Hair Loss Induced by Chemotherapy: An Anthropological Study of Women, Cancer and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Throughout history hair has universally been a powerful symbol of the relationship between individuals and society, denoting religious affiliation, and has acted as a symbol of the social, cultural and political status quo. Hair loss, which is often perceived as a loss of individuality and attractiveness, has been related to the absence of status in these areas. The impact of hair loss on women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer has primarily been explored by health professionals focusing on its psychological effects. This paper looks at women's experiences with hair loss induced by chemotherapy in a Danish context. It draws on an ethnographic fieldwork study comprising participant observation at three residential cancer rehabilitation courses in Denmark, subsequent in-depth interviews with some of the women and examination of written sources. The women equated hair loss with the loss of womanhood, sickness and death, and used wigs and make-up to minimize these effects. The analysis demonstrates how the women's embodied experiences are pervaded by culturally embedded signs, and how cancer rehabilitation is less concerned with total recovery in the sense of ‘being cured’ than with normalizing and integrating the individual in personal and social contexts.