# Dr. Dopers - any new Chemo treatments that DON'T cause hairloss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084 "2003-06-24T17:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/1 "2003-06-24T17:47:02Z")
Well, the title pretty much says it all. Are there any new treatments (injected, perhaps) that don’t cause hair loss? A new type of drug or something? ---
**Author:** ![GUH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@GUH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GUH)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/2 "2003-06-24T22:43:49Z")
try Essiac tea. I’ve heard great things about it, and I gave some to my mom when she got cancer, but I can’t vouch for it myself. It’s not a product, it’s a recipe, just in case you’re wary of marketing. [http://www.essiac-info.org/](http://www.essiac-info.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/3 "2003-06-25T01:25:56Z")
When my father was treated for cancer, he underwent chemo and had no hair loss. I suspect it has to do with the nature of the cancer – different types of cancer require different courses of treatment drugs. His left him with his thick, bushy head of hair (though it had dreadful side effects on his psoriasis). (Unfortunately for him, his cancer was extremely resistant to any form of treatment.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/4 "2003-06-25T01:30:33Z")
As **Eats Crayons** notes, it depends on the type of treatment, which depends on the type of cancer. For most cancers, picking a treatment which doesn’t cause hair loss is not an option, but for a few it is. Any treatment which kills off rapidly dividing cells (like cancer cells) will target the hair follicles also, so they’re collateral damage. As is the intestinal lining, which is why so many chemo and radiation regimens cause such horrible diarrhea. Name the specific type of cancer being treated, and you’ll have better luck finding out if there’s an **effective** treatment which might spare hair. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/5 "2003-06-25T04:55:49Z")
Ovarian and Kidney(?). FYI - it’s not me that has the cancer lest anyone panic. (Well, not that you would, 'cus you don’t know me, but you know what I’m saying.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/6 "2003-06-25T13:15:43Z")
Is it primary ovarian cancer that spread to the kidney, or it it an unknown primary cancer with metastases to the kidney? And what is the cell type? Treatment regimens generally require _very_ specific info about the type of cancer, its stage, the absence or presence of surface receptors on the cell, etc. before a plan is set up. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/7 "2003-06-25T13:29:37Z")
Ah. Primary ovarian spread to the kidney. Cell type? Can you elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/8 "2003-06-25T16:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Staging > Stage I: Ovary only (25% of ovarian cancer diagnosis) > Stage IA: One ovary involved > Stage IB: Both ovaries involved > Stage IC: Stage IA or IB with below: > Tumor on surface of ovary or > Ovarian capsule ruptured or > Malignant Ascites or > Peritoneal cytology positive > > Stage II: Pelvic Extension > Stage IIA: Spread to Uterus or fallopian tubes > Stage IIB: Spread to other pelvic tissues > Stage IIC: Stage IIA or IIB with below > Tumor on surface of ovary or > Ovarian capsule ruptured or > Malignant Ascites or Peritoneal cytology positive > > Stage III: Peritoneal implants > Stage IIIA: Microscopic seeding to peritoneum > Stage IIIB: Abdominal peritoneal implants \<2 cm > Stage IIIC: Abdominal implants \>2cm or positive nodes > Stage IV: Distant Metastasis > > Treatment: > Surgical resection > Adjuvant Chemotherapy of 6 cycles (60-70% respond) > Carboplatin and > Paclitaxel (Taxol) Looks like the mainstay of therapy will inevitably cause hair loss. Here’s a good reputable clearinghouse site on the disease: > **[Ovarian Cancer | Ovarian Cancer Symptoms | MedlinePlus](https://medlineplus.gov/ovariancancer.html)** > > Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Women with ovarian cancer may have no symptoms or mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/9 "2003-06-25T16:38:10Z")
My friend had colon cancer, then liver cancer and now lung cancer. He wa operated three times and had chemotherapy sessions after each time and he never lost his hair. (Sadly it seems his days are counted though.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/10 "2003-06-25T20:29:15Z")
I’m not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV) but I know 2 people, one with lung and one with colon cancer that suffered no ill effcts from the chemo, but the guy with colon cancer said that he was told some people do not suffer the usual reactions to the therapy. But the best bet would be to speak to a physician then get a few more opinions, preferably in other cities. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-dopers-any-new-chemo-treatments-that-dont-cause-hairloss/184084/11 "2003-06-26T07:02:31Z")
Well, try to look on the bright side. Sometimes the hair grows back with the Chemo Curl! Seriously, if I had cancer I’m not sure hair loss would be my big priority - I’d be worry about my GI tract! No, really seriously, I don’t know why you asked this question, **Alice** , but I hope everything has a good outcome.