THE DOC REPLIES

WHAT causes hair to fall out during chemotherapy? I’ve recently completed chemo and wondered if it will grow back.

Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer and it works because it attacks cells which are rapidly growing. Unfortunately, it is not specific to cancer cells. Other cells in the body which are rapidly dividing are also affected and this includes the hair follicles. Once your treatment has finished, the hair will gradually grow back.

IS it normal for the colour of your eyes to change? I’m 51 and have noticed my left eye is becoming lighter.

Sometimes eye colour can change a little as we get older, perhaps becoming a little lighter. But if this is affecting only one eye it would be best to let your doctor have a look at it just to make sure there is nothing else going on.

I’VE been told after scans that I have cysts on my kidneys. I’ve been told I don’t need any more treatment. Why do these cysts form and should I be worried about them?

These sound like simple cysts and, if you have been told you don’t need any treatment, there is no need for you to worry about them further. Sometimes, cysts can be present from birth or they can develop. If there had been any problems with them you would have been advised to undergo some further tests.

PATCHES on both my arms have started to lose pigment and have become white. It’s not very attractive – can it be treated?

This loss of pigment is called vitiligo and can be quite common. Unfortunately there is very little that you can do to prevent it or treat it but people affected often use cosmetics to camouflage the areas.

WHAT is carpal tunnel syndrome and how is it treated?

This is a condition which affects the wrist and the hand. There is a band of tissue in the wrist under which the blood vessels and nerves run. Sometimes this can cause compression of the nerve, usually resulting in tingling and numbness in the fingers, particularly the thumb and the first and middle finger. It is often worse during pregnancy when there can be some fluid retention. This exacerbates the condition. However, if it is persistent and causing problems with function of the hand, then an operation to decompress the nerve is an option.

I’VE been given beta-blockers for anxiety. How do they work?

They slow down the heart rate. When we are anxious our body produces adrenalin, increasing our heart rate to produce the “fight-or-flight” response. This often causes stomach-churning and the feeling that our heart is racing. Beta-blockers are used to help to alleviate these symptoms.

I HAD a heart attack last year and have also just been diagnosed with sciatica. Are the two conditions related at all?

No, there is no connection.

WHEN I move my head and neck I can hear a scraping sound coming from my bones. There’s a bit of pain too – should I have this

checked out?

As we get older our bones suffer from wear and tear. The surfaces become a little less smooth than they were when we were younger, and we can develop pain and limitation in movement. It is not unusual to be aware of a sound when moving your head and neck. Some physiotherapy or exercises can help. If you are experiencing increasing pain or any symptoms down your arm, such as tingling or numbness, then it is worth seeing your doctor to get checked out. However, if it is just the scraping sound and movement is unaffected then there is probably little needing done.