are another useful resource for dealing with hair loss due to chemo. Many people do not wish to make their treatment obvious and thereby prefer to go for a natural and undetected look that’ll help them easily camouflage the absence or loss of hair. It is an effective way of protecting the head; make sure the wig base is soft for the sensitive scalp.
The best part about using these wigs is they don’t take away your natural look rather makes you feel more you.
3) Chemotherapy wigs are special wigs that are designed keeping in mind the scalp sensitivity of the wearer. They are suggested by doctors to use given their sterile nature and easy composition that helps your root hair breathe. We all know chemo is a painful therapy that brings in both physical and emotional turmoil. Seeing one’s hair shedding definitely adds to this pain but using chemo wigs at this stage helps to overcome the disturbing situation to some extent, giving the patient that much-needed confidence to deal with it.
4) Another effective way of protecting your scalp is to make use of hats. Now the hats may come attached with hair or they can be your regular hats that work as a protective shield against the sun and other pollutants out there. One can search for chemo hats Canada to find one that suits their personal taste and style. There’s an extensive collection available online in different price ranges.
5) Also, for normal usage, you can just use a scarf or headband as a protective covering.
We understand that while medical procedures like chemotherapy are tough, dealing with its after-effects is the toughest. Therefore, it is essential to look well after your sensitive scalp post chemo. With wigs, hats, and bands readily available these days, it’s easier to make a choice that comforts you the best.
May you find what you are looking for!
