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Hello Doctor I Heard That People Lose Immunity During The
Question: hello doctor I heard that people lose immunity during the radiation and chemo therapy of cancer treatments, including hair loss, what precautions can we take to over come it. and what kind of food should one take to get the energy. plz suggest. thanks
Brief Answer:
please see the detailed answer below...
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Now, Immunity is something else, it's not related to hair loss during chemo-radiation. People lose hair simply because these are powerful drugs with cell killing ability (they tend to destroy the rapidly dividing cells in the body, which includes not only cancer cells but also our hair cells). In some cases, even hair cells start growing after few weeks of the cessation of chemotherapy.
Radiation is mostly a targeted therapy, so if it's administered around the head-neck region then only it's capable of hair loss directly.
Practically speaking, the only remedy for this would be considering trimming the hair short beforehand or shaving or start using wigs afterwards.
You may read about the drugs (like Minoxidil local application), or head cooling caps, but their benefit is still debatable. Moreover, the risk vs benefit ratio overrules their benefit in the long run due to the potential of tumour cells escaping the therapy in those areas and chances of recurrence of cancer in future.
Standard, high protein, low-fat balanced diet, simple home-made foods along with seasonal fruits, soups, multivitamin and antioxidant supplementation (remember, not all cancer patients are advised to take raw fruits and vegetables, so strictly follow the advice of the treating oncologist in this regard) should be followed in general...
Let me know if I can assist you further...
Take Care
Kind Regards
please see the detailed answer below...
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Now, Immunity is something else, it's not related to hair loss during chemo-radiation. People lose hair simply because these are powerful drugs with cell killing ability (they tend to destroy the rapidly dividing cells in the body, which includes not only cancer cells but also our hair cells). In some cases, even hair cells start growing after few weeks of the cessation of chemotherapy.
Radiation is mostly a targeted therapy, so if it's administered around the head-neck region then only it's capable of hair loss directly.
Practically speaking, the only remedy for this would be considering trimming the hair short beforehand or shaving or start using wigs afterwards.
You may read about the drugs (like Minoxidil local application), or head cooling caps, but their benefit is still debatable. Moreover, the risk vs benefit ratio overrules their benefit in the long run due to the potential of tumour cells escaping the therapy in those areas and chances of recurrence of cancer in future.
Standard, high protein, low-fat balanced diet, simple home-made foods along with seasonal fruits, soups, multivitamin and antioxidant supplementation (remember, not all cancer patients are advised to take raw fruits and vegetables, so strictly follow the advice of the treating oncologist in this regard) should be followed in general...
Let me know if I can assist you further...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
most welcome...
Detailed Answer:
Glad to be of service...
Most welcome any time...
Take Care
Kind Regards
most welcome...
Detailed Answer:
Glad to be of service...
Most welcome any time...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
ur answer helps a lot, thank u so much. and appreciate ur time.
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