Hair Loss News

Several studies have shown that cancer patients fear losing their hair more than any other side effect from chemotherapy treatments. 

According to Dr. Marc Lippman, Professor and Chairman, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan and former director of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center, treating the psyche of cancer patients can be equally as important as treating their body.

The good news is that researchers in Japan have found that a form of antibiotic could prevent cancer patients from losing hair during chemotherapy.

Toshiyuki Sakai said his team had found “alopestatin” reduced hair loss by 70 percent when used on rats also given etoposide, an anti-cancer drug.  Etoposide is widely used to treat lung and other cancers but can cause hair loss as a side effect.

Sakai, a professor at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, said his team was hoping to put the agent to practical use in the future.

“This field is lagging behind (the development of cancer drugs) but is still important for patients’ quality of life.” he said.

The study, which was outlined at an academic meeting in Japan last week, is still ongoing. It may take some time before the treatment is commercially available.