October is breast cancer awareness month.  And this month’s blog is dedicated to our sisters, mothers and daughters who have battled this terrible disease.

According to Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder, Breastcancer.org, “There are studies that show that for many women, losing their hair is worse than losing a breast. That’s because you can conceal the loss of a breast, but hair loss is so obvious and apparent.”

During chemotherapy, hair loss occurs because the chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells –healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Some of the fastest growing cells in the body are hair follicles.  When you are not in cancer treatment your hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours. When you are in chemotherapy, your hair loss may be gradual or dramatic.  You may find clumps in your hairbrush or handfuls on your pillow. No matter how well prepared you think you are, it is almost always startling and depressing.

The chemotherapy drugs may affect only the hair on your head, but it can also cause the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, pubic hair and hair on your legs, arms or underarms. It all depends on which drugs are used and for how long.

Knowing that your hair loss is temporary, doesn’t make it any easier for patients. Just know that there are many temporary hair loss solutions for this dilemma.

Hairline Clinic would like to be your center for your hair loss experience during cancer treatment.  Contact Us  to set up a free,  confidential appointment so that we can help you through this difficult but temporary period.