Are her parents right about chemotherapy?

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My female friend is terrified of getting cancer one day because she fears that chemotherapy will cause bad hair loss. Her hair is very important to her. She has discussed this with her parents and they said to her “Well would you rather have chemotherapy or die?” And “chemotherapy saves lives”

Do you think her parents are not considering the devastating impact losing your hair can have on cancer patients when on chemotherapy and it now it effects self esteem/body image.

When a person is facing a life threatening illness, and there is a treatment available that might reduce a persons chance of dying from said illness, I think losing one's hair is an acceptable side effect. Sometimes the hair loss from chemotherapy is reversible.

While her folks aren't wrong, they're missing the point and invalidating her very valid concerns.

Wearing a cold cap is known to reduce, even prevent hair loss through chemo for some. A cold cap is a hat that is worn during some chemotherapy treatments. Its cooling effect reduces blood flow to the scalp, which also reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches this area. This helps to prevent hair loss. It's usually worn for 15 minutes before each chemotherapy treatment.

There are some pretty amazing wigs now for those who do lose all their hair, if they choose.

So far as your friend’s parents comments go, they are perfectly reasonable in making such a statement. When it comes down to it, if your friend were ever in need of chemo, the reality is the will to overcome the disease & go on living would hopefully put things into perspective for her. One in three of us will wind up with cancer according to the latest news.

Many women do find it difficult & hugely emotionally challenging to lose their hair. But, hair will grow back & there is alot of support among both sufferers & those caring for them. A sense of true comaraderie. Overcoming the fear of hair loss, the fear of chemo, the fear of the side effects of chemo generally, the fear of the aftermath of the treatment & potential for the lack of success of the treatment, the potential returning of the cancer etc … there may always be fears to overcome in life, but I’d fear the deep nausea/vomitting far more than the hairloss(& I have long hair), having experienced 9months of it(hyperemisis gravidarum) said to be the same effect as chemo in that regard. It can be extreme & you may feel like death itself for the duration. Hair will be the last thing on your mind in that instance.

Hampshire’s a lovely place. I’m from Australia but felt like an adventure, so moved to the UK. Love it here!

I'd think I'd be afraid of getting cancer because of the risk of death - not hair loss from Chemotherapy. Besides, you don't have to lose your hair during Chemo anymore. 2 friends of mine have used the scalp-cooling device during their treatments and both still had a full head of hair.

Just curious what would happen in the unlikely scenario Kate Middelton died from cancer?

That would be a devastating loss for her husband, her young children, extended family & the nation as a whole, or at least, anyone who knows what loss can do. Dread to think of it, knowing what the loss of my own Mother did to me when I was 5. William will be King eventually, and hopefully with Kate by his side.