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Anyone experience Hair loss after brachytherapy only?
I was told that I would not lose any of my head hair after Brachy, but I have experienced noticeable thinning. My ponytail has gone from being more than one inch wide to about a half inch, and although hair is not coming out in clumps, I certainly have loads of strands in my brush and in drain. I have had no other treatment such as external radiation, chemo, or drug. I am only on one med which is for BP. I'm perplexed and worried. All this has happened in less than one year and since my diagnosis. Anyone experience the same, and found any solution?
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@njp515 I had two treatments of vaginal brachytherapy 4 years ago. These brachytherapy sessions occurred after external pelvic radiation. I haven't had any hair loss. Wait, that's not entirely true. I did experience pubic hair loss but that was in the radiation field. I haven't had hair loss from my head. I believe that one can experience hair loss due to thyroid problems. Have you had your thyroid function tested (TSH)?
Have you talked with your medical provider or anyone else about this?
@naturegirl5 Good question! I'm seeing my doctor today and I will ask her for the TSH test. it doesn't really make sense that the Brachy would cause hair loss, especially when I don't have any noticeable loss on any other part of my body. I think another possibility might be the hysterectomy itself causing some imbalances perhaps.
@njp515 Great! would you please let me know what your doctor says about hair loss?
@naturegirl5 I had my check-up with my GP yesterday, and she said the hair loss was most likely from stress, sudden weight loss (12 pounds in 5 months??), or maybe some hormone changes, but definitely not Brachy or even the hysterectomy. She said that minoxidil topical will definitely help, and she believes the hair will grow back. I might give it a try.
@njp515 This seems like good news to me. Sudden weight loss sounds likely. If this were me I'd give the topic a go.
Did you try to lose that weight or was it due to the surgery or radiation therapy?