Alopecia due to chemotherapy produces distress to cancer patients, with it, being the constant reminder of their ever present sickness. This type of hair loss is produced by by cytotoxic drugs through damaging the hair follicles which are actively growing types. They are attacked because the action the drugs are selective for rapidly proliferating cells that mirror the rate of the hair follicles. CIA usually begins to take place two to four weeks after initial treatment. Almost all cases of CIA are reversible and hair follicles again initiate their growth process after 6 months. The new hair after the loss may grow with changes to the color and texture. Irreversible alopecia might be caused by increased dose and extensive exposure to busulphan and cyclophosphomide combination used for bone marrow transplant as studies show.

Chemotherapy patients, women included, are considering more and more, the idea shaving their heads, then to loose it gradually from slow hair loss. At present, the general public has become accepting of the shaved head, however, the women being less socially accepted. A great and loud example of women with cancer who is gracefully surviving, and has survived is Kylie Minogue. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the mid 2005, and has decided to go bald than stand hair loss. It ended looking better than what was expected, and she was able to continue with her fame, even with the battle against cancer and hair loss.