HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

For hair to first reappear after chemotherapy: Two months ‘CHEMOTHERAPY kills cancer by attacking fast dividing cells — cancer cells divide quickly, but so do some healthy cells, and hair is the second-fastest dividing cell in the body (after bone marrow) — so it also becomes affected,’ says trichologist Iain Sallis, founder of Hairmedic Clinics. ‘ Chemotherapy also constricts the hair follicles, which stops growth.

‘Hair bulbs start to make hair immediately and you should see this on the scalp within about two months,’ he adds.

‘It will then grow at a rate of about 1 cm a month.’

Using a cold cap before, during and immediately after chemotherapy may prevent some hair loss.

These contain extremely cold liquid which cools the scalp temperature to below 22c, reducing blood flow to the area by 20-40 per cent, so limiting the amount of drugs reaching the follicle.