What are chemo curls? Understanding post-chemo hair changes
Many patients are surprised to find that their hair looks different when it grows back after chemotherapy. Hair that was once straight may come back curly, a phenomenon sometimes called “chemo curls.” Changes in hair texture or even color are common after treatment, but they’re usually temporary.
We talked to breast medical oncologist Adaeze Iheme, M.D., to understand why this happens and what you can expect during hair regrowth...
Head shaving and brain surgery: 4 things to know
If you’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumor and told you need surgery, you might have some concerns. Does this mean your entire head will...
13 things to know about chemotherapy
Starting chemotherapy for the first time? If you are new to this common cancer treatment, you're probably wondering how chemotherapy works...
Scalp cooling and chemotherapy hair loss: what to know
Hair loss is a side effect of cancer treatment that can be physically and emotionally challenging.
"When patients lose their hair from chemotherapy, it can be very traumatic for them,” says Susan Ferguson, clinical administrative director of MD Anderson’s Breast Center. “It can lower their self-esteem, how they feel about themselves, how they feel about their intimate relationships and how they see themselves. All of that...
5 things to expect after finishing chemotherapy
If you’re receiving chemotherapy as a part of your cancer treatment, you’ve probably already figured out ways to make it a little more manageable...
Breast cancer survivor: ‘I put my full trust in MD Anderson’
Michelle Bordovsky had been diligent about scheduling her annual mammograms for over a decade. So, when the 52-year-old noticed a bump on...
Hair loss after chemotherapy: 10 things to know
If you need chemotherapy as a part of your cancer treatment, you might have some concerns about losing your hair. But does every chemotherapy...
Breast cancer survivor: Take your prescription medications
As a general rule, I don’t take medicine unless I absolutely have to. I’ve never been one to swallow an aspirin at the first sign of a fever...
How I dealt with permanent hair loss and other side effects
When I first lost my hair due to breast cancer treatment, I often heard people say, “Don’t worry. It’s only hair.” The implication was that...
3 things I learned during Ewing’s sarcoma treatment
In November 2016, when I was 9 years old, I was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. My parents took me to MD Anderson, where I had chemotherapy...