• Question: Why is hair loss a side effect of chemotherapy?

    Asked by Will.B to Paul on 19 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Paul Booker

      Paul Booker answered on 19 Mar 2015:


      Hi Will, that’s a really good question!

      Chemotherapy is quite effective at killing cells, so it helps to get rid of cancers, but also affects normal healthy cells. You notice this more in cells that divide more quickly, like hair follicle cells and ones in your mouth and bowels. Obviously you can’t see it, but people on chemotherapy also usually feel quite sick and have a different sense of taste, as well as losing hair.

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