Twila's Blog

Should you stop taking Propecia while trying to conceive a child?

Over at the Balding Blog, Dr.William R. Rassman has a series of posts dating back to 2005 on the issue of whether its safe to take Propecia while trying to conceive.

"Officially, you can continue taking Propecia while trying to conceive a child. From the official Propecia.com’s Possible Side Effects page: “Contact with the semen from a man being treated with PROPECIA is not a risk to the unborn child of a pregnant woman.”

However, some doctors and patients are still cautious about using Propecia when trying to conceive. Because of this, some doctors recommend you temporarily stop taking the medication during the fertile period when you are trying to conceive with your partner and best to stop for only a week when your wife is fertile. You can also stop taking Propecia for two weeks and I doubt it will have any significant negative impact on hair."

A couple of years ago Dr. Rasmussen answered a question from a reader who wondered if he should bank his sperm before going on the treatment. At that time Dr. Rasmussen said,

"Propecia is out of your system in a few days after stopping the medication. Therefore, banking your sperm is probably not needed if you are worried about retaining the medication in your sperm. If you want to conceive children while on the drug, there is no official contraindication for that, but some doctors are suggesting that you go off of the medications for 1 week/month while your lady is in her fertile stage."

Preparing For Hair Loss

One of the first questions someone asks when they learn their cancer treatment will include chemotherapy is "Will I lose my hair?"

If your doctor says to expect  hair loss, here is what the American Cancer Society recommends,

• Get your wig or hairpiece before you lose a lot of hair. That way, you can     match your current hair style and color. You may be able to buy a wig or     hairpiece at a specialty shop just for cancer patients. Someone may even     come to your home to help you. You also can buy a wig or hair piece through     a catalog or by phone.



• You may also consider borrowing a wig or hairpiece, rather than buying     one. Check with the nurse or social work department at your hospital about     resources for free wigs in your community.



• Take your wig to your hairdresser or the shop where it was purchased for     styling and cutting to frame your face.



• Some health insurance policies cover the cost of a hairpiece needed     because of cancer treatment. It is also a tax-deductible expense. Be sure to     check your policy and ask your doctor for a "prescription."

For a free wig consultation contact Fantasia at 763-54-2196. Be sure to ask about Amy's Presence Wigs-- the latest in wig technology-- these are wigs that you can swim and sleep in.

British Firm Using Robots to Grow Hair

The BBC is reporting that a British Company has had success using robots to grow hair.

"Intercytex has successfully tested a method of removing hair follicles from the back of the neck, multiplying them and then reimplanting the cells.

It now plans to use a £1.85m grant from the government to automate the process of growing the cells, meaning many more people could benefit.

The method could be used to treat male pattern baldness and alopecia in women."

According to the BBC,

"The treatment was initially tested on seven men with male pattern baldness, five of whom grew hair, and is now being tested on a further 20.

During a 30-minute operation, hair follicles are taken from the back of the neck, then grown in culture until they number in the thousands.

They are then injected under the skin where the hair needs to grow back."

Twila and Amy Gibson's appearance on KARE 11's Showcase

Twila, Amy and some good friends made a guest appearance on Kare 11"s SHOWCASE MINNESOTA. You can watch their entire segment. Just click here.

Fantasia now carrying Amy's Presence Wig Collection

Amy Gibson spent years in front of the camera working as a soap opera actress. The one thing she didn't talk about was her alopecia. She was just 13 and working on on daytime soap opera

"Love of Life" when she began having bald spots.

Several years later, she lost all her hair. While she kept her condition hidden, she became committed to developing wigs that would allow people with hair loss to feel like they had hair again, not just a wig.

It took some time but Amy has now created the most innovative line of wigs ever --wigs that you can swim, sleep and live in.

It's called Amy's Presence and it's available at Fantasia.

Here is an excerpt from her story.

At that time, no one knew anything about alopecia, so Amy had to find ways to cope with losing her “Crowning Glory” on her own, and keep it a secret from cast mates, friends and the press for fear of being ousted from the industry. During the next 17 years, while starring on many shows including, “The Young and The Restless,” “The Facts of Life,” and “Happy Days,” Amy scoured the globe trying every treatment imaginable and seeking answers to no avail. Her most daring role became starring on “General Hospital” at a time when her body was rejecting treatment and she lost all her hair within three weeks. Amy was determined that “the show must go on” and, while still keeping her secret, she desperately created techniques to live a normal life — to live like every other woman who loved to swim, work out, go dancing and engage in intimacy. She was determined not to let her hair loss stop her life.

Amy will be in Minneapolis on September 26, 2006 and will appear with Fantasia owner and wig specialist Twila Donley  on Kare 11's morning magazine program  Showcase MN.