Hair Loss
A well-known side effect of certain chemotherapy drugs, hair loss (alopecia), can be very disturbing. One approach that may be available is the use of cooling caps approved by the Food and Drug Administration. During a chemotherapy infusion, you wear a cap that circulates cooled liquid; a second cap keeps the cold from escaping. The cold restricts blood vessels in the scalp so little or no chemotherapy agents reach the hair follicles, which helps mitigate hair loss. If this is not an option for you, consider a wig, which may be paid for by insurance. Ask your cancer care team about how to care for your hair as it grows back in.
