Coping With Hair Loss Amid Cancer Treatment
- Actress Jenna Fischer, known for playing Pam on The Office and co-hosting the Office Ladies podcast, joyfully shared that her hair is growing back nicely nearly a year and a half after completing chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer.
- Hair loss often starts around three to four weeks after beginning chemotherapy and can continue throughout the course of treatment. Most individuals notice their hair starting to grow back roughly four to six weeks after finishing therapy.
- Losing hair can be one of the most emotionally difficult aspects of cancer treatment, as hair is often closely linked to personal identity. If hair loss is a concern for you, there are ways to cope, including wigs, hats, scarves, and other head coverings, which can help preserve confidence and self-image.
- Scalp cooling caps work by reducing blood flow to the scalp, which decreases the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles. This can help protect the follicles from some of the harmful effects of the treatment.
- Patients are encouraged to seek a support group and talk to a mental health professional if they are experiencing anxiety surrounding hair loss, according to psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik.
The 51-year-old triple-negative breast cancer survivor shared a photo on Instagram of her fresh hairstyle this week, along with a picture of her “hair fairy,” who supported her before her hair began to grow, writing, “New Haircut! Thank you to my hair fairy @christikaycagle She has been with me every step of the way on this journey.
Read MoreThe mom of two, who also works as podcaster and author, continued, “For my ladies on this journey here is a timeline…I would google things like this all during chemo: When will my hair grow back? When will I have hair that looks intentional again?”View this post on Instagram
She then broke down the time frame of how her hair grew back:
- 1 month: Small stubble began to appear on her head.
- 2 months: Her eyebrows and eyelashes started growing back.
- 3 months: She had a Pixie haircut.
- During regrowth: She had “various stages of insanity” as her hair grew out—resembling a “Highland Cow, 80s Mama,” and even a mullet.
- 1½ years after chemotherapy: Fisher’s hair eventually grew enough to be styled into a bob.
She concluded, “The whole thing was an exercise in patience and surrender. Sending you love if you are on a similar path!”
Jenna Fischer’s Journey With Aggressive Breast Cancer
Fischer was diagnosed with stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December 2023. Her diagnosis came after a routine mammogram – which screens for breast cancer – returned “inconclusive results,” as per a statement she shared on Instagram.
After undergoing a biopsy, a procedure that tests the breast tissue for signs of cancer, her diagnosis was confirmed on December 1.
View this post on Instagram
She was informed she had triple-positive breast cancer, which is a subtype of breast cancer where the tumor cells express estrogen (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein on its surface.
Triple-positive breast cancer tends to be more responsive to hormone therapy, which essentially cuts off the estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, which act like fuel for the cancer to grow.
Fischer explained, “[The cancer] is also highly responsive to treatment. In January [2024], I had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor.” A lumpectomy is a procedure that removes the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue.
Resources to Help Navigate Hair Loss During Treatment
- Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
- ‘Acknowledging the Grief’ – Losing Your Hair During Chemotherapy
- Preventing Hair Loss During Chemotherapy: Scalp-Cooling Devices
- How Ovarian Cancer Survivor Teri Chow’s Wig (& Humor) Helped Her Cope With Hair Loss
- If You’re Looking For Ways To Deal With Hair Loss During Cancer, You’re Not Alone
- Taking Control of Her Diagnosis Helped One Ovarian Cancer Survivor Come to Terms With the Loss of Her Hair
“Luckily, my cancer was caught early, and it hadn’t spread into my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body; however, because of the aggressive nature of triple-positive breast cancer, it still required chemotherapy and radiation to be sure it didn’t return,” Fischer continued.
In February 2024, Fischer completed 12 weekly sessions of chemotherapy. She later began a three-week course of radiation therapy in June 2024.
View this post on Instagram
“I lost my hair during chemotherapy, but thanks to some great wigs and hats with hair, I have been able to wait until now to reveal all that has been going on for me,” she said.
Hair loss is challenging for women and men alike, but it can be incredibly difficult for cancer patients. Losing your hair or seeing it thinning is often a side effect of some cancer treatments.
WATCH: Help coping with hair loss while undergoing treatment.
“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.
When it comes to coping with hair loss, Dr. Boardman recommended connecting with other survivors who have faced similar experiences.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss, usually starting about three to four weeks after treatment begins and lasting throughout therapy. This happens because chemotherapy attacks fast-growing cells, which include both cancer cells and hair follicles.
Radiation can also cause hair loss if the treatment area has hair.
“If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment,” radiation oncologist Dr. James Taylor told SurvivorNet. “Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy.”
We’re happy to remind you that hair loss from cancer treatment is usually temporary. Most people see their hair start to grow back about four to six weeks after finishing treatment.
When hair eventually returns, it may have a different color or texture than before, like Fischer has experienced. Additionally, if hair loss is a worry before starting treatment, there are ways to cope, such as wearing wigs, hats, or head wraps.
“After completing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, I am now cancer-free,” Fischer informed the public once she reached remission.
View this post on Instagram
Fischer’s battle prompted her to urge other women to prioritize screenings. She explained in another Instagram post from earlier last year, “I shared about my own breast cancer diagnosis which was discovered during a routine mammogram and ultrasound. I had been putting them off because… well, because it’s annoying trying to find the time for cancer screenings. Especially when you are juggling work and kids and school and holidays and all the things that come up in life. But luckily, I went when I did. My cancer was found early, and it was treatable.
“So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to get your own recommended screenings – this is it. I was fortunate to have flexible work hours for my treatments and screenings. I want everyone to have that same kind of support at work. It makes a huge difference. That’s why I’ve partnered with @workingwithcancerinitiative to help get the word out about their Screening Time Off program. …. Your health matters—seriously. Take a minute right now to check which screenings you need and book them. And if someone you love needs a nudge, send this their way!”
Getting Help Amid Hair Loss
Understanding Scalp Cooling Devices
Some people choose to wear a cold cap during infusion to help protect their 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, previously explained to SurvivorNet.
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.”
RELATED: How to Find Your Confidence and be Bold
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.
Choose a Wig or Other Head Covering
Some women choose to cut their hair very short or even shave their head before their hair starts falling out, and then buy a wig or other type of head covering.
If you’re thinking about buying a wig, consider buying it before your treatment starts, or soon after. Cancer.org suggests asking if the wig can be adjusted as you might need a smaller size as you lose hair. To match your hair color, they recommend cutting a swatch from the top front of your head, where your hair is lightest or try a completely new hairstyle or color.
RELATED: Dr. Manojkumar Bupathi Says Coping With Hair Loss Really Comes Down To Personal Preference
Wigs and other scalp coverings may be partially or fully covered by your health insurance. If so, make sure the prescription says “cranial prosthesis.” (Don’t use the word wig.) Someone on your cancer care team can likely recommend wig shops in your area.
Hair Loss Is Temporary
Losing your hair can feel overwhelming in the moment. Experts tell SurvivorNet that being aware of the timing can help you better cope. Hair loss typically begins about three to four weeks after you begin chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and will continue throughout treatment. Most women can expect regrowth around four to six weeks after they complete treatment, though you may see some changes to color and texture.
But it’s important to remember that your hair will grow back after chemotherapy ends.
Coping With Chemo-Related Hair Loss
Understanding a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Triple-negative breast cancer, the type of cancer Fischer battled, means your cancer is not fueled by any of the three main types of receptors — estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. Because of this, the cancer won’t respond to certain targeted therapies, including hormone therapy or HER2-targeted agents like Herceptin. Chemotherapy is typically the treatment, and several options exist, such as immunotherapy or participating in clinical trials.
WATCH: Understanding triple-negative breast cancer
If the triple-negative breast cancer patient does not have many symptoms, oral chemotherapy like Xeloda (generic name capecitabine) may be prescribed. If the patient becomes resistant to the oral chemo drug, IV (intravenous) chemotherapy may be offered weekly or bi-weekly.
Building Support, Staying Connected
If you were recently diagnosed with cancer, you likely know about the wide range of emotions that news can bring. This is one of the most difficult phases of the cancer journey to overcome.
However, it’s during these early stages that a team of supporters can be most useful. Your supporters can be made up of close family members and friends. Your support group can also be filled with people from outside your inner circle.
“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet.
Responding to Stress: How to Cope With Complex & Changing Emotions
“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional,” she added.
One of the benefits of having supporters includes helping alleviate stress and anxiety following your diagnosis. Supporters can also help advocate for you during treatment.
Sometimes it is not always easy to share news you have cancer even among loved ones. In instances like these, you can seek out a trained professional to center your support group around. Mental health professionals can help fill this space because many are trained to help you navigate your cancer treatment.
“Make sure that the mental health professional that you work with is reaching out with your consent to the rest of your team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon. It can also be helpful to reach out to family, friends, and any other caretakers that may be involved in the person’s treatment,” Dr. Plutchik said.
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?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
