Overcoming Hair Loss due to Cancer

Jakarta, Treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients often have side effects that look real, like hair loss, nausea and loss of appetite. For hair loss there are some things you can do.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is an effective treatment in overcoming cancer and relieve symptoms of cancer. Potential side effects should not deter patients to get treatment again.

"Side effects of cancer treatment vary from one patient to another patient. For example radiotherapy, side effects will depend on which body part irradiated," said Dr. Fielda Djuita, Sp.Rad (K). Onk.Rad, Medical Staff Functional Installation Radiotherapy Dharmais Cancer Hospital, on Wednesday (09/22/2010).

But, according to dr Fielda, side effects are most visible hair loss. After chemotherapy, usually the hair will start falling in all regions of the head. But in radiotherapy, hair loss only in the irradiated area only.

Hair loss is going to grow again when treatment was completed, but it will usually be thinner. Here are some ways to cope with hair loss during and after cancer treatment:

1. Covering the head with a cold gel or use ice for treatment
This is to reduce the chemotherapy drug that is absorbed by the hair sacs, thus preventing damage to hair follicles and hair loss.

2. Shave
With shave, hair loss will grow back with more flat after treatment is completed.

3. Using headgear
Using hats, scraf or other head coverings can make a head unprotected, especially if the patient is discharged to undergo radiotherapy in the head area.

4. Wearing a wig is soft
To cope with hair loss, can be overcome by wearing a wig wigs alias. But for patients who have radiotherapy to the head area, make sure the wig is used not irritate the scalp just irradiated, because the new body will be irradiated is very sensitive.

Besides hair loss, side effects of cancer treatment the most common were nausea and lack of appetite.

To overcome this, there are some that can be done, namely:

   1. Eat a little bit
   2. Eat frequent, small portions and eat slowly
   3. Avoid fatty foods terlau
   4. Drink cold water (room temperature) between meals
   5. Eat food that is not too smelly and can be served at room temperature
   6. For severe nausea, try liquid foods such as juice, blended foods or foods that are easily absorbed such as toast and gelatin
   7. Try a long breathing and relaxation techniques whenever you nauseous