Skip to main content

Guide to Cancer Treatment Side Effects Study Guide

This guide provides an overview of the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, focusing on hair loss, skin changes, and nail issues. It aims to educate readers on the mechanisms behind these side effects and general management strategies, distinguishing between systemic and localized treatment impacts.

Save this study guide to your study set

Sign up free

Your learning path

Hormones and Immunology in Trichology

Hormones and Immunology Overview

This unit covers the immune system functions, layered defence, inflammatory response, and the endocrine system including hormone classification and regulation.

  • Immune system functions
  • White blood cells
  • Neutrophils
  • Lymphocytes
  • B-cells
  • T-cells
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Innate immunity
  • Adaptive immunity
  • Inflammatory response
  • Acute inflammation
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Immunodeficiency
  • Allergies and hypersensitivities
  • Endocrine system
  • Hormone classification
  • Homeostatic regulation
  • Thyroid hormones

Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiencies and HIV/AIDS

This content discusses primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, the progression of HIV to AIDS, and the resulting opportunistic infections and clinical management.

  • Primary immunodeficiencies
  • Secondary immunodeficiencies
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Helper T cells
  • Opportunistic infections
  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • Viral load
  • Kaposi's sarcoma
  • Immunosuppressants

Cancer Treatments and Autoimmune Conditions

Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause hair loss, skin problems, and nail changes due to their effects on rapidly dividing cells and healthy tissues.

  • Chemotherapy-induced alopecia
  • Telogen effluvium
  • Scalp cooling devices
  • Chemotherapy-induced skin problems
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Radiotherapy side effects
  • Scarring alopecia
  • Hair follicle damage

Immunology, Autoimmunity, and Skin Structure

This content explores the immune system's role in autoimmunity, hypersensitivity reactions, skin anatomy, and the pathogenesis of various dermatological conditions.

  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Loss of self-tolerance
  • Autoantibodies
  • Alopecia areata
  • Vitiligo
  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus
  • Type I-V hypersensitivity
  • IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation
  • Skin anatomy
  • Epidermis layers
  • Dermis layers
  • Keratinocytes
  • Melanocytes
  • Langerhans cells
  • Skin microbiome
  • Hair follicle immune involvement

Immune Mechanisms in Hair and Scalp Disorders

Immune mechanisms, including immune privilege, autoimmunity, and inflammation, contribute to various hair and scalp disorders such as alopecia areata and lichen planopilaris.

  • immune privilege
  • regulatory T cells
  • alopecia areata
  • non-scarring alopecia
  • lichen planopilaris
  • scarring alopecia
  • follicular fibrosis
  • autoimmunity
  • inflammation
  • JAK inhibitors
  • steroid-based therapies
  • allergic contact dermatitis
  • irritant contact dermatitis
  • immune homeostasis
  • cytokines

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Hormones are chemical messengers synthesised by specialised cells that communicate by binding to specific receptors to regulate physiological processes and maintain homeostasis.

  • Endocrine glands
  • Hypothalamus
  • Pituitary gland
  • Thyroid gland
  • Parathyroid gland
  • Pancreatic islets
  • Gonads
  • Hormonal regulation of hair and skin
  • Homeostasis
  • Releasing and inhibiting hormones
  • Anterior and posterior pituitary hormones
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Mineralocorticoids
  • Androgens
  • Oestrogens
  • Progestogens
  • Hormone blood test interpretation

Hormone Classification and Homeostatic Regulation

Hormones are classified by chemical structure and function to maintain homeostatic regulation through feedback mechanisms and endocrine rhythms.

  • Steroid hormones
  • Peptide hormones
  • Amino acid derivatives
  • Releasing and inhibiting hormones
  • Tropic hormones
  • Non-tropic hormones
  • Trophic hormones
  • Negative feedback
  • Positive feedback
  • Circadian rhythms
  • Hormone overproduction
  • Hormone underproduction
  • Prolactin
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
  • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperthyroidism

Cortisol and the Biological Stress Response

  • Cortisol
  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • Acute stress response
  • Chronic stress response
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Catecholamines
  • Circadian rhythm
  • Hair follicle cycling
  • Telogen effluvium
  • Neurogenic inflammation
  • Substance P

Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Health

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder presenting with high blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin secretion or insulin action.

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Insulin resistance
  • Pancreatic beta cells
  • Glycated haemoglobin
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Ketones
  • Hair loss mechanisms

Sex Hormones and Hair Growth

Androgens, oestrogens, and progestogens influence the hair growth cycle, sebaceous gland activity, and conditions such as androgenetic alopecia and acne.

  • Androgens
  • Oestrogens
  • Progestogens
  • Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
  • 5-alpha-reductase
  • Aromatase
  • Androgen receptors
  • Hair growth cycle
  • Catagen
  • Telogen
  • Androgenetic alopecia
  • Male pattern hair loss
  • Female pattern hair loss
  • Sebaceous glands
  • Sebum production
  • Seborrhoeic dermatitis
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Androgen insensitivity syndrome

Androgens, PMOS, and Hirsutism Clinical Concepts

This text discusses androgenetic alopecia, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), hirsutism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia in relation to hormone activity and hair follicle response.

  • Androgenetic alopecia
  • Follicular miniaturisation
  • 5α-reductase activity
  • Androgen receptor expression
  • Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
  • Biochemical hyperandrogenism
  • Free androgen index (FAI)
  • Polycystic ovarian morphology
  • Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)
  • Insulin resistance
  • Hirsutism
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
  • 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Hormones, Menopause, and Antiandrogenic Medications

This text discusses menopause, perimenopause, hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and various antiandrogenic medications used to treat conditions like acne and female pattern hair loss.

  • Menopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Oestrogen fluctuations
  • Androgens
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
  • Hormonal contraceptives
  • Antiandrogens
  • Finasteride
  • Spironolactone
  • Cyproterone acetate
  • Flutamide
  • Bicalutamide
  • Female pattern hair loss (FPHL)
  • Androgenetic alopecia
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PMOS)
  • Progestogens

Hormonal Changes in Human Physiology

This content examines the physiological roles and impacts of hormones during complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, transgender healthcare, puberty, pregnancy, and ageing.

  • Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome
  • XY karyotype
  • Androgen receptor function
  • Gender-affirming hormone therapy
  • Gender dysphoria
  • Puberty
  • Menarche
  • Pregnancy hormonal changes
  • Prolactin
  • Oxytocin
  • Postpartum telogen effluvium
  • Ageing and physiological decline
  • Cortisol fluctuations
  • Aldosterone and orthostatic hypotension

Hormonal and Immunological Impacts on Hair

This content examines how hormones and the immune system influence hair growth, scalp health, and skin integrity.

  • androgenetic alopecia
  • androgen metabolism
  • androgen sensitivity
  • actinic purpura
  • postpartum telogen effluvium
  • senescent alopecia
  • skin atrophy
  • epidermal-dermal basement membrane
  • collagen production
  • thyroid dysfunction
  • PMOS
  • gender-affirming hormone therapy
  • immunosenescence
  • follicular miniaturisation

Make it your own.

Keep these readings and topics in a new study set, or add them to one you already use.