Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Among Women With Breast Cancer

    January 2026 in “ JAMA Network Open ”
    Danbee Kang, Lukas Kraehenbuehl, Haseen Lee, Nayeon Kim, Jiyeon Kim, Yeon Hee Park, Hee-Kyung Ahn, Shari Goldfarb, Sujata Patil, Kristen I. Lo Sicco, J. A. Shapiro, Caitlin A. Kearney, JUHEE CHO, Mario E. Lacouture, Jin Seok Ahn
    TLDR Asian women with breast cancer experience the highest rates of long-term hair loss and related distress after chemotherapy.
    This study examined racial and ethnic disparities in persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (PCIA) among 304 women with breast cancer, revealing that Asian women had the highest incidence of PCIA at 12 months post-chemotherapy (42%), followed by White (22%), Black (10%), and Hispanic or Latino (5%) women. Asian women also experienced the greatest increase in alopecia-related psychological distress. The study underscores the importance of personalized risk communication and culturally sensitive supportive care, considering racial and ethnic differences in hair characteristics and treatment responses. It suggests an integrative approach to address both molecular and cultural aspects of hair loss, despite limitations such as small sample sizes for Black and Hispanic or Latino participants.
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