Does everyone lose their hair with chemo?  I haven't started chemo yet and have NO idea what to expect!  They say some do and some don't.  Wonder what the deciding factor is?  The type of cancer?  The type of chemo (if there is more than one type)?  I don't know.  I just got here.  I don't even feel sick and am wondering if chemo will make me sick...Hmmm.  Thanks.

I think every cancer is different and every form of chemo is different. They have a tendency to call all cancer treatment chemo and some of it is targeted drugs for your type of cancer which may be given intravenously or by injection. Not all chemo results in hair loss, it depends on what you have. Some chemo results in hair thinning and some doesn't result in any loss. I have myeloma and am receiving what they call chemo but is really a targeted drug therapy for my type of cancer. Ler in teh year I will be having a stem cell transplant which is preceeded by high dose chemo which will esult in hairloss for me then. I don't  feel sick on the drugs I am having now but it is more likely when I have the high dose chemo later in the year. Usually they give you anti sickness drugs at the same time any way. I suggest you ask your team or specialist cancer nurse for a chat about exactly what you are having and how it will affect you.

Good luck. We are all here to support you.

OK, thank you so much.  I have my first meeting/appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday, so I suppose I'll be learning more then.  I'll try to keep everyone posted as I go along and learn these things myself.  Thanks again.

Hi Brenda,

Hair loss is a bit of a lottery - I was told it was 100% certain that my chemo (EOX) would cause all my hair including my eyebrows would fall out. The hair on my head thinned a little but everything else stayed in place. In contrast, my Mum was told she had a 50/50 chance of losing her hair and lost it all very early on. 

I guess if you're psychologically prepared for losing it, you can only be pleasantly surprised if you don't. 

;-)