A multicenter survey of temporal changes in chemotherapy-induced hair loss in breast cancer patients

Abstract

PurposeMany breast cancer patients suffer from chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Accurate information about temporal changes in chemotherapy-induced hair loss is important for supporting patients scheduled to receive chemotherapy, because it helps them to prepare. However, accurate information, on issues such as the frequency of hair loss after chemotherapy, when regrowth starts, the condition of regrown hair, and the frequency of incomplete hair regrowth, is lacking. This study aimed to clarify the long-term temporal changes in chemotherapy-induced hair loss using patient-reported outcomes for chemotherapy-induced hair loss.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Disease-free patients who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of anthracycline and/or taxanes for breast cancer within the prior 5 years were enrolled from 47 hospitals and clinics in Japan. Descriptive statistics were obtained in this study. The study is reported according to the STROBE criteria.ResultsThe response rate was 81.5% (1511/1853), yielding 1478 questionnaires. Hair loss occurred in 99.9% of patients. The mean time from chemotherapy until hair loss was 18.0 days. Regrowth of scalp hair occurred in 98% of patients. The mean time from the completion of chemotherapy to the beginning of regrowth was 3.3 months. Two years after chemotherapy completion, the scalp-hair recovery rate was <30% in approximately 4% of patients, and this rate showed no improvement 5 years after chemotherapy. Eighty-four percent of the patients initially used wigs, decreasing to 47% by 1 year after chemotherapy and 15.2% after 2 years. The mean period of wig use was 12.5 months. However, a few patients were still using wigs 5 years after completing chemotherapy.ConclusionsOur survey focused on chemotherapy-induced hair loss in breast cancer patients. We believe these results to be useful for patients scheduled to receive chemotherapy.

Does Severity of Hair Loss Matter? Factors Associated with Mental Health Outcomes in Women Irradiated for Tinea Capitis in Childhood

“…Socially, hair can be viewed as an indicator of women’s femininity, sexuality, attractiveness, health, and reproductive potential [ 18 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Studies have shown that permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in women with breast cancer, which is being increasingly documented [ 24 , 25 ], is associated with severe impairment of quality of life [ 26 , 27 ] and body image [ 28 ]. Persistent alopecia also has been associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and increased somatization among female survivors of childhood cancer [ 29 ].…”

Role of increased vascular permeability in chemotherapy‐induced alopecia: In vivo imaging of the hair follicular microenvironment in mice

“…Chemotherapy‐induced alopecia is one of the most difficult adverse events of cancer treatment for patients in clinical oncology, 1 and it has a substantial impact on patient body image. Recently, a large‐scale questionnaire survey targeted Japanese patients with breast cancer who were scheduled to receive chemotherapy, 2 and the CIA incidence varied depending on the type and dose of anticancer drugs. Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is an anticancer drug that remains a key drug for cancer chemotherapy.…”

Scalp hair repigmentation in the penumbral region of radiotherapy– a case series

“…13 Cancer therapies are known to cause hair colour change. Repigmentation was investigated by Watanabe et al 2 following chemotherapy for breast cancer. Of 1478 patients, 73 (5.3%) became darker, 525 (38.4%) became more grey or whiter, and 717 (52.5%) had no change.…”