Question 1

does radiation therapy make your hair fall out?

Accepted Answer

Yes, In area treated: Hair follicles are growing cells.  When the hair is radiated the follicle cell stop growing and the hair shaft falls out.  Same thing with some chemotherapy drugs.  Chemo goes all over so if that type of chemo affects hair then all your hair everywhere falls out. In radiation its the hair that is in the area treated. So for breast cancer for example the arm pit hair on that side will fall out.

Question 2

do people typically loose their head hair when treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or both. how long is hair loss for?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: Any rapidly growing cells get the brunst from Chemo or radiation therapy. cancer cells are Rapidly growing celles too you know.
 They return after the therapy is completed.

Question 3

will my facial hair grow back after radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Depends on dose/type: Depending on what disease is being treated, radiation is given in between  2 weeks to 7 weeks in standard fractionations. Near 7 weeks of radiation we expect no further hair growth. About 2-4 weeks, we can expect recovery of hair growth.  I am assuming you are talking about x-ray/therapeutic radiation for cancer.  There are other types of radiation that the above answer may or may not hold true.

Question 4

what is it in radiation therapy that makes a person lose their hair?

Accepted Answer

Cellular division : Radiation stops the rapid division of cancer cells but also shuts down the growth of hair follicles, and sweat glands, and the cells that make up the lining of the gut.

Question 5

how long does it take for hair to grow back after radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Not applicable: Generally radiation dose not cause hair loss, only during brain radiation.  This is usually an issue with chemotherapy  after chemotherapy it usually takes 3 weeks to notice hair growth, but several months to "regain" your hair.

Question 6

how long does it take to start growing hair back after radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

Varies: It varies depending on the location of the radiation and other therapies; usually have noticed hair recovery in about 2-3 months after completion of therapy unless there has been permanent damage to hair follicles with radiation on scalp;.

Question 7

how long will it take for hair to grow back after receiving radiation therapy on the head?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: Radiation or chemotherapy drugs are toxic to cells that are rapidly dividing. This means they specifically target cancer cells, but they also kill healthy cells that grow quickly. This includes hair cells (causing baldness/alopecia) and stomach cells (causing nausea or mucositis). Once the chemo or radiation is stopped, the side effects go away and hair should grow back.

Question 8

is it normal for my head to swell after radiation therapy?

Accepted Answer

No: Not normal for the head to swell, but if you are getting radiation to your brain, there can be some swellling in the brain that is typically treated with steroids.

Question 9

what are the goals of nutrition during radiation therapy for the head and neck ?

Accepted Answer

Diet with radiation: Because radiation therapy to head and neck often has a profound effect on the ability to ear, loss of appetite, nausea and subsequent weight loss, the patient must be treated to prevent mal-nutrition.  Often a stomach tube is inserted so a nutritious diet can be given during the radiation therapy period.

Question 10

what should i expect after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer?

Accepted Answer

Dry mouth: Depending on the radiation field.. Dry mouth is very common, hoarseness, and tightening of the skin of the neck. Sometimes difficulty swallowing.

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Doctor answers about:

Does radiation therapy make your hair fall out

A member asked:

Does radiation therapy make your hair fall out?

A member asked:

Do people typically loose their head hair when treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or both. how long is hair loss for?

A member asked:

Will my facial hair grow back after radiation therapy?

A member asked:

What is it in radiation therapy that makes a person lose their hair?

A member asked:

How long does it take for hair to grow back after radiation therapy?

A member asked:

How long does it take to start growing hair back after radiation therapy?

A member asked:

How long will it take for hair to grow back after receiving radiation therapy on the head?

A member asked:

Is it normal for my head to swell after radiation therapy?

A member asked:

What are the goals of nutrition during radiation therapy for the head and neck ?

A member asked:

What should i expect after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer?

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