Headwear Etc Blog

Hair loss can be a devastating side effect of chemotherapy. It is often the most dreaded result of chemotherapy and can have a strong emotional impact on the patient.
Why Does Hair Loss Occur During Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating cancer cells that rapidly multiply. There are other cells in the body, like hair follicle cells, that multiply just as quickly. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells, thus causing hair loss.
Can Hair Loss Be Prevented During Chemotherapy?
Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. There are a few methods that are currently being studied, such as scalp cooling and minoxidil (Rogaine).

Scalp cooling is thought to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy sessions by cooling the temperature of the scalp. Cooling is achieved by wearing a cooling cap, ice packs, or other cooling methods. Some scalp cooling studies have found some success, however, many patients found the caps gave them headaches and were uncomfortable.

Some patients turn to products like minoxidil to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss, but find little success. Minoxidil has been found to have little effect on preventing hair loss during chemotherapy.
Preparing to Lose Your Hair to Chemotherapy

* Buy a wig. Purchasing a wig before hair loss is ideal because it allows you to choose a wig that matches your hair color best, and you will have it on hand right when hair loss starts. You may want to consider buying at least two wigs, so one can be worn while another is being washed or styled.

* Cut hair short. Many men and women opt to cut hair short or shave their heads before hair starts to fall out. It is much less shocking to have short clumps of hair fall out in the shower or in your hands than a handful of long strands. Plus, hair often comes out in uneven patches, and short hair can help temporarily mask this.

* Go hat shopping. Even if you buy a wig, you will need some type of head covering for when you are not wearing a wig, especially in cold weather. Your scalp may be sensitive when not covered, not to mention cold. Scarves and hats also provide excellent protection from the sun and wind.

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Screening and Diagnosis
I don’t have health insurance and can’t afford the cost of an annual mammogram. What should I do?

There are both national and local programs that provide free or low-cost mammograms to women who are low-income or uninsured. Below is a list of some of the programs that you might qualify for:

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides mammography services for women who are low-income or uninsured through its National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Learn more about their program and find a mammography provider in your area.

Your Local Susan G. Komen Foundation Affiliate
Komen affiliates raise money to help uninsured and low-income women in their area obtain breast health services. Locate your nearest affiliate.

Your Local Planned Parenthood Clinic
Planned Parenthood does not provide mammography services, but your local clinic can help you find a program in your area that provides free or low-cost mammography services. Find the Planned Parenthood Clinic nearest you.

YWCA Encore Plus Programs
The YWCA offers a national program called Encore Plus that provides mammography screening. Services are provided on a sliding scale. Not all local YWCAs have this program. To find out if yours does, call 1-800-953-7587.
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January is National Hot Tea Month and most of us have already contemplated or made resolutions of one sort or another. A press release circulated by the Tea Association of the USA dated 1/1/09 states that January is also the height of cold and flu season and that tea just may be a natural deterrent.

The CDC estimates that over 200,000 people will be affected by colds and flu this season. While a flu shot is highly recommended another natural preventative may be found in your tea cup.

According to a recent study conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University theanine, a natural component found in tea, may help to support and strengthen the body’s immune system important to avoiding the sniffles or worse.

Even with an annual flu vaccination, healthy adults are 30% less likely to contract the infection. Tea is not a sterile bubble against colds and flu but can certainly aid to increase the strength of your immune system helping to keep you healthy and feeling great.

Resolutions that are simple to incorporate into our lives are the ones we are most likely to stick with past January. Adding a cup or two of tea to our daily routine seems like a simple, affordable way to improve the quality and taste of our lives in 09.

Besides great taste, tons of variety and the simplicity of specialty tea, this list of potential benefits is even more reason for adding tea to our diets;

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You’re beginning an exercise program, you’ll need a check up from your doctor if:

* You’ve been diagnosed with heart problems, high blood pressure or other medical conditions
* You’ve been sedentary for over a year
* If you’re over 65 and don’t currently exercise
* You’re pregnant
* You have diabetes
* You ever experience chest pains, dizziness or fainting spells
* You’re recovering from an injury or illness
* You have a diagnosed medical condition or illness

Use your best judgment and see your doctor if you have any questions about what you should be doing. Even if you don’t have any problems, you may want to get a full check up before you start exercising, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve worked out.
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Hats for Hairloss

Going Up! 7 Pointers to Lift a Bad MoodBy Dr. Maoshing Ni -
A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.

1. A Laughing Matter
“Laugh Therapy,” pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer.

Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset
When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Hands-On Healing
Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

4. Boost Your “Youth Hormones”
You don’t need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the “youth hormone”. Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

5. Take a Bracing Breath
Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

6. Smell the Joy
Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.

Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

7. Feel Fine with Flowers
There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient’s mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

I hope these tips help the good feelings flow! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
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Laboratory studies have reported evidence supporting the role of antioxidants in cancer prevention.
As clinical trials of antioxidant supplementation are inconsistent, and the efficacy during treatment is still being debated, we recommend obtaining antioxidants through food sources. Research suggests that diets containing antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables may lower the risk of certain cancers

Some recommended antioxidant-rich foods:

Foods containing antioxidant-based vitamins and minerals
• Beta-carotene - typically found in orange-colored foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and mangos. Spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard and turnip greens also are good sources.
• Selenium - brazil nuts and seafood such as tuna and cod.
• Vitamin A - leafy greens such as spinach and kale, carrots and cantaloupe.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - citrus fruit such as oranges, grapefruit, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli and strawberries.
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) - wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds and cooked tomatoes (tomato paste, tomato products, etc.).
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Hairloss Solutions

Ward off stress with exercise and good nutrition

The holidays can play havoc with our health. In winter we tend to crave fats and sweets, but ironically, the more fat and sugar we eat, the less energy we have, and the more stressed and run down we feel.

Most people are surrounded by holiday sweets and treats. Reprogram your thinking. Don’t think if some is good, more is better.

Nutrition can play a big part in reducing stress. “When our bodies aren’t operating at peak efficiency, we feel stressed, and our immune systems aren’t operating at the level they should be,” comments Gilles-Khouri. Eat simple, she suggests–an apple instead of a piece of apple pie–for keeping the stress levels down. “Cut back on fat sources, make butter cookies with margarine instead of butter, and don’t forget to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.”

When you eat simple foods, Gilles-Khouri says you have a better chance of alleviating holiday stress. “Enjoy the people instead of the food,” she advises

Quick Tips for Stress Reduction

# Have a positive attitude.
# Try not to worry about things out of your control.
# Problem solve with people around you. Ask them to help you alleviate stress.
# Exercise. A few extra minutes of exercise a day can benefit your overall health.
# Eat Nutritional food. Decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat.
# Meditate, or take a class in relaxation and stretching techniques –like Tai Chi or Yoga.
# Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages
# Rest. Try to get eight hours of sleep each day.
# Get a massage. A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body.
Happy Holidays!
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Getting your hair color right isn’t a science. It’s actually quite simple: Stick to colors that compliment your skin tone, figure out if you’re better off with single-color or highlights, and then decide if you’re going to pay someone else to help you style and choose.
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Medicinal Marijuana and Cancer Treatment

The use of medicinal marijuana has always been a controversial topic, but when the U.S. Attorney General set forth guidelines urging more states to be more lenient of medicinal users, it has become a hot political topic. Despite it’s strong support from the medical oncologic community, some people strongly oppose medicinal marijuana. They claim it is highly addictive and a gateway drug

I certainly believe that marijuana is addictive and can be a gateway drug for those who use the drug recreationally. People with cancer, however, do not use marijuana to get high. The goal is to control the pain, relieve the nausea, and hopefully stimulate the appetite. It is certainly difficult to completely understand the stress, frustration, and decline of the quality of life that people with cancer endure without experiencing it for yourself or witnessing a loved one go through it. I have known several cancer patients who used medicinal marijuana legally and have found immense, immediate relief. They only required one medication (medicinal marijuana) to combat treatment side effects instead of 4-5 pharmaceutical drugs.

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Headache As a Symptom of a Brain Tumor
When headaches begin to get worse or don’t go away, it is natural to wonder if the headache could be a symptom of something more serious, like a brain tumor. Headaches can be a symptom of brain tumors, and those that are truly tumor-related have distinct characteristics that separate them from other conditions that cause headaches.
First, it’s important to known that brain tumors are not common. While studies show that more people are being diagnosed with brain tumors, it remains to be an uncommon occurrence. Chronic headaches are likely to be related to other, less serious conditions like migraines, allergies, or common vision problems that require glasses or contact lenses.

What Causes Headaches in People with Brain Tumors?
Increased intracranial pressure (IICP) is a common culprit of headaches in people with brain tumors. IICP is an increased amount of pressure on the brain that can be caused by excess fluid, brain swelling, or a mass. There is only enough space in the skull to really accommodate the brain and a normal amount of fluid — anything excess, whether it is fluid or tissue, increases the pressure.
Characteristics of Brain Tumor Headache
Surprisingly, headaches are not normally the initial symptom a person experiences if they have a brain tumor. Other symptoms, like seizures, changes in vision or hearing, weakness of the arms and legs, or cognitive decline are often the first symptoms.
The pain can be described as dull, aching, or throbbing. Over time, the headaches may become more frequent, increasing in severity, and eventually be a constant occurrence that is not easily relieved. Changes in body position can make them worse, especially when lying down. They can also be worsened by coughing or sneezing.
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