Why do many chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss? Why do many chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss?

Unfortunately, scientists have yet to be able to locate specific features of malignant and immune cells that would make them uniquely targetable (barring some recent examples, such as the Philadelphia chromosome as targeted by imatinib). This means that other fast dividing cells such as those responsible for hair growth and for replacement of the intestinal epithelium (lining) are also affected.

In simpler terms, chemotherapy can't target the cancer cells themselves, only any cell in the body that grows quickly like hair, so it dies and falls out...

If the answer is yes, is there any possibility of growth of hair, post -treatment. If the answer is yes, is there any possibility of growth of hair, post -treatment.

Many, but not all, chemotherapy regimes cause hair loss. Some just cause hair thinning and some don't cause hair loss at all. A patient's oncologist will tell them if hair loss is a likely or inevitable result of their particular treatment.

Hair often begins its regrowth before chemotherapy ends. It's usually soft and fluffy like baby hair initially but it soon grows back.

When a person has cancer, what causes the hair loss - Is it the Cancer or Chemotherapy?

I watched a documentary about a lady called that died from Cancer but she still had hair because she didn't want any treatment but Jade had chemotherapy and now her hair is all gone.
So is it the cancer or the chemo that causes the hair loss?

Thanks :)

Chemo and/or radiation. I'm going through both for brain cancer. I was told that my chemo (taken orally every day) will not cause hair loss, but my radiation (directly to the brain) will. I'm expecting to lose patches of hair where the radiation beam goes in and where it comes out.....

Why does chemotherapy often cause hair loss? Why does chemotherapy often cause hair loss?

Chemotherapy targets rapidly growing cells because that is what cancer cells do. So, other cells that are continually growing, such as hair, fingernails, etc. will also be affected. But, don't worry.. it will grow back!

I'm about to start chemo. If you're going to lose your hair, do you lose all of it? I'm talking about will I lose my full beard? Will I lose armpit hair? My leg hair, etc.?
Thanks for all the great answers, and the good wishes.

Pretty much all of it. I kept a little bit of hair on my right arm, a little bit on the legs, a few head hairs, and a little bit of pubic hair (I know, TMI).

It doesn't all fall out at once. A couple of weeks after the first chemo (if it's the kind of chemo that causes hair loss) it will start. It will seem like a lot if falling out, but it's day after day after day. Takes several weeks to have most of it gone.

Good news is, sometimes it starts back while you're still on chemo. Mine started coming back halfway through my 12-week Taxol regimen. I finished Taxol a month ago, and have enough hair to go without a head covering.

Good luck to you in your treatment.

Why there's no pubic hair loss during the course of chemotherapy on cancer patient? Why there's no pubic hair loss during the course of chemotherapy on cancer patient?

Not sure what you mean. Chemotherapy targets fast growing cells within the body . . which includes hair follicles . no matter where the hair is located. So, if the type of chemothearpy causes hair loss . . than it will affect all hair on the body including pubic hair.

Chemocare: Hair Loss and Chemotherapy
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/hair_ ... herapy.asp

"It is common for hair loss to include hair that grows anywhere including eyelashes, eyebrows, and even pubic hair."

Does Chemotherapy always result in total hair loss? Does Chemotherapy always result in total hair loss?

No. There are many kinds of chemotherapy and some drugs such as 5-FU (for example) don't normally cause hair loss. But even chemotherapy drugs that are known to cause hair loss don't always produce hair loss.

I was treated with 8 cycles of ABVD chemotherapy (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine) for Hodgkin's Disease. My oncologist said I would lose my hair, mostly due to the Adriamycin. I didn't. My hair thinned somewhat, but I didn't lose anywhere close to all of it. Anyone who didn't know wouldn't know from looking at my hair that I had chemo. I know other Hodgkin's Disease patients treated with ABVD for half as many cycles who lost ALL of their hair. It is just luck of the draw.

There are chemo regimens that do cause total hair loss in just about everyone. Cytoxan for example. Then there are those like ABVD that usually cause hair loss, but some people get spared. Then there are regimens where hair loss is rare.

By the way according to the chemo nurses, hair loss does not equate to chemo working. There is no correlation between chemotherapy side effects and effectiveness.

Here is a list of common chemo drugs: http://www.chemocare.com/BIO/index.asp

You can look under side effects to see if hair loss is common.

Does radiology cause HAIR-LOSS like chemotherapy? Does radiology cause HAIR-LOSS like chemotherapy?

Yes, radiotherapy can cause hair loss, but its not like chemotherapy.

radiotherapy only causes hair loss in the areas where the radiation enters and leaves the body

chemotherapy can cause you to lose your hair from all over the body regardless of where the cancer is affecting you