Alopecia in Oncology: The Practical Significance of Fundamental Research
February 2023
in “
Sibirskij onkologičeskij žurnal
”
TLDR Chemotherapy often causes hair loss in cancer patients, affecting their mental health, but scalp cooling can help prevent it.
Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is a prevalent side effect in cancer patients, influenced by the pharmacological properties of treatments, nutritional status, and genetic predispositions. Alopecia can also indicate malignancies or nutritional deficiencies and has a detrimental impact on patients' mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and reduced treatment adherence. Scalp cooling methods have been effective in preventing hair loss. However, more research is necessary to enhance prevention and treatment strategies for alopecia in cancer patients. This review analyzed over 200 publications, including 42 specifically on alopecia, to understand the condition's frequency, underlying mechanisms, and management in the context of oncology.