Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (PCIA)

Persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, or PCIA, is hair loss that continues for more than six months after chemotherapy treatment ends. In a small number of cases, this can be permanent.

Incomplete or altered hair growth can sometimes occur when receiving drugs such as paclitaxel, docetaxel¹, cyclophosphamide and epirubicin due to damage to the hair follicles.² It is estimated that PCIA will affect between 10-30% of patients receiving these treatment regimens, however the exact causes are not yet known.³

Not everyone is aware of the risk of PCIA when they start treatment. After receiving a cancer diagnosis, there is a lot of information to take in and understand. Oncologists are often focused on how to treat the cancer in the best way possible. The risk of PCIA is sometimes not mentioned.

Scalp Cooling has been proven to have a positive impact in reducing the risk of PCIA.

In a recent study, titled Scalp Cooling in Preventing Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Randomized Controlled Trial, researchers found that scalp cooling was effective at preventing PCIA. ⁴

The trial compared the outcomes of two patient groups receiving drugs known to cause persistent or permanent hair loss. One group scalp cooled, one group did not.

Researchers also found that the scalp cooling patients had thicker hair and a greater hair density at the end of the study.

Ask your oncologist about the risk of PCIA with your drug regimen and about scalp cooling if you’re concerned about persistent or permanent hair loss.

If you are interested in reading more about the study, you can visit Paxman Scalp Cooling Study Library.

Both Shirley Ledlie and Jo Knight, two incredible and influential women living with PCIA, use their experiences with the condition to help others. We spoke to both of them individually about PCIA.

Shirley is a founder of the non-profit association, A Head of our Time, dedicated to supporting people with PCIA.

As well as being a patient advocate, Shirley is also an author and writer, who believes patients should be informed of the possibility of PCIA and that scalp cooling should be offered as standard when the risk is present.

Jo uses her experience of hair loss to help others battling cancer through the community she has built on social media, such as promoting early detection, fashion, body positivity and running the Preloved Reloved charity that collects and donates essential items that can be used by anyone going through cancer treatment.

Scalp cooling has helped patients across the world not only to retain some of their hair but also to promote regrowth after chemotherapy. Members of our Facebook Group have even expressed hair regrowth and follicle protection as their primary motivation for scalp cooling.

Emma from the UK received docetaxel, a drug known to cause PCIA, as part of her chemotherapy regimen for stage 2 triple positive breast cancer. She said hair regrowth was a key part of moving on from chemotherapy and her diagnosis.