Why do cancer patients cut their hair short?

Question

After a patient undergoes chemotherapy, their hair usually falls out.
What would a patient do when his/her hair hasn't fallen out yet, but is getting thinner? Cut their hair short?

Answer 1

From my perspective I cut my hair short as it was starting to fall out in clumps and besides it being fairly messy around the home it was also somewhat distressing!
I took control of not only the length of my hair and when it would be cut but also my treatment and road to recovery. Fortunetly short hair for men looks pretty trendy now a days and it wasn't as dramatic as having a patchy skull.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

People who are undergoing a chemotherapy regime which will make their hair fall out (not all chemo regimes do) often shave their heads or cut their hair very short for a number of reasons.

When hair begins to fall out, the scalp becomes tender and sore - think of the sensation when you've had your hair in a really tight ponytail and you've just let it down, it's similar to that, but worse. The shorter your hair, the less sore your scalp is.

When hair falls out, it gets EVERYWHERE - in your food, on your furniture, in your mouth, all over the house - you never realise how much hair you have till it starts falling out. Cutting it short or shaving it off avoids this.

It is more comfortable and more dignified to have a very short cut or a shaved head than to have bald patches and straggly bits of longer hair.

Finally, it gives a patient some control over one aspect of their cancer and treatment.

Answer 4

I cut my hair short as it began to thin after chemo treatment. My thinning hair was not as obvious when shorter. My remaining hair also became brittle & dry so I felt it was better to cut it shorter & keep it short while the new hair grew back in. I was lucky that I didn't lose all my hair - it was just wispy & very thin. Thank goodness for our modern hair products that "add volume"!!!! Oh by the way - my new hair grew back in tight curls - amazing!!!
I just think that everyone is different & - believe me - when you are going through cancer treatment and come face to face with your own mortality it is important to do anything that will help boost your self esteem!
"take the time to smell the roses'

Answer 5

While I didn't completely lose my hair, it became very unmanagable and emotional to deal with every day (25 y/o female, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, AVBD therapy).

My long, curly dark hair became course, limp and felt like straw. It got very thin but I didn't bald. I kept cutting it shorter and shorter to 1. make it look thicker 2. make it more comfortable when I wanted to cover it with a hat and 3. because it just wasn't my hair any more. Finally, about 3 months in I had my husband buzz cut my hair...before doing his. I'm much more comfortable physically and I don't fret in the mirror every morning about how I'm going to fix my hair for the day.

Answer 6

Usually the hair becomes damaged. It thins in random places, it falls out, it becomes dull and sometimes loses color. It's best just to cut it short before it falls out, rather than have to sit there and watch your hair fall out in clumps in your hands.


A VERY good family friend of mine is undergoing chemo for breast and liver cancer. When she cut her hair, a lot of our friends and family cut our hair, too, to show our support for her. I donated my hair to make a wig for her.

Answer 7

AWW:) that's quite large. My acquaintances little sister had the longest hair. (she grow to be 8) She has 2 ft of hair! and he or she decrease all of it of yet 6 inches. She suggested it grow to be the excellent determination she ever made. that is going to help many human beings and pink is any such uncommon hair coloration. My opinion is sure:)

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I would cut it very short and then use scarves, hats or a wig.