Bride cancels her wedding after suffering hair loss as 7NEWS investigate treatments with exclusive interviews
It's a condition that can strike without warning, devastating confidence, derailing milestones and affecting millions of Australians.
Now, two pharmaceutical giants are racing to bring a long-awaited treatment to market… and the competition is fierce.
WATCH: We investigate the new frontier in hair loss treatments. Exclusive interviews, expert analysis and Emily's full story - tonight at 6pm on 7NEWS.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
For 32-year-old Melbourne bride Emily Felton, hair loss became a nightmare she never saw coming. 'It was just coming out in clumps - in the shower, on the brush, all over my head,' she recalls.
The fallout was so severe, Emily cancelled her wedding.
For 32-year-old Melbourne bride Emily Felton, hair loss became a nightmare she never saw coming.
Credit: 7NEWS
'As a bride, you want to look your best. I was devastated,' she said.
With no clear medical diagnosis, stress was suspected as the trigger, but finding a solution wasn't simple.
Emily turned to cutting-edge stem cell injections to stimulate new growth - a costly and time-consuming process that took months to show results.
It worked well enough to eventually get her down the aisle with some help from hidden hair extensions.
Emily's story is not unique and now, global drug makers are zeroing in on the opportunity.
Credit: 7NEWS
Emily's story is not unique and now, global drug makers are zeroing in on the opportunity.
Two new pills, already approved overseas, could offer a simpler solution to certain types of hair loss. Both are designed to treat autoimmune-driven baldness and both are being fast-tracked for potential use in Australia.
Hair loss is a growing concern in Australia with studies suggesting two in three men will experience some form of baldness by age 35.
For women, the stats are just as confronting with up to 50 per cent likely to face chronic thinning or hair loss in their lifetime, especially around childbirth, menopause, or periods of extreme stress.
Despite the scale of the issue, treatment options remain limited and often expensive.
Doctors are excited, dermatologists are hopeful, but the clock is ticking and the price tag may be eye-watering.
So, which treatment will arrive first? Who will it help? And what's the real catch?
We investigate the new frontier in hair loss treatments - exclusive interviews, expert analysis, and Emily's full story - tonight at 6pm on 7NEWS.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Life-saving breast cancer drug now cheaper thanks to a expansion of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
A potentially life-saving treatment for early-stage breast cancer will become much more affordable for hundreds of Australians every year, thanks to a major expansion of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The drug Kisqali (ribociclib), which was previously available for advanced cases, is now being subsidised for a broader group of patients, specifically those with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, lymph node-positive breast cancer who are at high risk of their cancer returning after surgery. This accounts for approximately 70 per cent of early stage cases. Specialist Oncologist Dr Belinda Yeo has welcomed the development, telling 7NEWS the drug will reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. 'We know when you combine Kisqali with endocrine therapy, more patients will not have the cancer return. 'It's a frustrating situation that patients find themselves in, is that the risk of the cancer coming back is not necessarily different from year two or three to year five or six,' Dr Teo said. Without the subsidy, patients could be facing a bill of more than $140,000 for a course of treatment. Now, they'll pay just a fraction of that cost, saving families tens of thousands of dollars. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has told 7NEWS: 'For Labor, that is what the PBS is all about. Access to the best available treatment at affordable PBS prices.' For many, it could mean the difference between life and death. The treatment works by blocking proteins that help cancer cells grow - slowing or even stopping disease progression. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Australia. On average, 58 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, and nine die from the disease. A majority of cases are diagnosed at an early stage - where cancer is found in the breast or nearby lymph nodes, but hasn't spread further. While early detection improves survival rates, recurrence remains a serious risk for patients with stage II and III disease. CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia Kirsten Pilatti says around 20% of all of those diagnosed with breast cancer will be under 50. 'And we do know, unfortunately, there is an increase in the number of young people being diagnosed with breast cancer.' 'This treatment today really will help to make sure that we can reduce the risk wherever possible of their breast cancer coming back, which is our ultimate aim is to get the breast cancer early to make sure that we give all of the treatment possible to really help reduce the risk of their breast cancer returning,' Pilatti told 7NEWS. Beyond the physical toll, recurrence is a lifelong fear for many breast cancer survivors. By increasing access to advanced treatments like Kisqali, the government hopes to reduce not just the risk of relapse, but also the emotional and financial stress that comes with battling breast cancer. Mother of two, Catherine Mclardy was just 38 years-old when she was diagnosed. She recalled the shock to 7NEWS: 'I joked around that my breast was popping out of the bra a little bit, and another mum said: 'Oh, you should go and get that checked'.' 'I got an ultrasound, and then they said, the doctor wants you to have a mammogram while you're here. I said: 'Okay, got the mammogram.' And then they said: 'Look, we don't want you going home. We want you to get another ultrasound while you're here'.' 'I got the news the next day that I had breast cancer.' What followed was a gruelling treatment of surgery, 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation. And while she is cancer free now, Catherine knows the risk of recurrence is high. 'I sort of felt like I almost had the Grim Reaper's hand on my shoulder sometimes just thinking, you know, it's not a matter of if, but when,' she said. Now Catherine has access to Kisqali she tells 7NEWS: 'Feels like I'd won the lottery, because it's so expensive. So to know that people have options when these kinds of medications go on the PBS, it is really like hitting the jackpot.' The updated PBS listing for Kisqali officially takes effect from July 1.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
As it happened: Brisbane on Tuesday, July 1
Go to latest Pinned post from 1.30pm Healthcare gets booster shot as pharmacy prescribing laws become permanent By Catherine Strohfeldt Community healthcare access is expanding from today as Queensland's new pharmacy prescribing laws come into effect. The changes remove the need for patients to visit a GP or hospital in some circumstances, instead enabling eligible community pharmacists to treat minor health issues. The services include treatments for ear infections, minor wound care, skin conditions, and reflux. Prescriptions can also be provided and filled for such things as hormonal birth control and hay fever medications. Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland president Chris Owen thanked the government for making the program permanent after its trial ended earlier this year. 'The continuation of these services marks an important shift in how primary health care is delivered in Queensland, making better use of pharmacists' clinical skills, and improving patient access to frontline care,' Owen said. 'Most Australians live within 2.5 kilometres of a community pharmacy, many of which are open after hours or on weekends.' Pharmacists must complete additional training to be eligible for the program. 3.10pm Today's stories Thanks for joining us today for our live coverage of news in Brisbane and beyond. We'll be back tomorrow morning. If you're just catching up, here are some of the big stories that made headlines today. Flights to and from Brisbane have been cancelled or delayed, with 'severe weather' forecast to lash parts of the east coast. The Queensland government will set up a new Treasury Transaction Team to attract private capital to help the government deliver its infrastructure pipeline, the treasurer has announced. The identity of the Melbourne childcare worker charged with more than 70 offences, including child rape, has been revealed, as authorities say 1200 children must get tested for infectious diseases. Videos, police fact sheets and court documents reveal the moments leading up to and after the violent melee that left former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas with a gruesome eye injury. Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has confirmed that lingering injury concerns for Reece Walsh had nothing to do with his State of Origin omission in favour of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Healthcare gets booster shot as pharmacy prescribing laws become permanent By Catherine Strohfeldt Community healthcare access is expanding from today as Queensland's new pharmacy prescribing laws come into effect. The changes remove the need for patients to visit a GP or hospital in some circumstances, instead enabling eligible community pharmacists to treat minor health issues. The services include treatments for ear infections, minor wound care, skin conditions, and reflux. Prescriptions can also be provided and filled for such things as hormonal birth control and hay fever medications. Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland president Chris Owen thanked the government for making the program permanent after its trial ended earlier this year. 'The continuation of these services marks an important shift in how primary health care is delivered in Queensland, making better use of pharmacists' clinical skills, and improving patient access to frontline care,' Owen said. 'Most Australians live within 2.5 kilometres of a community pharmacy, many of which are open after hours or on weekends.'
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
As it happened: Brisbane on Tuesday, July 1
Go to latest Pinned post from 1.30pm Healthcare gets booster shot as pharmacy prescribing laws become permanent By Catherine Strohfeldt Community healthcare access is expanding from today as Queensland's new pharmacy prescribing laws come into effect. The changes remove the need for patients to visit a GP or hospital in some circumstances, instead enabling eligible community pharmacists to treat minor health issues. The services include treatments for ear infections, minor wound care, skin conditions, and reflux. Prescriptions can also be provided and filled for such things as hormonal birth control and hay fever medications. Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland president Chris Owen thanked the government for making the program permanent after its trial ended earlier this year. 'The continuation of these services marks an important shift in how primary health care is delivered in Queensland, making better use of pharmacists' clinical skills, and improving patient access to frontline care,' Owen said. 'Most Australians live within 2.5 kilometres of a community pharmacy, many of which are open after hours or on weekends.' Pharmacists must complete additional training to be eligible for the program. 3.10pm Today's stories Thanks for joining us today for our live coverage of news in Brisbane and beyond. We'll be back tomorrow morning. If you're just catching up, here are some of the big stories that made headlines today. Flights to and from Brisbane have been cancelled or delayed, with 'severe weather' forecast to lash parts of the east coast. The Queensland government will set up a new Treasury Transaction Team to attract private capital to help the government deliver its infrastructure pipeline, the treasurer has announced. The identity of the Melbourne childcare worker charged with more than 70 offences, including child rape, has been revealed, as authorities say 1200 children must get tested for infectious diseases. Videos, police fact sheets and court documents reveal the moments leading up to and after the violent melee that left former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas with a gruesome eye injury. Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has confirmed that lingering injury concerns for Reece Walsh had nothing to do with his State of Origin omission in favour of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Healthcare gets booster shot as pharmacy prescribing laws become permanent By Catherine Strohfeldt Community healthcare access is expanding from today as Queensland's new pharmacy prescribing laws come into effect. The changes remove the need for patients to visit a GP or hospital in some circumstances, instead enabling eligible community pharmacists to treat minor health issues. The services include treatments for ear infections, minor wound care, skin conditions, and reflux. Prescriptions can also be provided and filled for such things as hormonal birth control and hay fever medications. Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland president Chris Owen thanked the government for making the program permanent after its trial ended earlier this year. 'The continuation of these services marks an important shift in how primary health care is delivered in Queensland, making better use of pharmacists' clinical skills, and improving patient access to frontline care,' Owen said. 'Most Australians live within 2.5 kilometres of a community pharmacy, many of which are open after hours or on weekends.'
