• Question: Why do you lose your hair when you have cancer treatment?

    Asked by jodiebowey23 to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Simon Bennett

      Simon Bennett answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Hello,

      Cancer is caused by a group of cells which multiply uncontrollably, chemotherapy drugs target all cells which divide quickly and try and kill them. This includes good cells such as the ones in hair follicles and others like stomach linning but it is worth it to try and destroy the cancer cells.

      Thanks.

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi @jodiebowey23
      Yeah Simon has explained it really well. The treatment for cancer has to be really aggressive to try the best to get rid of the cancerous cells, but this means some good cells get destroyed too.
      There are some methods to help prevent hair loss as much as possible, there’s good advice about it on the Macmillan cancer information website:

      http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Symptomssideeffects/Hairloss/Cancertreatmentshairloss.aspx

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