Does chemotherapy always cause hair loss?

Chemotherapy does not always cause hair loss. According to the National Cancer Institute, chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells, but it also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly — including the cells that cause your hair to grow. Damage to these healthy cells is why hair loss can happen, along with other side effects such as mouth sores and nausea.

Whether you have this side effect, and how strongly, depends on the type of chemotherapy you receive and how your body responds. Side effects often get better or go away after you have finished chemotherapy.

It is also worth knowing that side effects do not tell you whether the treatment is working. Your healthcare team can tell you what to expect from your specific chemotherapy and how to manage any side effects you do have.