Cancer/leukemia Info.

It all depends on the treatment chosen by the oncologist!!!
But it is very likely that hair will fall off with the treatment... but it will grow back!!! Love, G.. :0)

Hi T.,

WOW! There's a free class about Health & Wellness being offered tonight (Th) at 7pm. The guest speaker will be Dr. Steven Davis NMD who works mainly with cancer patients in his practice! You can ask questions of the Dr. as well as of the other people who will be there too. They will tell you their experiences! The free class is being put on by a MaxGXL. It's open to the public. Plus, MaxGXL will have a booth at the Relay for Life this year to help the American Cancer Society. If you want to know more about this class, contact me and I will look for the flyer. You can also go to this website to find out more about MaxGXL.
www.maxgxl.com/maxmagic

N.

The topic of cancer and leukemia is HUGE and complex, but simply speaking, there are 4 main types of leukemia, ALL, AML, CLL, and CML. Some are more likely to affect adults, others kids. You don't lose your hair from the cancer, you lose it from the chemotherapy. A patient however will be sick with or without chemo, b/c the cancer takes over the bone marrow, where new healthy blood cells arise from. Chemo is widely variably effective depending on the type of leukemia. Generally, kids have better outcomes than adults, but definitely depends on the type and how aggressive. No question about it, you need an oncologist to advise you (or your friend) further.

Hi T., check out the patient resources and disease information available from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - their URL is: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls

...cw

My father, mother in-law and brother in-law all have had cancer in the past year. You do not lose your hair from the cancer, you lose your hair from the treatment. My family all opted to do chemo. Depending on which drugs they give you and the doses, you will most likely lose some if not all of your hair. All three of my family members lost their hair. My mother in-law had breast cancer and at the hospital they partnered with a local hair salon to have wigs made from donated human hair. The wigs look very natural and you can style it like your own. Also she got lessons on how to tie scarfs around her head and why it's important to wear skull caps to keep the heat in (this was in the winter months). Apparently you lose a lot of body heat from your head when you have no hair. Sorry to write the novel. Hopefully that helped some. Good luck to your friend. If you have any more questions feel free to message me.

Also, there are many side effects from chemo treatment... your friend may want to research online once she knows what drugs they will be giving her. It varies depending on type of cancer and stage.

Hi T.,

I work at a foundation that assists families that deal with child cancer. Here is a link to our resource page. It has many links about cancer.

http://www.childcancer.org/resources.htm

Hi, T.. I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a blood cancer like leukemia) when my son was just two months old, so I have a lot of experience mothering through cancer and treatment. Hair loss (from chemo or radiation) will likely occur, although it doesn't with everyone. I personally felt really sick right after treatments, but I had many "not sick" days, as well. Again, this will vary with the treatment and from person to person. Lowered immunity is an issue. I'm not sure from your post whether it is your friend or her child who is sick, but if you would like to correspond, PLEASE send me a message. The links mentioned by PPs below are very good; please feel free to check out my blog, www.moms-alive.org, which contains information specifically for mothers with cancer, like what to do about breastfeeding and how to tell your children about your diagnosis. You're a very good friend.

Hi T.,

I lost my oldest sister when she was only 17 to leukemia and my younger sister has been fighting inflamatory breast cancer for 10 years. With my older sister the treatments were few, as she was sick from 1978-1980 and underwent chemotherapy. She lost all her hair with the chemo and became very sick. With my younger sister she's been fighting the disease since she was pregnant with her son, who will be ten in a few days. Her type of cancer is very aggressive. She started chemo when she was still pregnant and has had both breasts removed. She was in remission for 5 years and we thought the disease was finally gone. Unfortunately, the same cancer came back in her eye, lungs, liver and spine. She is currently on chemo and the tumors are not growing, but are still there. She has had many different types of chemo drugs, as well as radiation. Some of the chemo drugs make you lose your hair, and some don't. She also gets anti-nausea meds before the chemo drugs to help her feel better. The good news is that they are developing new drugs to treat cancer and my sister has been on many of them. I hope this info helps.

Hi: I am an American Cancer Society volunteer. I have been in your situation when I was in search of leukenia information for a close relative. Please look at www.cancer.org which is the American Cancer Society website. There's a lot of information there. You can look up specific cancers (Click on Learn about Cancers) and can get information as to treatment (click on Treatment Decision Tools in the box "find in Fast" on the left side of the page.

I also went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Good luck to your friend.

Hey T.~ Although I have personally never experienced cancer, I have had many family memebers that have, and have gone through all of the above. Although there is no cure all to Cancer--I have my own Home Based business, and we are partnered with one of the best Health & Wellness company's in the world. They have a wonderful Health and Wellness guide as well, that is so helpful in what many people go through, advice, things that can help, etc, etc. Let me know if you want some more advice, and or the name of the book, or if you would like me to email you some more info. I think it's really great of you that your doing research for a friend, and helping someone out at the same time. Good for you. Love, A. Toft

The hair loss is due to Chemotherapy, but not all chemo causes hair loss and it may not cause hair loss in all people. You do get sick, I beleive a lot of the sick part is also due to the medication. There are some days when sickness is worse then others. I do believe the further advanced it is the more painful it is. I've not had cancer, but my aunt has Lukemia and my Husbands previous wife passed away from Hodgkin's lymphoma(in the lukemia family) at the age of 25. I hope this helps.

My friend created an informational website when her 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. The little girl is now 6 years old, in remission and a "miracle" featured on tv channels. She had an experimental treatment from medication plus a bone marrow transplant- 600 people showed up to donate! Check out her site: www.katieanne.org it covers the initial symptoms, etc. Also check out www.prayerbears.org, or www.caringbridge.org.

Hello T., My son is 12 now and diagnosed with cancer at 5. He is well now. He had a type of Lymphoma, Burkitts Lymphoma. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 weeks later. We had a cancer year. You can contact me and ask ANYTHING you want. We have been there like so many others. Not all treatments make you lose your hair, not All are the same. My sons treatment was VERY intense,but he is well. Cancer itself does not make you lose your hair, that is from a chemotherapy drug. It is a journey but worth trying to get their life back. PLEASE feel free to contact me or have your friend contract me.

The treatment Kemo is what makes you loose your hair. This sounds kind of harsh but it basically kills your hair follicle. Depending on the dosages of the kemo/radiation, hair loss isn't definite. Most people do get sick, but how sick also depends on the dosage. My mom went through all the treatments, never lost her hair and was rarely sick. I know others who did loose their hair and were sick most of the time. I think a positive attitude is necessary when dealing with a disease like cancer. I wish your friend the best and hope what little info I gave you helps.

Hi T.,
A great resource is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Check out their website - http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
I participated in their Team in Training program in college and met a lot of wonderful people who beat the disease. I hope your friend is okay.
L.

Hi T.,

I would contact the American Cancer Society. They have a local office in Campbell and they can be very helpful to you and your friend. They also have a website that you can get (sorry I don't have it) by going on Google.

You are very kind to help your friend. I send you all my prayers and my love.

T.... it sounds like your friend might have just been dx'd is being tested...and you need lots of good info.

Check out the leukemia society web page (assuming you haven't already)

http://www.leukemia.org

Every person is different... I know a few survivors of this...

Sounds like you're being a great friend... hang in there through the tough times... I'm a wife of a cancer survivor... it's important to ask questions... and being open about the issues at hand... don't assume anything with regard to feelings...Cancer patients are scared as heck... sometimes they assume that family and friends know what to say or do... they are usually more prone to telling you what they need when ASKED!!!

Best to you!

Hi T.,

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. My mom is recently in remission for lymphoma which is also a blood cancer like leukemia. There is a FABULOUS non-profit organization that I support called The Foundation for Living Beauty. www.livingbeauty.org

The foundation facilitates the most amazing, healing retreat in the central coast for women afflicted with cancer. Education, support & regaining quality of life & beauty are some of the things discovered at the retreat. They bring in amazing workshop facilitators. The retreat is of no cost to attendees & the next one is this fall. If you are interested in getting more info for your friend, please contact the foundation & ask for Amie. She's the founder/executive director & I have a good relationship with her. Please tell her I referred you & I'm sure she will be a wonderful resource for you & your friend.

Amie was inspired to found Living Beauty when her mother was diagnosed with Myeloma, also a blood cancer.

Good luck!
C.

MY MOM WAS JUST DIAGNOSED W/ CCL - THIS IS A VERY INFOMATIVE WEBSITE I FOUND ON GOOGLE THAT IS WRITTEN IN REGULAR ENGLISH - NOT DOCTOR TALK.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/leukemia
GOD BLESS.
A.

My son had ALL (accute Lymphoma Leukemia) when he was 12 yrs old. We went thru 2 years of extensive treatment, with the chemicals they use, yes they loose their hair maybe serveral times. His came back in each time a different color. Other chemos can cause violent sickness and lack of appatiet. They can loose a lot of weight, but then there is the steroid that they take that can cause excessive eating. I would find 5-6 cereal bowls in the kitchen each morning when he would get up during the night to eat. this will also cause bloating. but it was all worth it. He is now 33 yrs old and a homicide detective

http://www.naturesanswertocancer.com/

Start here. My niece is a leukemia survivor and is doing well at age 23, and my wife has CML and is responding remarkably well to the medication (Gleevec). Her hair has changed a bit over the las 6 months, but nothing too drastic. Do your research and talk to your doctor. There are three medications used currently and another medication is being approved as I type. When my wife was diagnosed last year, I went online and found a wide variety of resources that explained leukemia and symptoms and side effects. DON'T get upset by the side effects as the FDA must document EVERY side effect reported. My wife has NO side effects to the medication she is prescribed currently and her blood work is almost normal as of today. Keep the faith. M.

The American Cancer Society is a fantastic resource. www.cancer.org or call 1 800-ACS-2345

Good Luck

Hi T. ~
It's great that you are helping your friend. There are different types of cancer. Some treatments will make you lose your hair; some don't. My mom had it and she didn't lose her hair. I attended a class some years ago and there is a list of questions that they gave us to ask the Dr. If he doesn't answer them; get another doctor. Also, the American Cancer Society has a great website. Ask your friend if you can go with her to her next appointment; sometimes patients forget what they were going to ask when they get there.