Does lung cancer treatment cause hair loss?

Yes, hair loss can be a side effect of certain lung cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, not all treatments cause hair loss, and the degree of hair loss can vary depending on the treatment type, dosage, and individual factors.

1. Chemotherapy

• Cause of Hair Loss: Chemotherapy drugs work by targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also affect other rapidly dividing cells in the body, including the hair follicles.

• Extent of Hair Loss:
  • Hair loss is a common side effect, but it usually occurs only on areas of the body where hair grows, such as the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
  • Not all chemotherapy regimens cause hair loss, and some cause only partial hair thinning rather than complete baldness.

• Timing: Hair loss typically begins 2 to 3 weeks after starting chemotherapy and may continue throughout the treatment. In many cases, hair grows back after the treatment ends.

• Hair Growth After Treatment: Once chemotherapy stops, hair usually starts to regrow, although it may initially have a different texture or color.

2. Radiation Therapy

• Cause of Hair Loss: Radiation therapy can cause hair loss, but it generally only affects the area being treated. For example, if radiation is applied to the chest area (for lung cancer), hair loss on the chest may occur.

• Extent of Hair Loss:
  • Localized hair loss may happen around the treatment area, and it may be temporary or permanent, depending on the radiation dose and the specific area treated.
  • If radiation is applied to the scalp, it can lead to bald patches or thinning.

• Timing: Hair loss from radiation therapy can occur 2-3 weeks after the treatment begins, and regrowth typically happens a few months after the end of radiation.

3. Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

• Hair Loss Likelihood:
  • Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are less likely to cause hair loss than chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Some targeted therapy drugs may cause mild thinning, but significant hair loss is less common with these treatments.
  • Immunotherapy may cause hair loss, but it’s relatively rare.

• Example: Drugs like EGFR inhibitors (e.g., erlotinib) and ALK inhibitors (e.g., crizotinib) have fewer hair-related side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lung cancer, but it doesn’t occur with all treatments. The degree and duration of hair loss vary depending on the specific treatment, and hair usually grows back after treatment ends. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are less likely to cause hair loss.