Hormone Replacement Therapy For Menopausal Hair Loss
Hormone replacement therapy, sometimes called menopausal hormone therapy, is a popular treatment among menopausal and postmenopausal women who wants to supplement the estrogen that the body loses upon reaching menopause age.
HRT can improve the effects of menopause and provide relief from its discomforting symptoms. Likewise, it can offer benefits for serious health complications that older and postmenopausal women may be at risk for such as osteoporosis and colon cancer. There are two main types of hormone therapy:
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Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
For a leave-in lotion
The product is a leave-in lotion that conditions hair. The company claims that a person can use the lotion to add moisture to their curls to prevent dryness and breakage.
According to the manufacturer, the product is lightweight, and individuals can use it every day, as it does not weigh curls down.
Key ingredients include castor oil and olive squalene.
Prices start at $13.99 for an 8-ounce bottle.
What Is Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
This cancer therapy is most commonly given using a machine that beams radiation into targeted areas of the body. However, it can also be administered internally via radioactive material placed into the body near the cancer cells or tumor, or it can be delivered intravenously.
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Possible Risks And Side Effects
A few people feel unwell or experience a fever, wheeziness, a rash or fall in blood pressure while they are having the infusion, or shortly afterwards.
If you start feeling unwell during your infusion tell the person giving it to you, they can slow down the infusion, so the drug enters your body more gradually. Its rare to have severe side effects but, if you do, the infusion may need to be stopped.
Rituximab affects your immune system, which can make you more likely to pick up some infections. Tell your doctor or rheumatology nurse straight away if you develop any new symptoms that concern you, such as a sore throat, fever or other signs of infection.
You should also see your doctor if you develop chickenpox or shingles, or come into contact with someone who has them. These illnesses can be more severe in people taking rituximab, and you will probably need to take anti-viral treatment.
After three or four courses of rituximab, the levels of antibodies in your blood that protect you from infections may go down. This may not be a big problem, but it might mean your risk of infection increases.
Your doctor and rheumatology nurse will discuss this with you before deciding if you need any more treatment. They might recommend you stop rituximab for a while if you develop a serious infection.
- pins and needles
- weakness, shaky movements or unsteadiness
- sight loss
- changes in behaviour or mood
- difficulty moving your face, arms or legs.
Original Articlerituximab Treatment Of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome whose pathogenesis may involve B-cell functions. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the CD20 antigen on B cells thereby deleting them. We conducted an open-label pilot trial of rituximab treatment in 15 severely nephrotic patients with proteinuria refractory to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and/or receptor blockade but with adequately controlled blood pressure. Rituximab was given 2 weeks apart and, at 6 months, patients who remained proteinuric but had recovered B-cell counts were given a second course of treatment. Proteinuria was significantly decreased by about half at 12 months. Of the 14 patients who completed follow-up, full remission was achieved in two and partial remission in six patients based upon the degree of proteinuria. Side effects were minor however, we found no relationship between the response and number of B cells in the blood, CD20 cells in the kidney biopsy, degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, starting proteinuria or creatinine values. Rituximab appears effective in reducing proteinuria in some patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy but prospective identification of responsive patients was not possible.
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Tips To Reduce Your Risk Of Infection
- Try to avoid close contact with people you know have an infection.
- Wash your hands regularly and carry around a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel.
- Keep your mouth clean by brushing your teeth regularly.
- Stop smoking if you’re a smoker.
- Make sure your food is stored and prepared properly.
- Try to keep your house clean and hygienic, especially the kitchen, bathrooms and toilets.
Common Causes Of Hair Loss
Hair loss is something that many people fear, especially men as they get older. Whilst balding and losing hair is most associated with aging males, it can affect anyone. This is because there are a number of conditions and deficiencies that can cause hair loss, many of which are not preventable. Most people assume hair loss is hereditary, but there are so many other things besides genetics that can determine your likelihood of losing your hair, some of which your probably didnt even know about!
Weve put together a list of five common causes of hair loss to give you a better idea of who can be affected by it and why, as well as whether the issue can be tackled.
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Arthritis Medications And Hair Loss
Certain medications to treat arthritis can cause hair loss. Learn what to do.
People with autoimmune conditions, such asrheumatoid arthritis and lupus, can experience hair loss as a troubling symptom of their disease. Other times though, the cause of the shedding locks could be the medications used to treat the disease.
Fortunately, hair loss from arthritis medications is not a widespread complication. Still, if your hair is an important part of your identity, its not a small matter to you.
What Medications Cause Hair Loss?
Methotrexate: The most commonly prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate is responsible for hair loss in about 1 to 3% of people. The hair loss happens because methotrexate is doing what its supposed to do stop cells from growing. This includes cells causing inflammation and, unfortunately, hair follicles.
Folic acid is commonly prescribed with methotrexate to alleviate some of its side effects. Taking this synthetic form of folate, a B-complex vitamin, can help keep your hair healthy, but it has not been found to promote hair growth.
Leflunomide : Another widely used DMARD for RA with the potential for hair loss is leflunomide. It often is prescribed in combination with methotrexate, and causes hair loss similar to the way methotrexate does in about 10 percent of users.
What to Expect from Hair Loss Side Effects
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Quick Links
How To Prepare For Rituxan Infusions
Rituxan infusions can take hours, so be sure to bring something to help keep you busy while youre receiving your dose. This can include a book to read or games to play. You may also want to pack some snacks in case you get hungry while youre having your treatment.
Before your infusion, youll be given medications to help decrease your risk for having an infusion reaction when you get your dose. Some of these medications may cause you to feel dizzy or tired, so you shouldnt drive yourself home from treatment. Try to schedule someone to bring you home from your treatment in case you arent feeling well.
Talk with your doctor about any questions you have about receiving Rituxan.
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Radiation Therapy Is Painful
Radiotherapy patients should not experience any pain during the procedure, although some report a sense of warmth or tingling. Because the treatment affects fast-reproducing cells, both healthy and cancerous, it can cause some pain later on, generally due to skin irritation in the treated area. For most patients, this is fairly mild. For other patients, radiation therapy can be paused for a few days to allow the skin and other healthy cells to recover before continuing.
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The Emotional Impact Of Hair Loss
Hair loss can be traumatic in part because its so visible. You may feel that it reveals to the world that youre a cancer patient, threatening your privacy. And you may have to deal with it around the same time that youre facing other unwanted changes to your body and appearance due to treatment.
Of course, not everyone reacts to treatment-related hair loss in the same way. For some, it can be devastating, especially at the beginning. For others, its a big inconvenience but it doesnt affect them as deeply.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Oral Chemotherapy
The possible side effects of oral chemotherapy are the same as those of traditional chemotherapy, and may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation or hair loss.
The potential side effects you may experience depend on the type of chemotherapy drug youre taking and how often youre taking it. Not everyone experiences the same ones or in the same way. Patients are sometimes surprised to find out that not all chemotherapies cause hair loss, for example, or that men and women may experience different side effects of chemotherapy.
We also have more ways to help patients tolerate treatment these days. Anti-nausea medications have improved significantly over the years and are frequently given along with chemotherapy drugs. Supportive care therapies are designed to help prevent and manage side effects of cancer and its treatment. At CTCA®, for example, our patients have access to our integrative care services, including:
Your oncologist may be able to change the dosage of your medication or even prescribe a different chemotherapy if necessary. Talk to your care team about your options if you experience side effects.
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Chemo Less Likely To Cause Hair Loss
Some chemotherapy drugs result in only minimal hair loss, though these are often combined with drugs that cause more hair loss. These include:
- The platinums: Paraplatin , Platinol , Eloxatin
- Antitumor antibiotics: Bleo 15K , Mutamicin , low doses of epirubicin or doxorubicin
- Antimetabolites: Trexall, Otrexup, Rasuvo
- Oral cyclophosphamide
- Topoisomerase inhibitors: Novantrone , Hycamtin or Potactasol
- Alkylating agents: Hexalen
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How Does Rituximab Work
Rituximab is an immunoglobulin G1 kappa monoclonal antibody composed of a murine variable region that is fused onto a human constant region . The Fab portion binds to the CD20 antigen on the surface of pre-B and mature B lymphocytes. The Fc portion then recruits immune cells that destroy these lymphocytes. Mechanisms may include:
- Complement-dependent cytotoxicity
- Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity
- Apoptosis .
The exact contribution of each mechanism remains unclear, and different mechanisms may prevail in various diseases.
Rituximab has a limited effect on other immune cells.
- The CD20 antigen is not found on stem cells or early pro-B cells so these can regenerate the B lymphocyte population.
- Plasma cells are B cells that do not usually express the CD20 antigen, so they mostly survive. As these produce antibodies, serum immunoglobulin levels tend not to fall dramatically.
- Rituximab may also act on autoreactive T-effector cells, regulatory T cells, and monocyte-derived macrophages.
Medical And Dental Treatment
If you need medical treatment for any reason other than cancer, always tell the doctors and nurses you are having cancer treatment. Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor so they can ask for advice.
If you think you need dental treatment, talk to your cancer doctor or nurse. Always tell your dentist you are having cancer treatment.
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What Are Common Side Effects Of Chemo And Radiation
Chemo and radiation cause similar side effects. Chemos side effects depend on the type of drug used, the dosage, and a childs overall health. These effects are more likely to affect the whole body.
Radiations side effects, on the other hand, tend to affect the area being treated. But they do still depend on the dose of radiation given, the location on the body, and whether the radiation was internal or external.
Here are some of the side effects associated with these cancer treatments, and how to manage them:
Fatigue
Tiredness is the most common side effect of both chemotherapy and radiation. Even the most active kids are likely to find themselves exhausted and perhaps even a little foggy-headed during treatment and possibly for a while afterward. This is normal. Encourage your child to scale back on activities and to rest as much as possible. When treatment is over, your childs energy should return.
Flu-like Symptoms
Some cancer medicines appear to trigger the bodys normal inflammatory response, producing flu- or cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, chills, and cough. Drinking plenty of fluids can help clear excess mucus. Also ask your doctor which, if any, over-the-counter medicines might help.
Pain
Mouth, Gum, and Throat Sores
Gastrointestinal Problems
If your childs appetite wanes, try offering several small servings of something rather than three large meals. Also concentrate on keeping your child hydrated with water, juices, and broths.
Skin Changes
What Should I Know About Rituxan Vs Ocrevus
Rituxan and Ocrevus are both used to treat certain conditions that affect your immune system.
Both medications are given by healthcare professionals as an intravenous infusion.
Rituxan contains the active drug rituximab, but Ocrevus contains the active drug ocrelizumab.
If youd like to know more about how Rituxan and Ocrevus compare with each other, check out this drug article. And talk with your doctor about which drug they recommend for you.
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Preparing For Changes To Your Hair
Many people say that the possibility of losing their hair is one of their biggest worries about having treatment. Understandably, the thought of it can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety.
Hair loss can be an important part of self-identify, so unwanted changes to it can significantly affect self-esteem and confidence. Its a visible side effect of treatment, and can make it obvious to other people that youre having treatment, including those you might not have chosen to tell. This loss of control and privacy can be very challenging to cope with.
Prepare yourself mentally keep in mind that youll come across people you know who dont recognise you anymore. I lost the hair on my head, as well as my eyelashes and eyebrows, which made me look very different. I found that tough to cope with, but I did get used to it after about a month, and my hair grew back very quickly. People did look but I just assumed that they were good-natured people and probably guessed that I was having chemotherapy and hoped that I was recovering OK.
Speak to your medical team for advice specific to your situation if your hair is likely to be affected, you might want to ask where from and how quickly you could expect it to grow back. Getting an idea of what to expect can help you to prepare for changes to your hair and give you time to consider what approach you might like to take.