Hi all,

I am currently undergoing radiotherapy following a salivary gland cancer diagnosis in a parotid gland. Some side effects are kicking in, but on the whole my energy levels remain good and I am managing to eat and drink fairly well. 

However, over the last couple of days I have noticed some hair loss when washing and brushing my hair. Some is the hair close to the parotid gland, which I was expecting, but also some on the other side of my head. I assume that is where the RT beam is leaving my body. That wasn’t really explained very well to me before RT started and I am not sure how much hair loss to expect. I feel it is one of the side effects which isn’t really spoken about and it isn’t anything the nurses or radiographers have asked me about when I have had my appointments. I am concerned I am going to have massive visible bald patches which I can’t hide. I am not vain, but it is just such a visible sign of what is happening on top of everything else. I know everyone is different, but I was just wondering what other people’s experiences were of hair loss in head and neck RT. 

Many thanks