Coping With Hair Loss
- “Real Housewives of Miami” star Guerdy Abraira, 47, has since embraced her shaved head after cutting her hair during breast cancer treatment. She calls her look “empowering.” She completed treatment in 2023, which included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, before reaching remission and being declared “cancer-free.”
- Hair loss is one of the most challenging stages of the cancer journey because hair is so closely tied to your identity. 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.
- Georgetown University pilot survey revealed that nearly one-third of women—mostly Black women aged 45–54—might decline cancer treatment due to concerns about dermatologic side effects like hair loss and nail changes.
- While the survey offers valuable insights, researchers caution that it’s not a comprehensive study. More robust data is needed to fully understand the psychological toll of treatment-related body changes and how they shape public perceptions and patient choices.
Hair loss is often one of the most emotionally charged aspects of cancer treatment—for women and men alike. Beyond aesthetics, changes to hair, skin, and nails can deeply affect how patients feel about themselves and even influence their treatment decisions.
Abraira’s own journey unfolded publicly on Real Housewives, offering viewers an intimate look at her own cancer journey. She was vacationing in the Caribbean when she received the call from her doctor: her breast cancer screening had detected stage zero cancer.
WATCH: I Have Stage Zero Breast Cancer.
Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the ducts in the breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts carrying milk to the nipple in a lactating woman. This type of breast cancer is not invasive, meaning it has not spread outside the milk duct and can’t invade other parts of the breast.
Some oncologists approach stage zero breast cancer with a watch-and-wait approach, meaning no invasive procedure happens immediately. Other oncologists may opt to perform surgery followed by possible radiation.
SurvivorNet experts say if DCIS is left untreated, it may develop into more advanced breast cancer.
A follow-up test revealed a tumor, prompting Abraira to undergo a lumpectomy—a procedure that removes the tumor and surrounding tissue—followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy.
Hair loss was one of the most visible side effects of her treatment, but Abraira chose to embrace it. Her shaved head became a symbol of strength and self-acceptance.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
This happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body, including cancer cells and hair cells.
By November 2023, Abraira revealed she had been declared “cancer-free.”
Helping Patients Navigate Body Changes
Coping with Hair Loss in Cancer Care: Practical Advice & Emotional Support
Hair loss can be one of the more emotionally challenging parts of a cancer journey. For many patients, it’s not just about appearance—it’s about identity, control, and coping with change. SurvivorNet offers guidance and resources to help you navigate this side effect with confidence and care.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. The dread alone can lead to sleepless nights and heightened anxiety,” says Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author.
WATCH: What is a scalp-cooling device?
While chemotherapy is a common cause of hair loss, radiation can also lead to thinning or baldness—especially when the treatment area includes the scalp. For instance, radiation targeting a brain tumor may result in hair loss on the head.
The good news? Hair typically begins to regrow within four to six weeks after treatment ends. According to Dr. James Taylor, a radiation oncologist at GenesisCare, “Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.” Still, regrowth may come with changes in texture or color.
One promising option for minimizing hair loss during chemotherapy is cold capping, also known as scalp cooling therapy. These FDA-approved devices—initially for breast cancer and now used for other cancers—are worn before, during, and after chemo sessions. The helmet-style caps are filled with gel coolant chilled to between -15°F and -40°F.
“Cold caps work by causing vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the scalp,” explains Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington.
This reduced blood flow limits the amount of chemotherapy that reaches hair follicles, helping protect them from damage. The cold also slows down follicle activity, making them less vulnerable to the effects of treatment.
If hair loss is a concern, know that you have options—from wigs and wraps to hats and scarves—that can help you feel more like yourself during treatment.
Coping With Post-Surgery Scars, Body Image Amid Cancer
When you are in the middle of a health challenge, you may notice some physical changes in your body. The changes may include weight gain or loss, hair loss, or something invisible to the naked eye.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also frequently temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can also help you during this stage of your journey.
While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are treatments that can cause visible changes to one’s physical appearance, other treatments that are less noticeable include endocrine or hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy “slows or stops the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says that although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin adds.
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?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
