• Question: why do people have to shave off their head when they have cancer

    Asked by anon-238824 to Hannah, binuraj, Alice on 18 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Binuraj Menon

      Binuraj Menon answered on 18 Mar 2020:

      Hi Made389gas,

      Cancer treatment often uses either chemotherapy or radiation to cure or kill cancer cells. The aim of these drugs is to quickly destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells or to delay their growth. Unfortunately, they also kill healthy cells that also divide rapidly, such as the cells in our hair follicles that make our hair grow. This is why chemotherapy causes hair loss. It often happens weeks after the treatment. Most of the patients get scared seeing their hair falling off from the scalps if this is not shaven off. Thats the reason why medics usually shave off patients head.

      I really liked your question.

    • Photo: Hannah Blyth

      Hannah Blyth answered on 19 Mar 2020:

      Binuraj is correct, patients don’t have to shave but many do because it is a distressful time for your body.

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