How to Cope with Hair Loss During Cancer Journey
- Dave Coulier, who was was diagnosed with a “very aggressive” type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October and has since completed one of six chemotherapy treatments, has gone bald amid his cancer battle with the help of his longtime friend and “Full House” costar John Stamos.
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. Most people can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment.
- If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things, to maintain your self-esteem. Additionally, scalp cooling devices use constrict the blood flow to the scalp; the caps limit the amount of circulating chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, protecting them from some of the chemo’s damaging effects.
- After a cancer diagnosis, it’s essential for the couple going through the cancer journey together to communicate and express their feelings. Joining a support group or seeking professional therapy may also be helpful.
- SurvivorNet put together a helpful guide for cancer caregivers that you can check out HERE.
The 65-year-old actor had his friend and fellow costar John Stamos, 61, do the honors of shaving his hair—all while wearing a bald cap in solidarity.
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He continued, “You’re handling this with so much strength and positivity—it’s inspiring. I know you’re going to get through this, and I’m proud to stand with you every step of the way. I love you”
He added, “(p.s. – @melissacoulier is the most wonderfulest – your true life line!)”
Resources on Hair Loss Options During Cancer Treatment
In the first photo, Stamos is seen wearing a bald cap and posing next to a newly bald Coulier. In the second, Stamos is pictured shaving part of Coulier’s head, while both of them are donning smiles. And the third image, revealed Coulier to be looking happy while his wife Melissa and Stamos kiss his head.
Coulier’s wife commented, “We love you, so much.”
Despite, Stamos’ effort to provide support for his friend, the actor who rose to fame as Blackie Parrish on the soap opera “General Hospital,” did receive backlash for wearing a bald cap and not actually shaving his head.
One fan commented, “Hate to be that person but this is more insulting by putting on a bald cap then not shaving ur head. A person with cancer doesn’t have a ‘cap’ they can take off. Prayers and strength to Dave!”
However, not all comments were negative. Another fan wrote, “Wow. After reading all these comments, if I ever lose my hair NOBODY better shave their damn head to ‘show’ they support me. Please use a bald cap if you want to make me laugh.”
Another commented, “Honestly, Dave, you wear bald really really nicely! Stay strong, we’re rooting for you!”
“Awwww this is so cute … also, to anyone in the comments.. if Dave isn’t offended by this, you shouldn’t be either,” commented a fourth. “And remember … John is an actor and may need his hair for his JOB. This should be a space filled with positivity and hope.. take the negativity elsewhere.”
Dave Coulier’s Cancer Journey
Coulier, a dad of one who is battling cancer with the support of his caregiving wife Melissa Bring, was diagnosed with stage three non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October. He has since completed one of six chemotherapy treatments.
Speaking exclusively to People about his diagnosis in a recent interview, he explained how he was informed he had cancer following an upper respiratory infection which led to swelling of this lymph nodes.
After the lymph nodes dramatically increased in size, he underwent PET and CT scans, in addition to a biopsy, which led to his diagnosis just three days later.
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The type of cancer he was diagnosed with is “very aggressive” and labeled as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He explained, “I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming. This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.”
As for how he’s feeling emotionally throughout his cancer journey, Coulier said, “When I first got the news, I was stunned, of course, because I didn’t expect it, and then reality settled in and I found myself remarkably calm with whatever the outcome was going to be.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but there was an inner calm about all of it, and I think that that’s part of what I’ve seen with the women in my family go through. They really instilled that in me and inspired me in a way because they were magnificent going through what they went through, and I just thought, ‘I’m okay with this too.’”
Coulier, who has been coping with cancer by spending time with loved ones and doing things he enjoys, like playing hockey, now insists that others should, “Take great care of yourself, because there’s a lot to live for.
“And if that means talking with your doctors or getting a mammogram or a breast exam or colonoscopy, it can really make a big change in your life.”
Coping With Hair Loss from Cancer Treatment
Hair loss can be an emotional stage of anyone’s cancer journey. SurvivorNet has tips and resources for anyone facing this side effect and struggling to manage it.
“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.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemo.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Radiation is another treatment that can lead to hair loss if the hair is in the path of the tumor being treated. For example, radiation for a brain tumor may cause hair loss on the head.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” radiation oncologist at GensisCare Dr. James Taylor tells SurvivorNet.
“Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.”
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
RELATED: Bold, Bald & Beautiful: Kara Ladd Met a New Version of Herself After Her Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. Boardman suggests connecting with others experiencing cancer treatment like yours and asking them for first-hand advice.
“Talk to people who have been through it, get their advice, voice your concerns to your caregiver, and see what they can do,” Dr. Boardman added.
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and more.
Understanding Scalp Cooling Devices
We certainly admire Coulier’s ability to go bald with confidence, but it’s important to remember that others may choose to preserve their hair by wearing a cold cap during chemotherapy infusions to help protect her hair follicles. Scalp-cooling devices have been approved by the FDA recently, first for breast cancer and then several other cancers.
That means wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.
The caps, which are tightly fitting and strap-on helmet-style, are filled with a gel coolant that’s chilled to between -15 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Essentially, the caps “cause vasoconstriction, or a narrowing of the blood vessels bringing blood to the scalp,” Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington, explains.
By constricting the blood flow to the scalp, the caps limit the circulating chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, protecting them from some of the chemo’s damaging effects.
The cold also decreases the activity of the hair follicles, which slows down cell division and makes the follicles less affected by the chemotherapy medicine.
WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?
Dr. Julie Nangia, a medical oncologist at Baylor College of Medicine and a lead author on one of the major studies of the device, says 50% of women were able to keep their hair after four rounds of chemotherapy, and added: “Without the devices, 100% of patients lost their hair.”
There have been some safety questions when it comes to scalp-cooling, but Dr. Nangia says that when given to people with solid tumors (like breast, ovarian, colon, and lung cancer), the devices are safe.
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?
Support From Loved One’s During Health Challenges
Having a strong community around you, as Dave Coulier does, between his wife and his friends, is ideal when challenged by health struggles.
Dealing with cancer or any sort of health battle for that matter can be overwhelming, so having physical and emotional support is crucial. That being said, it’s very important to know your limits on what you can handle as you undergo treatment and recover from your cancer, and that includes relationships.
“Going through [cancer] treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet.
“Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much, [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”
Dr. Strongin does note, however, that having people by your side during this “arduous chapter” of your life can be hugely beneficial.
“Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery,” she wrote. “Therefore, it will be important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment.”
How to Cope When a Spouse Is Diagnosed With Cancer
After a cancer diagnosis, emotions may run the gamut, and grappling with your feelings isn’t easy. While coping with caring for a loved one battling cancer, the spouse must also adjust to a new normal. Feelings ranging from anxiety, sadness, anger, regret, and more may linger. However, healthy ways to cope.
- Talk to a therapist and share feelings you’re going through
- Have an open conversation with your spouse about the diagnosis
- Research the disease and learn about available treatment options
- Join a support group or connect with others who have gone through, or are going through, the same experience
- Spend time with your spouse and have consistent conversations about how you both are feeling
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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