Thursday, May 31, 2007

Hair Loss From Chemotherapy

Mike Herman has written Hair Loss From Chemotherapy and writes "Many of us have family members, friends or acquiantences who are suffering, or have suffered, through cancer and most of those people have been treated with chemotherapy.

One of the most common effects of chemotherapy, besides loss of energy, wanting to sleep all the time and the loss of imunity, is hair loss. Between people the hair loss will vary from thinning of the hair to a complete loss of hair.

Complete hair loss means from all part of the body including pubic hair. While it is difficult to see yourself without hair, you should know that the hair will reappear over a period of a few days or not happen for weeks into the therapy

Not every cancer drug used in chemotherapy will cause hair loss. Make sure you talk with your doctor about new chemotherapy drugs that may not cause you to lose your hair..

When the hair comes back, it can come back different then what the patient is used to. A friend of mine had perfectly straight hair, then went through chemo and when her hair eventually came back it looked as though see had a perm.

If you are about to go through chemotherapy you should plan to manage hair loss during treatment. You may not experience total hair loss, but being prepared for hair loss will allow you more peace if it occurs.

Before you start going through chemo, start being kind to your hair. If you are bleaching, coloring, or perming your hair, STOP!, can make it weaker. Avoid hair dryers and curling irons. The heat will contribute to the loss of your. You may want to consider cutting your hair. Short hair looks thicker than long hair and it won't be so easily noticed. It might make it easier on you and your emotions if your hair is short before it starts falling out.

If and when you do start to lose your hair make sure that you protect what hair you have by using a satin pillowcase, using a softer brush, and washing your hair only when it is necessary. When you do shampoo, use a gentle shampoo without chemicals or detergents that can dry out your scalp.

I've heard of some poeple that even have shaved their head instead of allowing the hair to fall out in clumps. Patients report that shaving their head eases the irritation and itching that accompanies gradual hair loss from chemotherapy. It may also look better than hair that is patchy and sparse during therapy.

If you have lost your hair you have the choice to use wigs, scarves, hats, turbans, or hairpieces. A wig may sound like a terrible idea, but a friend of mine wore a wig and it looked so good I just assumed that they never lost their hair when they went through chemo.

The National Cancer Institute advises cancer patients if they are going to buy a wig for use during chemotherapy, to have it fitted and made before the therapy starts. The wig matches more closely to their original hair color and texture.

Why does hair loss occur when a patient has chemotherapy?

The drugs used for cancer treatment are designed to attack fast growing cancer cells. They also attack other cells in your bodies and including the hair follicles and roots. This means that hair loss may not be limited to the scalp. People also may lose hair from their arms, legs, underarms, and pubic area. The eyebrows and eyelashes may also be affected.

There isn't a treatment yet to prevent hair loss during and after chemotherapy. It's best to plan, there is a chance you won't lose your hair, but if you have planned and prepared for the loss, everything will be ready if you need it. Patients have tried placing ice packs on the scalp to slow blood circulation and maybe prevent hair loss. Most find it is cold and uncomfortable and not worth the risk of cancer recurring in the scalp area. However, for those who have been willing to try it, seems to work for 50 percent of people.

Hair loss will continue for as much as a month after your last chemotherapy treatment. It may fall out by the hands full, or gradually. Specialists tell us that a person has to lose more than 50 percent of their hair before people will start noticing. Hair growth after chemotherapy is about a quarter inch of hair each month. It could also come in gray until pigment cells start working again and give your hair its natural color.

Hair growth treatments won't prevent hair loss but it will speed up the growth process of new hair. Using this drug may slow down the rate of hair loss, but that depends on each individual.

Get the Valuable Information You Need By Visiting Treatments and Causes of Hair Loss

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Treatments for Hair Loss for Chemotherapy

Caitlin Thomas has written Treatments for Hair Loss for Chemotherapy and writes "An inevitable side effect is hair loss for chemotherapy. You whole body feels the presence of this treatment in one way or another because it is so powerful.

Chemotherapy and the Way it’s administered Chemotherapy is a treatment done using drugs to kill cancerous cells. Typically the drugs are injected directly into the vein or muscle tissue, however some other chemotherapy drugs can be taken orally. The drugs are allowed to flow through the bloodstream covering all parts of the body because chemotherapy treatment is systematic.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy Treatment The type of the drug administered to the patient causes certain side effects. The cells that divide rapidly are typically affected by these drugs which includes blood cells whose main job is to fight infection, help the blood to clot or carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Cancer patients tend to catch infections as the blood cells get affected, they also tend to bleed easily and experience fatigue..

Victims of cancer drugs are also the cells that line the digestive tract since they divide rapidly. Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and mouth sores are other side effects. The reason of hair loss for chemotherapy treatment is poor nutrition. Depending on the chemotherapy drug there many only be a thinning of hair without great hair loss while others will cause total hair loss all over the body.

The hair loss for chemotherapy can be a very hard blow for patients since this is a clear visible effect that can make them stand out in a crowd. Even before you have any hair loss this is one reason why you should try and face this possibility.

The cause of depression in cancer patients who cannot deal with the helplessness of the situation is often hair loss for chemotherapy. This is a clear mark of the deadly disease so it is not very easy for the relatives and friends of the patient. Since hair is a part of the pride and joy for a woman’s personality it is often worse for women then men. Cancer is difficult to deal with and the horrible side effects like hair loss for chemotherapy. However, you should get hope and strength to fight by knowing that these cancerous diseases can be treated.

Conclusion The way to deal with such hard tasks in our lives should be one day at a time. Whatever the situation you should never lose hope. The mind and body can be helped to fight against all odds by positive thinking.

Caitlin Thomas is an expert on Treatments for Hair Loss. For More Information patient causes and hair loss

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Wednesday, May 02, 2007

The Best Hair Loss Products

Arturo Ronzon has written 'The Best Hair Loss Products' and writes "Till date only two prescription drugs for hair loss treatment have been approved by the FDA. These are Minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine and Finasteride, registered under the brand name Propecia. Use of both of these medicines has shown to be beneficial for hair loss – these reduce rate of hair loss and promote the growth of new hair as well. However, the results last only for the time the drugs are taken; as soon as the use is stopped the problem reappears. There are some other options in hair loss products as well, that can help you in case you are experiencing thinning of hair. However, only a qualified dermatologist will be able to help you choose the beast hair loss products for you.

Some Drugs and Shampoos Beneficial in Treatment of Hair Loss

Several topical lotions and shampoos are available in the market for preventing hair loss. It is advisable that you consult a doctor before using any of such products, because these might have certain side-effects..

Minoxidil Containing Products

Loniten

The prescription medication form of minoxidil is Loniten. The target of the drug is to lower high blood pressure. Patients suffering from high blood pressure and on Loniten treatment experienced the side effect of excessive hair growth. This led to the use of Loniten as prescription drug for hair loss. However undesirable side effects of Loniten include water and salt retention, breathing problems and elevated heart-rates.

Products Containing Finasteride

Proscar

The brand name of the finasteride containing drug manufactured for the treatment of prostrate enlargement in men. One of the side effects was the growth of new hair. FDA testing led to the use of finasteride for treatment of hair loss in men. However, the hair loss product was in the form of the drug Propecia. Almost all insurance companies take Propecia to be a cosmetic product, so a number of patients prefer to buy Proscar and break the tablets in dosage sizes appropriate for hair loss treatment. This practice is not desirable.

Dutasteride containing Hair Loss Products

As with finesteride, the prescription medicine dutasteride was initially used to treat benign prostrate enlargement n men but later found its use as an effective treatment for hair loss. The brand name for dutasteride hair loss product is Avodart.

Want to learn more about Best Hair Loss Product, feel free to visit us at: http://www.hair-loss-land.info/Articles/Hair_Loss_Product.php

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