This doesn't make sense........????

Question

Ok- previously I asked a question-
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkHuVgiEAAXP67FiuMReKsHty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070924160011AAIWabC

But one person said I might have cancer (& I know I don't)
But here's the thing that doesn't make sense-

You lose your hair from cancer treatment- not just having cancer- right?????

♥

Answer 1

This is correct. The drug chemotherapy that you undergo in order to kill the rapidly-dividing cancer cells in your body is non-specific in its effects, meaning that it also targets other rapidly-dividing cells in your body that are normal. These rapidly-dividing, but normal cells include the red-and-white-blood-cell producing cells in your bone marrow, and also the basal cells in hair follicles that usually divide to produce new hair. If these cells are killed off, then you get the well-known side-effect of hair loss.
Therefore, cancer itself will not cause hair loss - it's a side effect due to the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs. If you are losing your hair but not receiving any chemotherapeutic drugs, there is another reason for it.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It is a common mistake for people to think that losing your hair means you have cancer. It is chemotherapy or radiation that can cause short term hair loss in cancer patients. Once the chemotherapy or radiation therapy is done, than the hair will all grow back.

There happens to be a rare condition called Alopecia Areata where a person will start to lose all their hair until they are completely bald. This is not cancer. The organization called Locks of Love makes wigs for kids with Alopecia Areata, but everyone thinks that they have cancer because they are bald. Alopecia Areata is not cancer, but almost no one in the public knows this. There is also a foundation for this non life threatening condition :

National Alopecia Areata Foundation
http://www.naaf.org/default2.asp

If you are suffering from hair loss, it is possible that you have alopecia areata and should investigate the possibility further.
I have a young relative with alopecia areata and she is a teacher. She used to wear wigs but got tired of them. Sometimes she wears hats, but most of the time she just accepts her condition and goes natural.

Answer 3

Sweetheart, I had cancer and was in stage 3-B before I even got diagnosed. I didn't know I even had it until something finally showed physically. Thank goodness it did!! I can't recall losing any hair UNTIL my chemo treatments started.
I had to have my spleen removed and several, several lymphnodes, then here came the chemo. I got deathly sick from them. The chemo med. itself actually hurt going into my veins. I ended up having to get a mediport and that did aliviate (sp) some pain. I started losing my hair on my third treatment. I'd brush and it pulled out sooooo easily. I got my hair cut short but to no avail, that didn't save it.
I'm in total remission now for 10 + yrs. Yeah!!!
Now I'm just going on what I KNOW. There just might be some conditions that you would lose your hair. Talk to an oncologist and check it out. Good luck to you and whom ever.

Answer 4

Cancer does not cause hair to fall out, but the powerful drugs and treatments used to kill cancer cells (chemotherapy and radiation) kill the cells that make hair grow ,if your getting chemotherapy may lose a lot of hair quickly, but the hair will grow back when the treatment is stopped.

Answer 5

Cancer does not cause hair to fall out,

Answer 6

You lose it from some cancer treatments.

Answer 7

correct--stress is a reason to loss hair--and many ofther reason--cancer isnt one of them

Answer 8

your right.