An acquired form of hair loss that affects patient quality of life, negatively impacts body image, self-esteem, and sexuality.
It is a strong indicator of an individual’s health status, as most people associated it with cancer.
With increased use of combination chemotherapy, and high dose taxanes, there has been an increase in permanent chemotherapy induced alopecia.
It is a particular burden for young children as it is quite traumatizing, and children become emotionally confused and concerned.
Female patients report that losing their hair is more difficult to live with than the loss of a breast.
The impact of chemotherapy induced alopecia in younger males is the same as that experienced by females.