Does chemotherapy always cause hair loss?
Chemotherapy does not always cause hair loss. The National Cancer Institute explains that chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells. But it also kills or slows healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, including the cells that make your hair grow. Damage to those healthy cells is why hair loss can happen, along with other side effects such as mouth sores and nausea.
Whether you have this side effect, and how strongly, depends on the type of chemotherapy you get and how your body responds. Side effects often get better or go away after you have finished chemotherapy.
It is also worth knowing that side effects do not tell you whether the treatment is working. Your health care team can tell you what to expect from your own chemotherapy, and how to manage any side effects you do have.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: What Is Chemotherapy? How It Works
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