What Are The Types Of Lung Cancer
Most lung cancers start in the lining of the bronchi . Lung cancer also can form in glands below the lining of the bronchi, frequently in the outer areas of the lungs. These lung cancers are one of two major types, small cell or non-small cell lung cancer, each of which grows and spreads different ways:
Non-small cell lung cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common, and usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer, named for the type of cells from which the cancer develops:
Small cell lung cancer
Small cell lung cancer is less common than non-small cell lung cancer accounting for about 15 percent of all lung cancers. This type of lung cancer grows rapidly, is likely to be advanced by the time of diagnosis and spreads to other parts of the body quickly.
Rare cancers of the chest
Mesothelioma
Practical Tips To Manage Hair Loss
- If your hair is long and hair loss is expected, it might help to cut it short. When it starts to fall out, it may be less upsetting.
- Buy a wig. Sometimes it helps to find a wig that looks similar to your real hair. Many hair stylists can help cut the wig to match your hair so it feels more natural. Its easiest to do this before your hair falls out so the stylist can see what your hair looks like. Some people like to buy wigs that are completely different from their real hair and have fun with something new. Wigs may be covered by insurance, or there are organizations that can provide free or reduced cost wigs.
- Buy scarves and hats. Sometimes wigs can be uncomfortable. Scarves and hats can be a good break from wigs.
- Women can check to see if there is a Look GoodFeel Better program in your area. This program helps cancer survivors feel better about their appearance while dealing with cancer treatment side effects.
Hair Loss From Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss on all parts of the body, not just the head. Facial hair, arm and leg hair, underarm hair, and pubic hair all may be affected.
Not all chemotherapy medicines cause hair loss. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect.
Hair loss usually doesn’t occur right away. More often, your hair will begin falling out within a few weeks after the start of treatment. Your hair may fall out gradually or in clumps. The hair that remains may be very dry or brittle.
Hair almost always starts growing back in 2 to 3 months. The new hair is usually very fine. Your hair may look different when it comes back. It may grow back with a different colour or texture.
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Targeted Therapy Side Effects
Targeted therapy drugs have different side effects than standard or traditional chemotherapy. Some targeted drugs have very few side effects, and others can cause more or more serious problems. There are many different types of targeted drugs, and their side effects depend largely on the type of drug that’s given and what it targets.
Is It Safe To Take Tagrisso If You Are Pregnant
Osimertinib can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine. If you are a woman, do not use Tagrisso if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
Tagrisso is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Tagrisso is used to treat a certain type of non-small cell lung cancer. Osimertinib is used only if your tumor has a specific genetic marker, for which your doctor will test. Tagrisso is usually given after other treatments have failed.
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The 3 Main Ways That Radiotherapy Can Be Given Are:
- conventional external beam radiotherapy beams of radiation are directed at the affected parts of your body.
- stereotactic radiotherapy a more accurate type of external beam radiotherapy where several high-energy beams deliver a higher dose of radiation to the tumour, while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible.
- internal radiotherapy a thin tube is inserted into your lung. A small piece of radioactive material is passed along the catheter and placed against the tumour for a few minutes, then removed.
For lung cancer, external beam radiotherapy is used more often than internal radiotherapy, particularly if it’s thought that a cure is possible. Stereotactic radiotherapy may be used to treat tumours that are very small, as it’s more effective than standard radiotherapy alone in these circumstances.
Internal radiotherapy is usually used as a palliative treatment when the cancer is blocking or partly blocking your airway.
Caring For Hair That Grows Back
When your hair begins to grow back, it will be much thinner and more easily damaged than your original hair. It may also be a different texture or color. The following tips may help you take care of the hair that grows back.
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Limit washing your hair to twice a week.
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Massage your scalp gently to remove dry skin and flakes.
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Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush for your hair. When styling your hair, limit the amount of pinning, curling, or blow-drying with high heat.
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Avoid permanent or semi-permanent hair color for at least 3 months after treatment ends.
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Avoid curling or straightening your hair with chemical products such as permanent wave solutions until it all grows back. You may need to wait up to a year before you can chemically curl or straighten their hair. Before trying chemical products again, test a small patch of hair to see how it reacts. You can also ask your hairdresser for suggestions.
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Prognosis For Lung Cancer
Prognosis refers to the expected outcome of a disease. While it is not possible for a doctor to predict the exact course of the disease, they can give you an idea about the general outlook for people with the same type and stage of cancer.
Your doctor will consider your test results, the type of lung cancer you have, the rate and extent of tumour growth, and other factors including your age, overall health and whether you are a smoker.
The earlier the cancer is found the better the treatment outcomes will be.
Hair Growth After Chemo
With most types of chemotherapy, the cells in the hair follicles will regenerate enough to resume hair growth. They normally go through a cycle of active growth, then rest. Chemotherapy sends more of them into the rest phase , which usually lasts for 100 days.
Some people will note hair beginning to come back even before the end of treatment, but it is more common to see it growing back after two to three months. At first, you may see light amounts of fuzz-like hair return, followed by thicker amounts of hair.
Still, some people do not see hair regrowth. Some types of chemotherapy have a higher risk of permanent hair loss.
The effects of chemotherapy on the hair follicles can result in the regrown hair being a different color or texture, and having different waves or curls than before. In the breast cancer treatment study, 53% said their hair became wavier or curlier, 58% reported thinner hair, 6% noted thicker hair, 38% said their hair was grayer or whiter, and 5% reported darker hair.
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Hair Loss And Cancer Treatment
If treatment will cause hair loss, try wearing fun scarves and earrings or a cap, from time to time.
Some types of chemotherapy cause the hair on your head and other parts of your body to fall out. Radiation therapy can also cause hair loss on the part of the body that is being treated. Hair loss is called alopecia. Talk with your health care team to learn if the cancer treatment you will be receiving causes hair loss. Your doctor or nurse will share strategies that have help others, including those listed below.
Best Root Touch Up Products
Many of us who colour our hair at one point or another have been guilty of trying to extend our time between hairdresser visits. But in an unprecedented time of social distancing and lockdown, many may be on the hunt instead for the best root touch up products on the market.
Below weve compiled a list of the best root concealers around, with something for every need and every budget.
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Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Hair Loss
Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cellshealthy cells as well as cancer cells. Hair follicles, the structures in the skin filled with tiny blood vessels that make hair, are some of the fastest-growing cells in the body. If youre not in cancer treatment, your hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours. Because many chemotherapy drugs are designed to effectively kill all rapidly dividing cells, hair is the unfortunate bystander that takes the fall along with the cancer cells.
When Your Hair Starts To Come Out
Focus on self-care. Wash your hair as little as possible, and use gentle products. Take care of your scalp. Wear a hat or scarf to protect it from heat and cold, and apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 every day. And if your scalp itches or feels sensitive, go easy with your brush or comb. Avoid rollers, hair dryers, and irons. You can also style your hair with your fingers instead.
If chemo-related hair loss triggers tough emotions, be gentle with yourself. Some people going through this feel depressed, anxious, frustrated, angry, or a combination of emotions. This may be something you want to discuss in a support group or with a counselor who works with people dealing with cancer. Give yourself room to feel and work through whatever comes up.
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If Youre Getting Radiation Therapy To The Head Or Neck
People who get radiation to the head and neck might have side effects such as:
- Soreness in the mouth or throat
- Dry mouth
- Jaw stiffness
How to care for your mouth during treatment
If you get radiation therapy to the head or neck, you need to take good care of your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. Here are some tips that may help you manage mouth problems:
- Avoid spicy and rough foods, such as raw vegetables, dry crackers, and nuts.
- Dont eat or drink very hot or very cold foods or beverages.
- Dont smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol these can make mouth sores worse.
- Stay away from sugary snacks.
- Ask your cancer care team to recommend a good mouthwash. The alcohol in some mouthwashes can dry and irritate mouth tissues.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt and soda water every 1 to 2 hours as needed.
- Sip cool drinks often throughout the day.
- Eat sugar-free candy or chew gum to help keep your mouth moist.
- Moisten food with gravies and sauces to make it easier to eat.
- Ask your cancer care team about medicines to help treat mouth sores and control pain while eating.
If these measures are not enough, ask your cancer care team for advice. Mouth dryness may be a problem even after treatment is over. If so, talk to your team about what you can do.
How to care for your teeth during treatment
Radiation treatment to your head and neck can increase your chances of getting cavities. This is especially true if you have dry mouth as a result of treatment.
What Can I Do If Hair Loss Is Expected With My Radiation Therapy Treatment
Each person responds differently when learning that they may experience hair loss. There is no right or wrong response. What’s important is to do what you feel comfortable with, to do what is right for you. If you expect to lose the hair on your head during your cancer treatments, the following tips may be helpful:
- If your hair is long, cutting it shorter may help decrease the impact of your hair loss when it occurs.
- Some people find it easier to deal with hair loss by shaving their heads before hair loss occurs.
- Be sure to protect your head with a hat to prevent sun exposure on sunny days- and not just in the summer months! This is especially important for men who are less likely to wear a wig or turban/scarf.
- Use a soft-bristle brush and a gentle, pH-balanced shampoo.
- Don’t use hair dryers, hot rollers, or curling irons because they may damage your hair and make hair loss more severe.
- Don’t bleach or color your hair, and don’t get a permanent. All of these make your hair brittle and may cause your hair to fall out faster.
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase to decrease friction.
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Trauma Can Cause Hair Loss
This is true. Physical or emotional stress can cause hair to fall out, even a few months after the event. A death, divorce, or even childbirth can cause individual hair follicle cycles to sync, meaning that instead of hair falling out at a rate of 100 follicles per day, large amounts can come out at the same time. Follicle cycles commonly sync after chemotherapy and rapid shifts in weight. Hair loss as a result of cycle syncing should grow back eventually and does not require a transplant. A non-surgical option might make you more comfortable or speed up the regrowth process.
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Chemo’s Effect On Cells
Cancer cells tend to divide very quicklyat a much higher rate than most of the cells in the body. They ignore the signals and mechanisms that tell normal cells to stop dividing.
Some normal cells in our bodies also rapidly divide, like hair follicle cells, the mucous membrane cells lining of the digestive tract , and the blood-producing cells in the bone marrow.
Chemotherapy drugs work by targeting rapidly dividing cells. They damage the genetic material inside cells that guide cell division. Chemotherapy drugs cannot tell the difference between these normal, rapidly dividing cells and cancer cells, so the drug affects these cells as well.
The hair follicles have a good blood supply, which unfortunately allows chemotherapy drugs to reach them efficiently. About 65% of people who receive chemotherapy will experience hair loss. The amount of hair loss can depend on which chemotherapy agent is used, as well as the timing, dose, and route of administration. It can also vary from person to person, and it’s hard to predict who will be affected most.
About 90% of your scalp hair is in the active growth phase at any one time. This hair will be affected by chemotherapy agents.
There are five classes of chemotherapy drugs, each of which affects a different part of the cell growth cycle or acts in a different way. Which agent is chosen depends on the type of cancer.
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