NCLEX Style Study Question
A woman loses most of her hair as a result of cancer chemotherapy. The nurse understands that which of the following is true about chemotherapy-induced alopecia?
- New hair will be gray.
- Avoid the use of wigs.
- The hair loss is temporary.
- Pre-chemo hair texture will return.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
3…hair loss is temp.
June 26th, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Number 3, hair loss is temporary. What about the new hair growth? My experience is limited, but when the lost hair is gray, doesn’t the new growth have a darker, less gray color? I noted that on 2 elderly patients.
DEE
June 27th, 2005 at 5:32 pm
3…hair loss is temporary
June 28th, 2005 at 4:25 am
3…hair loss is temporary
June 28th, 2005 at 2:48 pm
Number 3
June 29th, 2005 at 6:32 am
3
June 29th, 2005 at 11:49 am
3
June 29th, 2005 at 10:42 pm
Correct answer: 3
Alopecia from chemotherapy is only temporary. While hair color and texture may change following loss due to chemotherapy, the returning color will not necessarily be grey. Hair loss is a serious threat to self-esteem in the client receiving chemotherapeutic drugs. Clients who will be recieving medications known to cause hair loss should be encouraged to purchase a wig while they still have hair to allow for matching.