Will I Lose My Hair During Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer?

Dr. Yvette Williams-Brown UT Health Austin

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Hair Loss During Chemotherapy

Unfortunately, one of the most effective chemo drugs for ovarian cancer does typically cause women to lose their hair
Hair loss during treatment can be distressing for many women, but it’s important to remember it’s only temporary
There’s a wealth of resources available to help women manage hair loss

For so many of us, one of the first questions after the cancer diagnosis is, “when does the hair go?” Hair loss is one of the more distressing side effects of chemotherapy, but it’s important to remember that it’s only temporary. One of the most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer, called Taxol, usually does cause women to lose their hair, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.

“Despite many claims that there are ways to prevent that from happening, it is a side effect unfortunately that cannot be stopped,” says Dr. Yvette Williams-Brown, a gynecologic oncologist at the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at UTHealth Austin.

But Dr. Williams-Brown emphasizes that once treatment is over, hair typically does grow back. Although some women, she notes, may experience some changes to hair color and texture when it begins growing back.

Hair loss can one of the tougher side effects to deal with during treatment — emotionally as well as physically — but there many services out there that help women deal with the side effect. Many insurance companies often cover the cost of wigs, for instance, and custom wig makers can do a remarkable job helping you find the best wig for you — be it one that matches the look and feel of your normal hair, or one that gives you a whole new look. Some women prefer not to wear wigs at all. These decisions, of course, are yours to make.

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Dr. Yvette Williams-Brown is a gynecologic oncologist at the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at UT Health Austin. Read More