Hair Loss

tyjsbtn

I have an open radical nephrectomy in August.  I was told that they got it all and that at this time I do not need any further treatment so I am not on any medications.  I am finding that I am losing a lot of hair.  My hair is now about 1/2 as thick as it use to be.  Is it normal to have a lot of hair loss and is it going to come back?

Djinnie

Hair loss!

It is not so easy to determine why the sudden hair loss or to guarantee its return. At this time it could be a chain reaction from surgery meds, or the shock to your system, which is very likely. I should think that like the rest of us you are also suffering a high  degreee of stress too. Once you feel healthy, happy and strong again, your hair should get back to the norm!

 

Djinnie

foroughsh

Me too

I had open radical nephrectomy in August too and like you I'm losing a lot of hair. I think it's not a big deal as many others also lose their hair in reaction to surgery meds.

foxhd

"Got it all."

I'm glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life. And DJ's answer as to your alopecia is one that your doctor would have been pleased with him/herself for providing.

 

tyjsbtn, you have no information in you bio. And I don't know if you have mentioned your tumor size, grade, etc. But although you will not "need" further treatments or medications" make sure that you get your periodic scans.

Djinnie

foxhd said:

"Got it all."

I'm glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life. And DJ's answer as to your alopecia is one that your doctor would have been pleased with him/herself for providing.

 

tyjsbtn, you have no information in you bio. And I don't know if you have mentioned your tumor size, grade, etc. But although you will not "need" further treatments or medications" make sure that you get your periodic scans.

Got it all wrong!

Woops! So right Fox a very sweeping and generalised statement for me to make. I was incorrectly dragging up experience from a far away job! Duly slapped! lol!

Not a good day to post!

Djinnie x

foxhd

Djinnie said:

Got it all wrong!

Woops! So right Fox a very sweeping and generalised statement for me to make. I was incorrectly dragging up experience from a far away job! Duly slapped! lol!

Not a good day to post!

Djinnie x

I'm agreeing with you

I think you are totally correct DJ. I was trying to say that if someone presented the same question to their doctor, their doctor (if he knew what he was talking about) could not have answered it better. And that if their answer was as good as yours, then they would be proud of themselves for having explained it so well.

We've got some level headed and smart people on this forum. And I think you are one of them. Your advice is always worth reading and listening to.

Djinnie

foxhd said:

I'm agreeing with you

I think you are totally correct DJ. I was trying to say that if someone presented the same question to their doctor, their doctor (if he knew what he was talking about) could not have answered it better. And that if their answer was as good as yours, then they would be proud of themselves for having explained it so well.

We've got some level headed and smart people on this forum. And I think you are one of them. Your advice is always worth reading and listening to.

Thanks Fox!

Ugh! I said I shouldn't be posting. Since reading the news about Ronnie early this morning, I am struggling to get my head in gear, comprehension skills seem off kilter for one.

Thanks for that though Fox....I am still guilty of making sweeping statements. Lol!

 

Djinnie x

 

JoanneNH

foxhd said:

"Got it all."

I'm glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life. And DJ's answer as to your alopecia is one that your doctor would have been pleased with him/herself for providing.

 

tyjsbtn, you have no information in you bio. And I don't know if you have mentioned your tumor size, grade, etc. But although you will not "need" further treatments or medications" make sure that you get your periodic scans.

"I am glad that you have been

"I am glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life."

That isn't what the OP said.

" I was told that they got it all and that at this time I do not need any further treatment so I am not on any medications."

 

foxhd

JoanneNH said:

"I am glad that you have been

"I am glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life."

That isn't what the OP said.

" I was told that they got it all and that at this time I do not need any further treatment so I am not on any medications."

 

maybe it's me

who shouldn't be posting today. I still hope for a cancer free life. For everyone.

Djinnie

foxhd said:

maybe it's me

who shouldn't be posting today. I still hope for a cancer free life. For everyone.

Life Free of Cancer!

I know, wouldn't that be wonderful! It's a **** of a disease, the worst being how it catches you unawares. You think you are doing well but you can never be sure!

How are you doing Fox, is the nerve pain getting any easier? I hope you managed to get your painting done, not an easy feat with the wrong hand. Take care of yourself:)

 

Djinnie xx

foxhd

Djinnie said:

Life Free of Cancer!

I know, wouldn't that be wonderful! It's a **** of a disease, the worst being how it catches you unawares. You think you are doing well but you can never be sure!

How are you doing Fox, is the nerve pain getting any easier? I hope you managed to get your painting done, not an easy feat with the wrong hand. Take care of yourself:)

 

Djinnie xx

painting

Necessary painting is done! My left hand is getting pretty good. I even use it for my mouse. I wish I could have done more. Next spring will be here soon enough. I'll paint more then.

tyjsbtn

foxhd said:

"Got it all."

I'm glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life. And DJ's answer as to your alopecia is one that your doctor would have been pleased with him/herself for providing.

 

tyjsbtn, you have no information in you bio. And I don't know if you have mentioned your tumor size, grade, etc. But although you will not "need" further treatments or medications" make sure that you get your periodic scans.

Thank you so much for your

Thank you so much for your concerm but please let me clarify.  They told me that I will not need any chemo or radiation at this time.  They are keeping a close watch and I have my first scans coming up in January.

 

I did not feel that this was a big enough issue to make a dr appt for so I thought that all of you wonderful people would be able to put my mind at ease a little bit or let me know if it is something I needed to let my dr know about right away.  I have never been sick in my life and this is a very different experiece for me.  I really do appreciate all of your words of wisdom and support.  

Djinnie

tyjsbtn said:

Thank you so much for your

Thank you so much for your concerm but please let me clarify.  They told me that I will not need any chemo or radiation at this time.  They are keeping a close watch and I have my first scans coming up in January.

 

I did not feel that this was a big enough issue to make a dr appt for so I thought that all of you wonderful people would be able to put my mind at ease a little bit or let me know if it is something I needed to let my dr know about right away.  I have never been sick in my life and this is a very different experiece for me.  I really do appreciate all of your words of wisdom and support.  

Hi ty,

Chemotherapy is not used on kidney cancer because it doesn't respond. There are drugs that you would take like Angiogenesis, in my case Votrient if the the Cancer spreads. As for you, it will be regular scans initially and then later X-ray and ultra sound. Don't worry it sounds like your team are taking good care of you:)

 

Djinnie x

rainsandpours

Djinnie said:

Hi ty,

Chemotherapy is not used on kidney cancer because it doesn't respond. There are drugs that you would take like Angiogenesis, in my case Votrient if the the Cancer spreads. As for you, it will be regular scans initially and then later X-ray and ultra sound. Don't worry it sounds like your team are taking good care of you:)

 

Djinnie x

Oh boy do I know about this

Oh boy do I know about this one.  My first thought is you should have your thyroid levels checked . When TSH is even slightly off kilter (which it can be from surgical trauma, anesthesia etc) your hair will fall out in clumps.  And it doesn't have to be "out of range" either.  Typically once you're on the way to fixing that, hair loss can continue for 3-6 months.

 

Currently, I lose so much that my part looks like the River Nile. If  I run my hand through my hair I'm guaranteed to pull away at least a clump of 20.  Ugh.  But it's to be expected after I was forced to go Hypo in August for a thyroid cancer scan (they took me off my meds for 3 weeks).  My levels are good now, but the loss continues. 

See your doctor.

Djinnie

tyjsbtn said:

Thank you so much for your

Thank you so much for your concerm but please let me clarify.  They told me that I will not need any chemo or radiation at this time.  They are keeping a close watch and I have my first scans coming up in January.

 

I did not feel that this was a big enough issue to make a dr appt for so I thought that all of you wonderful people would be able to put my mind at ease a little bit or let me know if it is something I needed to let my dr know about right away.  I have never been sick in my life and this is a very different experiece for me.  I really do appreciate all of your words of wisdom and support.  

Duplicated

Duplicated

foxhd

Djinnie said:

Duplicated

Duplicated

hair

..is over rated anyway. It just ends up in your soup.

tyjsbtn

rainsandpours said:

Oh boy do I know about this

Oh boy do I know about this one.  My first thought is you should have your thyroid levels checked . When TSH is even slightly off kilter (which it can be from surgical trauma, anesthesia etc) your hair will fall out in clumps.  And it doesn't have to be "out of range" either.  Typically once you're on the way to fixing that, hair loss can continue for 3-6 months.

 

Currently, I lose so much that my part looks like the River Nile. If  I run my hand through my hair I'm guaranteed to pull away at least a clump of 20.  Ugh.  But it's to be expected after I was forced to go Hypo in August for a thyroid cancer scan (they took me off my meds for 3 weeks).  My levels are good now, but the loss continues. 

See your doctor.

Thank you Rains.  I do have

Thank you Rains.  I do have hypothyroidism and I am on medication.  I don't think that my numbers have been check since before my surgery.  I have an appointment the 1st of January for a full physical and they will be checked then.  I am lucky in that I have very thick hair so most people have not noticed but I do.  By the time that I wash, condition and comb out my hair I have 3 handfuls that have come out.  

 

You have all really eased my mind in regards to this issue and I will definitely bring it up to the doctor when I go in for my next appointment.

 

Thank You to all that respoonded.  Your words of wisdom and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

tyjsbtn

foxhd said:

hair

..is over rated anyway. It just ends up in your soup.

Fox you make me laugh.  Thank

Fox you make me laugh.  Thank you for that.

 

I like bald on men but not for myself.  Who likes a bald headed woman!

rainsandpours

tyjsbtn said:

Thank you Rains.  I do have

Thank you Rains.  I do have hypothyroidism and I am on medication.  I don't think that my numbers have been check since before my surgery.  I have an appointment the 1st of January for a full physical and they will be checked then.  I am lucky in that I have very thick hair so most people have not noticed but I do.  By the time that I wash, condition and comb out my hair I have 3 handfuls that have come out.  

 

You have all really eased my mind in regards to this issue and I will definitely bring it up to the doctor when I go in for my next appointment.

 

Thank You to all that respoonded.  Your words of wisdom and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

You don't need to wait so

You don't need to wait so long for bloodwork.  Call your GP's office and request they send a requisition to a lab near you.  Ask for TSH & Free T4. 

I have a standing order (jokingly called a "frequent flyer" card) for monthly testing.  I see my results online and only make appts with the doc if it needs an adjustment.  I feel best when I'm at the bottom of range around 0.25-0.50.  Anything higher and I feel like a slug.

 

Hope you feel better soon!

vagabond

JoanneNH said:

"I am glad that you have been

"I am glad that you have been guarenteed a cancer free life."

That isn't what the OP said.

" I was told that they got it all and that at this time I do not need any further treatment so I am not on any medications."

 

Cancer free

I understand and was given the same news when I had my left kidney  and spleen along with 7 pound tumor removed three years ago. I was so happy not to need follow up treatment at the time but 3 years later it is back in my lung and bones. My advice to you is enjoy everyday, go for all your check ups and insist on a scan every 6 months instead of a chest xray. I found out the hard way that Xrays will not show tumors untill they have caused fluid in the lung and then it is too late to remove them.

Best of luck, I will be praying yours never returns.