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DiscussionHair Loss Remedies for Thinning Hair on aromatase inhibitors?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Nov 3 11:50am | Replies (87)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Hi Everyone. Does anyone know which of the 3 aromatase inhibitors (Anastrozole, Letrozole, or Exemestane) is..."
I am on letrozole as well. For2 years plus. I have not had thinning that i knew, although i do recall possibly it is a side effect for some. I have lost my hair 2 in the last 3 years. I do know the first time it grew back nearly normal. This time we shall see.
Maybe the MODS will answer too, as they might have more info on all AI's.
I took 5 years of tamoxifen and never had any real hair thinning. I always had extremely thick hair. It had come back in, pure grey and white after chemo the year I started and very, VERY curly. I kind of looked like bozo the clown with white hair. Lol
Then after tamoxifen came anastrazole for 10 years, the curls started to tame and I did have some thinning. I feel like a lot of this is related to not having the normal hormones of a young woman. I also had osteoporosis by the time I was 50, and heart disease. My doctor told me since I started this journey in my 30s, I was essentially an old woman already.
I still have plenty of hair but my bun is as thin as my grandmothers was at 80, and all white. I guess that goes along with the glimpse of her I get in the mirror, where she reminds to be grateful to have lived 20 years past my expiration date.
What changes have you seen in your hair since starting hormone therapies?
I always had thick hair, but when I started taking Anastrazole my hair began to come out by the handful when washed, brushed, combed or just running my fingers through it. I was switched to Exemestane after three months of taking Anastrazole and the loss came to a halt. The thinning stopped and some growth is returning.
I now have some stiffness in various joints (they keep changing as to which joint), but I will put up with that not to have such thinning hair.
I am taking letrozole and definitely noticed thinning, not as bad as hairloss from chemotherapy, but emotionally devastating to lose so much hair after it had grown back. My oncologist recommended Viviscal and warned me it world be at least three months before I'd notice a difference. She was right on both counts! By the third month I "thought" it was better. By the fourth month I "knew" it was. I continue to take one pill with breakfast and one with dinner and my hair is back to the quantity I had before cancer treatments.
I've been on letrozole & ibrance for 8 months now. Just in the past 2 weeks my curly hair suddenly went straight and my comb has more hair in it then I like. Seems strange to me. BUT my MBC in my sternum, liver and some lymph nodes has significantly shrunk as per PET scan, so I'm very thankful for that.
@loraine28, I moved your question about hair loss and thinning when on an aromatase inhibitor to this helpful and active discussion:
- Hair Loss Remedies for Thinning Hair on aromatase inhibitors?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hair-loss-remedies-for-thinning-hair-on-ais-and-lupron/
Click the link to see helpful tips and to connect with members.
Here are some related older discussions too:
- Talking about hair loss with children
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-have-had-a-mastectomy-and-am-about-to-start-chemotherapy-i/
-Biotin, Hair loss, Thyroid and Multivitamins
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/biotin-hair-loss-thyroid-and-multivitamins/
- Anastrozole and side effects...hair loss/thinning and hair regrowth
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anastrozole-and-side-effects-hair-lossthinning-and-hair-regrowth/
- Anyone feel devasted about how you look & feel? And guilty too?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/oncology-doctors-reply-to-0-625-propecia-prescription/
Hi Loraine, I only have had letrozole of those three and must consider myself lucky as I had no hair loss. My hair looked thinner but I think it is because it lost its bounce and went limp and flat. I do use Champo hair growth serum religiously and massage my scalp mornings and evenings with one of those rubber scalp massage brushes. Whether it helps I don’t know but maybe psychologically it gives me the feeling I’m doing what I can. Also being on high doses of vitamin D3 with calcium seems to help. I hope you are lucky and you can keep your hair but if not, when your treatment is over you will have it all back again.