When a cancer patient undergoes radiation treatments, do they lose their hair? My mom is getting radiation on her hip for bone cancer and we were trying to think if she will lose her hair again or not. The first/last time she had radiation it was on her breast, right after her chemo so she was already bald. Does anyone know if radiation on a lower part of the body causes baldness?
2007-03-10 12:10:14 · 8 answers · asked by Just Me 7 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I had breast cancer and had 33 treatments of radiation and i did not lose my hair with the radiation. It was just starting to grow back and it did not affect it at all. I think the only time radiation affects the hair is when it is done to the head, not 100% sure but from what i have read that is the way i understand it.
2007-03-10 12:38:44 · answer #1 · answered by L S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends a lot on the amount of radiation treatment she will receive, but chemo therapy is more noted for hair loss than radiation. She will be sore and easiest way to say it, is like having a severe sun burn....my experience is from my wife going threw cancer treatment. On another note; keep you mother in a positive state of mind as much as possible, try not to let her get depressed. Mental attitude is more than 75% of the battle!!! Keep her laughing no matter what you have to do, again my experience with my wife with her 2 cancer battles, and yes she is still here with me. Good luck and stay positive.
2007-03-10 12:26:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If her radiation exposure is limited to her hip, then the hair on her head will be fine. Some people who recieve mantle field radiation (done to the upper chest and neck) might lose some hair because of "spillover" exposure, but such hair loss is usually temporary and regrows after treatments stop. Hair loss in the direct field, however, is usually permanent. As far away as the hip, however? No. She'll be okay.
2007-03-10 18:39:30 · answer #3 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually radiation will not cause baldness. There might be some hair loss because of nutritional issues that arise from having radiation treatment (and also stress) but as long as she keeps a healthy balance of vitamins/minerals/foods going into her body I wouldn't anticipate that problem.
2007-03-10 13:16:38 · answer #4 · answered by shatterbrat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think hair loss happens only from radiation to the brain. I'm not positive. I know my husband had radiation to the brain and lost his hair. It grew back and he had radiaition to the lung and the hair did not fall out.
2007-03-10 12:24:30 · answer #5 · answered by redwidow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about radiation. I know that certain chemo drugs do that, but radiation is localized and should really have nothing to do with hair loss.
The chemo drug that makes hair fall out kills fast growing cells, which hair is one of...so as soon as you stop the drug your hair will start growing back.
I doubt radiation will affect hairloss but don't quote me on that.
2007-03-10 12:24:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had 7 weeks of radiation treatments for throat cancer, it does not cause hair loss, chemo does!!SORRY
2007-03-11 00:25:13 · answer #7 · answered by Billie R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does most of the time.
But I have seem some women
who look really great without hair.
2007-03-10 12:19:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋