Helping You Cope With Hair Loss During Treatment and Resources to Minimize Its Impact
“Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert, 53, served as a judge for a filmmaker award show, but many fans praised her hair regrowth after shaving her head bald amid ongoing breast cancer treatment.
Eggert was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after she discovered a lump while giving herself a breast self-exam—a crucial tool for early detection of abnormalities.
While her treatment included a mastectomy (the removal of the entire breast during surgery), she also received radiation and chemotherapy.
Losing or seeing your hair thinning is often a side effect of some cancer treatments. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
Losing your hair during cancer treatment can be deeply distressing, turning an already difficult journey into an emotional battle, often triggering anxiety and a sense of loss as hair is part of a patient’s identity.
While no treatments guarantee your hair won’t fall out during or after chemotherapy, scalp-cooling caps and minoxidil (Rogaine) may help. Wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves may also be worn to maintain self-esteem.
“Baywatch” alum Nicole Eggert, 53, may have been on stage as a panel judge for an annual filmmakers’ award show, but all eyes were on her incredible hair regrowth—symbolizing resilience in her ongoing battle with breast cancer.
Hair loss is one of the most difficult and emotional challenges of the cancer journey, as it’s deeply tied to personal identity. When Eggert shaved her head and shared the moment on social media, her courage struck a chord with many. Now, over a year into her fight, her growing hair serves as a beacon of hope for other cancer patients grappling with the loss of their own locks.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, typically starting three to four weeks after treatment begins and continuing throughout its duration. Radiation therapy can also cause hair loss if the treated area includes the scalp—such as in cases of brain tumors. The reason? These treatments target rapidly dividing cells, a category that includes both cancer cells and hair follicles.
WATCH: Help coping with hair loss while undergoing treatment.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” Dr. James Taylor, a radiation oncologist at GenesisCare, reassured SurvivorNet readers.
Eggert’s journey is a reminder that while cancer treatment can take a toll, recovery brings renewal. Her growing hair not only marks a physical transformation but also serves as a testament to strength, perseverance, and the hope that healing is possible.
Resources to Help Navigate Hair Loss During Treatment
How to Manage Your Emotions While Losing Your Hair During Treatment
Facing hair loss during cancer treatment can be emotionally challenging, but there are ways to manage this difficult stage. Dr. Boardman encourages patients to seek support from survivors who have experienced the same struggle.
“If losing your hair is a concern before treatment, know that options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves can help,” she advises.
Additionally, some patients may benefit from cryotherapy, which can reduce hair loss. “It’s just a fancy way of saying cold therapy,” explains Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?
Cryotherapy involves wearing specialized cooling caps before, during, and after chemotherapy. These tightly fitted, helmet-like caps are filled with gel coolant chilled to between -15 and -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The caps cause vasoconstriction, or a narrowing of the blood vessels bringing blood to the scalp,” Dr. Urban says. By limiting blood flow, the caps reduce the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, minimizing damage.
“The cold also slows down cell division in hair follicles, making them less vulnerable to chemotherapy drugs,” Dr. Urban explains.
While not foolproof, cryotherapy has been shown to reduce hair loss by 50 percent. “I do try to let patients know it’s not a 100 percent prevention strategy, and it hasn’t been studied in all hair types, but it is at least an available strategy for patients to try,” she says.
Since the process involves exposure to freezing temperatures, some women experience headaches. Many find relief by dressing warmly and bringing blankets to stay comfortable during treatment.
Eggert’s Ongoing Cancer Journey
Eggert’s cancer journey began after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-exam—a crucial tool for early detection of abnormalities. This led to her diagnosis of stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer.
Self-breast exams involve checking for swelling, changes in shape, or nipple irregularities, as well as signs of redness, rashes, or discharge. If any concerns arise, it’s essential to contact a doctor. However, these exams should always be done alongside regular mammograms for comprehensive screening.
Nicole Eggert is seen shaving her thinning hair as side effects of cancer treatment take effect. Photo: Instagram/_nicole_eggert
Initially, Eggert dismissed her symptoms—terrible pain and rapid weight gain—as signs of menopause. But after discovering the lump, she underwent a mammogram and multiple biopsies, confirming her cancer diagnosis.
“I can definitely feel it. It’s there. It needs to be taken out,” Eggert told People. “So it’s just a matter of do I have to do treatment before the surgery, or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after?”
To treat her cancer, Eggert underwent a mastectomy, a procedure that requires careful consideration. Women facing this decision often weigh the choice between breast-conserving surgery, like a lumpectomy, and full mastectomy.
WATCH: The process of mastectomy breast cancer surgery.
Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, explains that removing the cancerous tissue in a double mastectomy typically takes about two hours. However, the overall surgery length can vary depending on whether a patient chooses reconstruction.
“The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has,” Dr. Port says.
Some women opt for immediate reconstruction using implants, which can extend surgery to five hours, while others choose tissue transfer from the belly area. A few decide to forgo reconstruction altogether.
Eggert also underwent chemotherapy and radiation, which can lead to common side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss.
Since beginning her cancer journey, Eggert has become more proactive about her health.
“That’s really what’s kept me going and sane because you feel so hopeless … helpless and all of those things, but if you’re being proactive, it can really help,” she told Fox News. “At least for myself, it really helps to keep me motivated and keep me going.”
Her story serves as a testament to the resilience of cancer patients and the importance of self-care and proactive health decisions.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re going through cancer treatment and experiencing hair loss, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:
Are there any treatments to help manage or minimize my hair loss?
What are scalp-cooling devices, and how do they work?
Do you recommend scalp-cooling devices?
What other options are available to help me cope with hair loss?
Can you recommend a wig maker?
I’m struggling mentally with my hair loss; can you recommend a therapist to talk to?
How can I find a local support group with people going through similar things?
ANSWER QUESTIONS
