We're here for you if you want to talk

We're here for you if you want to talk

Coping with hair loss is often one of the biggest worries when starting treatment for blood cancer. Not all cancer drugs cause hair loss, but when they do, it’s almost always temporary and hair grows back once treatment is over.

Losing your hair can change how you feel about yourself, and is often the most visible sign of cancer treatment. Many people find this a very upsetting process, and it’s normal to seek extra emotional and practical support during this time.

This page is about hair loss. We have more information about other side effects.

Many treatments for blood cancer have the potential to cause hair loss, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies or radiotherapy. These treatments are designed to kill fast-growing cells such as cancer cells. However, there are other cells in the body that also grow quickly including the cells that produce hair. These get killed too, but they can recover, meaning that your hair will usually grow back after your treatment ends.

Often people think that if they have cancer treatment they will definitely lose their hair, but not all cancer drugs have hair loss as a side effect, so check with your treatment team if you're not sure.

It can be reassuring to understand the impacts of hair loss before starting treatment. This will help you feel more prepared and in control when it starts.

Telling people that you might lose your hair before it happens can help. When people are prepared, they often react in a better way.

Telling children about hair loss in advance makes it easier for them to adjust. Letting them touch your head or ask about the hair loss might also help, as they realise it's normal and not something to feel bad about.

We have written this section because we know that Afro-textured hair has its own unique needs, which benefit from more tailored information. But the rest of the information on this page is also inclusive and relevant to everyone.

Curly hair is more fragile and prone to breaking than straight hair, because of the way it is formed. Very tightly-coiled hair, such as Afro-textured hair, is even more delicate. So during cancer treatment, you might want to change how you treat and wear your hair.

During cancer treatment your scalp can become very sensitive, itchy and sore. Some protective styles like braids, wigs or weaves can add extra stress to the scalp and leave it feeling quite painful. Therefore, it's best to remove any braids, weaves or extensions before treatment starts.

Protective hairstyles can also put your hair more at risk of breaking at the time when you put them in our take them out, so avoid doing this during your treatment.

If you use hair products or relaxers, these can also make hair weaker and more prone to damage, so you might want to avoid any strong products and look for more gentle ones. You should also avoid using heat to style your hair during treatment. If you want to relax your hair again after treatment, wait until your hair has grown back at least a few inches.

Moisturising Afro-textured hair is still important to keep your hair healthy, and you can use light lotions or oils, but make sure to use gentle products and not harsh chemicals or heavy oils.

Maintaining the practice of covering your hair at night with satin-lined bonnets and headwraps will also be beneficial for protecting your hair and soothing your scalp.

Make sure you tell your usual hairdresser about your cancer treatment. They may have supported other people with hair loss and be able to give you advice and help with caring for your hair.

Unfortunately, many people still experience barriers or issues accessing an Afro-textured wig, although the NHS is working hard to do better. Here is some key information and sources that we hope are helpful:

If you feel you've had a less good experience at the NHS because of your hair type, you can give feedback to your hospital. In England you can do this through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), in Scotland it’s the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS), in Wales it’s the Community Health Councils (CHCs), and in Northern Ireland follow your hospital's complaints procedure.

Simone, diagnosed with myeloma in 2018.

Read Simone's story about how she coped with hair loss during blood cancer treatment.

Wigs are not the only option. There are many practical ways to manage hair loss so that you feel more comfortable and confident.

However you choose to handle hair loss, there are lots of people sharing their tips and how they felt in our online forum:

Your hospital will have a chosen wig supplier, where you can get an NHS wig. NHS wigs are man-made (synthetic) and they are free if you are an inpatient or if you get certain benefits. If you want a human hair wig, or a wig that isn't included in the NHS range at your particular hospital's supplier, you can pay for a wig privately.

If you already have an NHS wig, you can usually get a new one after a certain amount of time, so do ask if you want to change yours. The NHS has more information about wigs.

Samantha, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Read Samantha's tips on looking after your hair and scalp.

Talk to a member of your healthcare team before starting treatment so that you know what to expect. They are there to support you and guide you through your treatment, as they would have done for others in your position.

Experiencing hair loss is common across many different types of cancer. You may feel low in confidence, or anxious about the changes your hair will go through and what this will mean for your overall image. This is normal and to be expected.

Losing my hair was daunting, but having reassurance from other people helped me accept what was happening.

It can be helpful to be kind to yourself as you go through these changes and talk to someone if the emotions feel overwhelming. Understanding that others have experienced the same challenges and emotions as you can help you feel more positive and hopeful about your treatment.

If you don’t like the way you look some days, that’s okay. Another day will come where you look in the mirror and think "I look nice today"

There are organisations that help people experiencing cancer-related hair loss. They aim to make you feel more confident, less alone, and give you back that sense of being ‘you’:

Cancer Hair Care (LGBTQ+ friendly)

You can also talk to us or talk to other people with blood cancer on our online forum.

Coping with changes to your body

Learn more about why side effects have a big emotional impact too, and how other people have found ways to cope.

We're here for you if you want to talk

Speak confidentially with our support services team for information and support.

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