Hair disorders in cancer survivors

With increasing survival rates across all cancers, survivors represent a growing population that is frequently affected by persistent or permanent hair growth disorders as a result of systemic therapies, radiotherapy, surgical procedures, and therapeutic transplants.

These hair disorders include persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, persistent radiotherapy-induced alopecia, endocrine therapy–induced alopecia and hirsutism, postsurgery alopecia and localized hypertrichosis, and persistent stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy-induced alopecia.

The information contained in this continuing medical education series should facilitate a better understanding on hair disorders in cancer survivors so that adequate support and therapies may be provided.