Hair Loss due to Radiation Therapy

 

Before Radiation Begins

What to Expect…

• Fear of change in appearance.
• May be advised to cut hair shorter.

Hair & Scalp Care…

• Wash, dry and style hair regularly.
• Avoid dyes and permanents.

Comfort And Image Needs…

• Take a snip of hair and a snapshot of yourself before hair loss occurs.
• Meet with hair loss consultant to familiarize him/her with style, color and length of hair you prefer.
• Select items such as turbans, scarves, cotton caps and a wig.
• Purchase cotton sleep cap.

During Radiation Therapy

What to Expect…

• Scalp redness, itchiness, dryness and flaking

Hair & Scalp Care…

• Wash hair infrequently using only water (tepid or lukewarm) to avoid removal of the gentian violet markings which are exact blueprints of the target area for treatment.
• Avoid using cosmetics, perfumes, powders or soap on treated area.
• Do not use dyes or permanents.
• Do not use adhesives (including two-way tape and medical adhesives) for wigs or prosthetics on treatment area.
• Do not use heating pads or ice packs on treatment area.
• Do not scratch treatment area.
• Report any breaks in skin to physician or nurse.
• Use only the water-based moisturizer suggested by physician or nurse on treatment area.
• Do not use moisturizer on skin just before therapy; skin must be clean and dry for treatment session.
• Do not use oils of any kind on treatment area.
• Protect area from sun and cold.

Comfort And Image Needs…

• Wear cotton caps, scarves and hats.
• Wear wig with a cotton liner.
• Wear a sleep cap to bed.

During Hair Loss

What to Expect…

• Dry, itching scalp.
• Stress from change in appearance.
• Scalp sensitivity.
• Shedding hair.
• Matted hair.

Hair & Scalp Care…

• Wash hair using water, keeping the hair in one direction to avoid matting.
• Pat hair gently with a towel until dry.
• May use hair dryer on low setting 4” from head.
• Use wide-toothed comb.
• Avoid using rollers, curling irons or hair pins.

Comfort And Image Needs…

1. Wear non-restricting, soft, cotton caps or turbans during the day to contain hair.
2. May wear a wig with a wig liner.
3. Expose area to air several times per day.
4. Wear a cotton sleep cap at night to keep warm and to catch shedding hair

After Hair Loss

What to Expect…

• Stress from change in appearance.
• Scalp sensitivity.
• Loss of body heat through scalp.

Hair & Scalp Care…

• Wash scalp and remaining hair using water (tepid or lukewarm) keeping hair in one direction to avoid matting.
• Do not use soap until therapy is completed (see During Hair Re-growth chart).
• Pat scalp gently with a towel until dry.
• Use a wide-toothed comb.
• Protect head form sun when outdoors with head cover or use maximum sunscreen if treatment is complete.
• Protect from cold weather – wear head cover.
• Do not use adhesives (including two-way tape and medical adhesives) for wigs and prosthetics on treatment area.
• Do not scratch treatment area.
• Report any skin breaks to physician or nurse.

Comfort And Image Needs…

• Wear cotton caps, turbans, hats and scarves.
• Wear a wig with a cotton liner.
• Wear a sleep cap to bed for warmth.

During Hair Re-Growth

What to Expect…

• Stress from change in appearance.
• Scalp sensitivity.
• Loss of body heat through scalp.
• Fragile new hair.
• May be no hair re-growth with higher does; ask physician or nurse.

Hair & Scalp Care…

• Wash hair gently using water (tepid or lukewarm).
• Pat gently with towel until dry.
• Use mild shampoos (for dry or damaged hair) for the first two weeks after the last treatment.
• Ask physician or nurse if you may use a moisturizing cream or mild lotion; use 3-4 times daily.
• Use hair dryer on low setting 4” from head on new hair and remaining hair.
• Minimize hair styling, brushing, combing, hair pins and curling.
• Use moderately: mousse, styling or sculpting gel, spritz and hair spray.
• Select products with light to moderate holding ability.
• Sleep on satin pillowcase.
• Cover head or use maximum protection sunscreen when outdoors.

Comfort And Image Needs…

• • Wear cotton caps, turbans, hats and scarves.
  • Wear a wig with a cotton liner.

• Wear a sleep cap to bed for warmth.

• Check your insurance booklet for benefits and covered expenses. Copy any page that specifically states coverage of prosthesis or prosthetic devices.
• Obtain the name of the person at your insurance company who would be directly responsible for reviewing, processing or approving your claim. Find out the exact approval procedure.
• Complete your claim form
• Take pictures of yourself without a hair prosthesis and without corrective eye makeup. This will immediately show that your claim is not for cosmetic purposes.
• Detail the emotional effects of (medically related) hair loss.
• Ask your employer for a letter on the importance of your having hair on the job.
• Write a letter directly to the appropriate insurance claim agent explaining the details of chemotherapy, alopecia, radiation, burns, or surgery as it relates to your hair loss. Detail the emotional effects it has had on your life. Discuss the financial aspects of frequent wig purchases. Advise that cranial prosthesis is just as medically necessary as a prosthetic limb or breast – it replaces a missing body part.
• Enclose brochures and pamphlets endorsed by the following support organizations. This is important if the insurance company has questions during the review process.
• Send a case history of a patient with the same or similar condition.
• Send a detailed letter from each doctor who is treating you. It is important that the doctor describes the severity of the condition, extent of hair loss and explain that without a “FULL CUSTOM CRANIAL PROSTHESIS”, leading a normal life and being able to work would be very difficult. He/She should mention the mental distress you have experienced due to your medical treatment.
• A brief letter from a psychiatrist may also be beneficial, if possible.
• Enclose a prescription (on an actual prescription form) from the doctor who ordered the full cranial prosthesis. The prescription must use the verbiage, “FULL CUSTOM CRANIAL PROSTHESIS” and have the correct diagnostic code for the insurance company to process your claim.
• Obtain a receipt from the hair addition specialist performing the service. The invoice must show all charges and must be paid in full. Make sure receipt reads: “A full custom cranial prosthesis to counteract the psychological distress secondary to (alopecia, cancer, burns, radiation, injury, surgery, etc.)”
• Explain the differences between wigs and custom made full cranial prosthesis.
• If you talk with your carrier by phone, insist they confirm your conversation in writing, preferably email. If they fail to do so, prepare your own record of the conversation

The following companies have covered cranial prosthesis, at least in part. However, each carrier operates
differently in each state and coverage changes periodically.

• John Hancock Insurance Co.
• Blue Cross (California, Massachusetts – 80%)
• Metropolitan Education of New York
• Prudential Life Insurance
• C.I.G.N.A.
• Travelers (Massachusetts, 60%)
• Provident Mutual (80%)
• Equitable Life (80%)
• Blue Shield (80%)
• Aetna (80% – 100%)
• Ohio Health Care (80% – 100%)
• Emerald Health Network (100%)
• Med Choice
• Midwest Benefits Corp.

Farm Bureau Insurance

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* This article was originally published here