TLDR Hair loss from chemotherapy causes significant distress and affects social roles for ovarian and uterine cancer patients.
This study examined the impact of chemotherapy-induced alopecia on the quality of life of ovarian and uterine cancer patients, involving 23 participants and 55 interviews. Four main themes emerged: the effect of alopecia on quality of life, the "mirror moment," performance of social roles, and gendered visibility. Patients experienced significant distress due to hair loss, which affected their ability to perform important social roles, such as being a partner or mother/grandmother, and influenced their interactions in public. The study suggested that clinicians should address alopecia throughout chemotherapy to help patients cope and discuss other concerns. The unique impact on women's social and familial roles warranted further research.
64 citations
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July 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Scalp cooling can prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss, and certain treatments can speed up hair regrowth, but more research is needed for better treatments.
159 citations
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September 2001 in “European Journal of Cancer Care” Chemotherapy-induced hair loss significantly affects patients' well-being, and nurses are key in helping them cope, but more research is needed to find effective treatments.
19 citations
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October 2020 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft” Hair loss can lead to significant stigma and lower quality of life, especially for women and those with certain types of alopecia.
8 citations
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April 2020 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Herbs might help with hair loss, but more research is needed to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
16 citations
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March 2017 in “Bone Marrow Transplantation” Some children who had stem cell transplants developed permanent hair loss, especially when treated with a drug called busulphan.
1 citations
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May 2017 in “InTech eBooks” Some cosmetic procedures show promise for treating hair loss, but more research is needed to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
December 2024 in “Australian Journal of General Practice” The woman's hair loss pattern doesn't match typical conditions like alopecia areata or female pattern hair loss.
8 citations
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January 2020 in “Plastic and Aesthetic Nursing” The article concludes that different types of hair loss require specific treatments and psychological support is important.