THE DOC REPLIES

WHAT causes hair to fall out PATCHES on both my arms during chemotherapy? I’ve have started to lose pigment recently completed chemo and have become white. It’s and wondered if it will grow not very attractive – can it be back. treated?

Chemotherapy is a This loss of pigment is called treatment for cancer and it vitiligo and can be quite works because it attacks cells common. Unfortunately there which are rapidly growing. is very little that you can do to Unfortunately, it is not specific prevent it or treat it but to cancer cells. Other cells in people affected often use the body which are rapidly cosmetics to camouflage the dividing are also affected and areas. this includes the hair follicles. Once your treatment has WHAT is carpal tunnel finished, the hair will gradually syndrome and how is it grow back. treated?

This is a condition which IS it normal for the colour of affects the wrist and the your eyes to change? I’m 51 hand. There is a band of tissue and have noticed my left eye in the wrist under which the is becoming lighter. blood vessels and nerves Sometimes eye colour can run. Sometimes this

As we get older our change a little as we get can cause older, perhaps becoming a compression of bones suffer from little lighter. But if this is the nerve, usually wear and tear. affecting only one eye it resulting in The surfaces would be best to let your tingling and become a little doctor have a look at it just to numbness in the less smooth than make sure there is nothing fingers, they were when else going on. particularly the we were younger,

thumb and the first and we can I’VE been told after scans that and middle finger. It develop pain and I have cysts on my kidneys. is often worse during limitation in movement. I’ve been told I don’t need pregnancy when there It is not unusual to be aware any more treatment. Why do can be some fluid retention. of a sound when moving your these cysts form and should I This exacerbates the

head and neck. Some be worried about them? condition. However, if it is

physiotherapy or exercises These sound like simple cysts persistent and causing and, if you have been told can help. If you are

problems with function of the you don’t need any experiencing increasing pain

hand, then an operation to treatment, there is no need or any symptoms down your

decompress the nerve is an for you to worry about them arm, such as tingling or

option. further. Sometimes, cysts can numbness, then it is worth be present from birth or they I’VE been given seeing your doctor to get can develop. If there had beta-blockers for anxiety. checked out. However, if it is been any problems with them How do they work? just the scraping sound and you would have been They slow down the heart movement is unaffected then advised to undergo some rate. When we are anxious there is probably little needing further tests. our body produces adrenalin, done.

Unfortunately The Doc can’t directly reply to individual letters. When in doubt speak to your GP.