Fatigue & Hair Loss

Redjayhawk41

I had colon surgery in March and I am so tired but not anemic my hemo is 12. I notice my hair is getting thinner too. I was extremely lucky the cancer was stage 1 and did not require any further treatment. Is this normal for me to be so tired and for my hair to be coming out? Any suggestions? I am so new to this and would love to have any suggestions for help. I see my oncologist and surgeon every three months. I am a diabetic with arthritis, fibro, spinal stenosis also. My last visit my CEA was 9 they seemed to think since I have so many inflammatory problems that causes my tumor markers to be higher it is staying about the same as before surgery. They did a full body CT scan and found nothing. But I am scared none the less. Please if you can help me I would be very appreciative.

Redjayhawk41

 

 

 

 

Trubrit

Welcome to the forum Redjayhawk

I presume that you are not going through any chemo treatment, which would account for the hair loss and fatigue.  So, if you aren't, I am wondering if you are stressing over your condition; which of course, would be totally normal. Stress can cause both hair loss and fatigue. 

If you did have any active Cancer, I do not believe it would cause hair loss. Fatigue, maybe, but not hair loss. 

You are far enough out of surgery, that you should be well healed, so that should not be the problem. 

So, my guess is that you are anxious about your condition, and this is causing you to lose hair and possibly causing the fatigue as well. 

Saying that; I am not a Doctor, and I hope that you have talked with your Doctor about your concerns. 

I hope also that you are keeping your diet good and healthy. It really goes a long way in the healing process, and I also believe that it keeps those Cancer cells at bay. Lots of fruit and veggies, keep hydrated, active, and try your very very best to have a positive outlook. I personally found that meditation helped me in that area. Meditation and being out in the wildreness with the birds and bees (more flies than bees, unfortunately). 

You have found a wonderful resource here on the ACS forum. Its quiet here on the weekends, so stick around and others will drop by as the days go by.  

Sue - Trubrit

Redjayhawk41

Trubrit said:

Welcome to the forum Redjayhawk

I presume that you are not going through any chemo treatment, which would account for the hair loss and fatigue.  So, if you aren't, I am wondering if you are stressing over your condition; which of course, would be totally normal. Stress can cause both hair loss and fatigue. 

If you did have any active Cancer, I do not believe it would cause hair loss. Fatigue, maybe, but not hair loss. 

You are far enough out of surgery, that you should be well healed, so that should not be the problem. 

So, my guess is that you are anxious about your condition, and this is causing you to lose hair and possibly causing the fatigue as well. 

Saying that; I am not a Doctor, and I hope that you have talked with your Doctor about your concerns. 

I hope also that you are keeping your diet good and healthy. It really goes a long way in the healing process, and I also believe that it keeps those Cancer cells at bay. Lots of fruit and veggies, keep hydrated, active, and try your very very best to have a positive outlook. I personally found that meditation helped me in that area. Meditation and being out in the wildreness with the birds and bees (more flies than bees, unfortunately). 

You have found a wonderful resource here on the ACS forum. Its quiet here on the weekends, so stick around and others will drop by as the days go by.  

Sue - Trubrit

Fatigue & Hair Loss

Thank you for the suggestions The surgeon said since the cancer was stage 1 I did not need further treatment no chem. At the end of the first year I will be enrolled in a cancer research study taking medication to keep the cancer from returning. I did have problems healing. The major incision (navel ) leaked for a couple of months after surgery had to keep guaze in the site. I do try to eat lots of fruit, veggies, drink gobs of water and exercise as much as the spinal stenosis will allow. I am trying my best to not worry about the cancer reoccuring. My husband died of colorectal cancer 20 years ago so I am a little apprehensive but I guess that is normal. Now that I have found this site maybe being able to talk to others and ask questions I can relax some. I am sure the hair thing is stress but then I can't seem to completely be calm for some reason. Thank you Sue for responding so quickly. I do appreciate it.

Trubrit

Redjayhawk41 said:

Fatigue & Hair Loss

Thank you for the suggestions The surgeon said since the cancer was stage 1 I did not need further treatment no chem. At the end of the first year I will be enrolled in a cancer research study taking medication to keep the cancer from returning. I did have problems healing. The major incision (navel ) leaked for a couple of months after surgery had to keep guaze in the site. I do try to eat lots of fruit, veggies, drink gobs of water and exercise as much as the spinal stenosis will allow. I am trying my best to not worry about the cancer reoccuring. My husband died of colorectal cancer 20 years ago so I am a little apprehensive but I guess that is normal. Now that I have found this site maybe being able to talk to others and ask questions I can relax some. I am sure the hair thing is stress but then I can't seem to completely be calm for some reason. Thank you Sue for responding so quickly. I do appreciate it.

My deepest sympathies

You know the road that Cancer patients tread, having been a caregiver (probably harder than being a patient) to your husband. I am so sorry that he passed. And because of that, it is not surprising that you are apprehensive. 

Sometimes things that we think should come naturally, don't. Like being calm. For some of us, it seems easy, but others have to make a concerted effort to reach a place of peace and calm. Meditation is not for everybody, but if you haven't tired it, I'd suggest giving it a whirl. You don't have to sit for hours, either. I can get in a quick deep breath or two in a busy building. Its a learning curver. Try it!

That last sentence looks like an order, doesn't it. Its not, just a suggestion. 

Sue - Trubrit

 

JanJan63

Trubrit said:

My deepest sympathies

You know the road that Cancer patients tread, having been a caregiver (probably harder than being a patient) to your husband. I am so sorry that he passed. And because of that, it is not surprising that you are apprehensive. 

Sometimes things that we think should come naturally, don't. Like being calm. For some of us, it seems easy, but others have to make a concerted effort to reach a place of peace and calm. Meditation is not for everybody, but if you haven't tired it, I'd suggest giving it a whirl. You don't have to sit for hours, either. I can get in a quick deep breath or two in a busy building. Its a learning curver. Try it!

That last sentence looks like an order, doesn't it. Its not, just a suggestion. 

Sue - Trubrit

 

I never lost any hair during

I never lost any hair during chemo. I believe colon cancer people usually don't. But when I was back in the hospital for a blood clot in my lung I started losing it a couple of months after. They said when someone is in the hospital a long time or when you're on a lot of different drugs, both of which applied to me, the hair can fall out. I lost enough for it to become noticeable and had to get it cut but once I did that it looked much better and stopped falling out. Not because I had it cut but because it had stopped by that time. I was pretty sad because I had to have about 8 inches cut off. It's growing back really fast, though. And I have long nails for the first time in my life, for some reason, they're growing really well and are strong.

The fatigue, I don't know. I had it quite bad after my surgery for a couple of months but I'd also had three infections, two at the resection site and one in the incision site, and I was so weak fI'd shake for a while after I did anything that involved any sort of activity. I also slept a lot. It had been really bad during my radiation and chemo but it sounds like that doesn't apply to you.

Jan

 

Trubrit

JanJan63 said:

I never lost any hair during

I never lost any hair during chemo. I believe colon cancer people usually don't. But when I was back in the hospital for a blood clot in my lung I started losing it a couple of months after. They said when someone is in the hospital a long time or when you're on a lot of different drugs, both of which applied to me, the hair can fall out. I lost enough for it to become noticeable and had to get it cut but once I did that it looked much better and stopped falling out. Not because I had it cut but because it had stopped by that time. I was pretty sad because I had to have about 8 inches cut off. It's growing back really fast, though. And I have long nails for the first time in my life, for some reason, they're growing really well and are strong.

The fatigue, I don't know. I had it quite bad after my surgery for a couple of months but I'd also had three infections, two at the resection site and one in the incision site, and I was so weak fI'd shake for a while after I did anything that involved any sort of activity. I also slept a lot. It had been really bad during my radiation and chemo but it sounds like that doesn't apply to you.

Jan

 

My hair fell out during chemo

I looked like Gollum, so I shaved it off. I rocked it! There's a picture of me in NewHere's thread. Go see. 

Sue - Trubrit

Redjayhawk41

Trubrit said:

My hair fell out during chemo

I looked like Gollum, so I shaved it off. I rocked it! There's a picture of me in NewHere's thread. Go see. 

Sue - Trubrit

Fatigue & Hair Loss

Guess it is a due to stress I have had a lot going on lately so I will just try to be calmer and not worry so much like the serenity prayer says. I do  thank you for your kind words and like the clininition told me so far there is nothing to get all wound up about. So glad you all are there for me. Slowly all my worries are working out I just get in a hurry and want everything to be done yesterday. Hope all of you are doing okay. I am lucky all my cancer was removed and that is a gift from God and a wonderful surgeon.

lizard44

You and I

are in the same age group, RedJayHawk. , so I can understand  the fatigue. At our age, it sometimes takes longer for the body to heal.  I'm on chemo currently and  have the fatigue hit me.  Fortunately, while my hair has thinned a little it hasn't completely fallen out. I have learned not to fight the fatique.  I do what I can as far as trying to get chores around the house done, then stop and rest  when I begin to tire.  It takes longer to get things done, when working in fifteen or twenty minute spurts sometimes, but it does get done, and I don't end up  wearing my self out. The same when we go shopping or  to  events- there are usually places to sit and rest for a few minutes to recoup your strength- I take advantage of them. :-)

If your problems are caused by stress, Sue's advice about meditation is a good one.  I signed up for a yoga class a few weeks ago- it's low stress, and the class is mostly made  up of people who have been through  cancer surgery, chemo or some other health problem.  None of us are ever likely to do headstands, but we're encouraged to do what we can, don't push it, work at our own pace, and several of us use chairs and do chair yoga for part of the class. Our instructor also provided me with a CD of  meditations which i converted to mp3 files and downloaded to my kindle to play (through earphones) in the infusion center.  Her calm voice telling us to "just breathe" and be mindful is very stress-relieving. There are several similar meditations on youtube.  here's a link to just one (I hope this link works, I'm not sure it will, but here goes:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=227&v=BDQKFXeC2Dc

I wish you well and hope you remain cancer free- and do keep  those tests and checks up to date, for sure!

Grace