While there may be valid reasons for deciding not to do chemotherapy, cancer survivors will tell you that hair loss is not one of them. Further, by understanding the whys and wherefores of hair loss from treatments, you will be better able to maintain a positive personal image. Side effects vary greatly. If you don't lose your hair, that does not mean the chemotherapy treatment didn't work. Likewise, losing hair isn't, unfortunately, a guarantee that chemo was effective.
Chemotherapy affects any cell that grows rapidly.
Therefore, these powerful cancer-fighting drugs will often affect hair, because hair comes from rapidly growing cells. Depending on the drug, you may lose hair on your head, chest, arms, legs and pelvic region. Radiation therapy affects hair by destroying hair follicles, but only in the area that is being treated. Except in vary rare cases, hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary. Hair lose caused by radiation may be permanent if there are frequent treatments.