Anyone used anything that helps with chemo hair loss?

Posted by drummergirl @drummergirl, Nov 17, 2022

Has anyone used anything that has been effective for chemo hair loss? Mine is coming back, but slowly. It is patchy and frizzy and right now seems like it will be years before it is presentable.

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I'VE BOUGHT many bottles of minoxidal - but, I don't use it - cause it needs to be used EVERY DAY! Wet hair everyday its not happening for me.
Had Prp injections. waste of a lot of money. Unless you can afford to go back.
then you can afford to go back.
you can afford to go back. $$$
Please what have you used that was successful?
I think Anestrozol thinned my hair. I'm furious w Dr. that ENCOURAGED! ME to use that horrible stuff. I changed Dr because of that!

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And Anestrozol caused 4 trigger fingers. saw 2 drs., Had 1 surgery !
lots of PT in 2 different states. PAIN!

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@mari

I'VE BOUGHT many bottles of minoxidal - but, I don't use it - cause it needs to be used EVERY DAY! Wet hair everyday its not happening for me.
Had Prp injections. waste of a lot of money. Unless you can afford to go back.
then you can afford to go back.
you can afford to go back. $$$
Please what have you used that was successful?
I think Anestrozol thinned my hair. I'm furious w Dr. that ENCOURAGED! ME to use that horrible stuff. I changed Dr because of that!

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Thanks, Mari-
A friend had success with HERS, but reading the cautions, it looks like it is associated with a breast cancer risk. I only want something that does not have any kind of cancer risk.

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I did not lose hair because of cancer & chemo, but because of extreme stress from a rare brain disease & the subsequent substandard hospital care. I also did not lose all my hair, but just heavy thinning.
My hairdresser told me about a supplement called Biotin, which is readily available both as a pill & a shampoo.
I used both, and in about 5-6 months the hair loss stopped & I could see regrowth. It takes time, so don't be discouraged. A dose of 5000 mgs. is adequate, & is safe, many shampoos with Biotin are available in larger drug stores or of course, on line.

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After chemo my hair came back slower than I would have thought. It was almost a year before I was comfortable going out without a hat or wig. (I was so traumatized by hair loss that I covered my mirrors and wouldn'tlet anyone see me without a hat or wig). On the recommendation of a hair dresser with many cancer customers, I started using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. My hair did grow back unevenly, but after two years it is all shoulder length (the back grew faster and has already had several inches trimmed). You will have chemo hair for at least a year, curly and mostly white. I'm now seeing a lot of my natural color coming in, but I'm 68 and had been coloring my hair prior to chemo so I've no idea of how much gray I had before. My hair is now very healthy, but thinner than it was which I contribute to the natural aging process but also to AI's. I'm on Letrozole. I had been on Anastrozole for the 1st year after chemo. My hairdresser carries Nioxin, but I've also purchased it on Amazon. Hope this helps.

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@dlmdinia

After chemo my hair came back slower than I would have thought. It was almost a year before I was comfortable going out without a hat or wig. (I was so traumatized by hair loss that I covered my mirrors and wouldn'tlet anyone see me without a hat or wig). On the recommendation of a hair dresser with many cancer customers, I started using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. My hair did grow back unevenly, but after two years it is all shoulder length (the back grew faster and has already had several inches trimmed). You will have chemo hair for at least a year, curly and mostly white. I'm now seeing a lot of my natural color coming in, but I'm 68 and had been coloring my hair prior to chemo so I've no idea of how much gray I had before. My hair is now very healthy, but thinner than it was which I contribute to the natural aging process but also to AI's. I'm on Letrozole. I had been on Anastrozole for the 1st year after chemo. My hairdresser carries Nioxin, but I've also purchased it on Amazon. Hope this helps.

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I’m glad you are finding some success. If you don’t mind sharing, Why did you switch from Anastrozole to Letrozole? And what differences have you noticed?

Thank you.

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@anjalima

I’m glad you are finding some success. If you don’t mind sharing, Why did you switch from Anastrozole to Letrozole? And what differences have you noticed?

Thank you.

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I switched because after less than a year on Anastrozole I was having debilitating knee pain which made stairs and even getting up and down from a seating position nearly impossible. I had been on Letrozole prior to surgery with few side effects, but new oncologist switched me to Anastrazole. Now I take Letrozole at half dosage (though I'm currently on a 30 day break to see if other issues improve.) After a few weeks off Anastrozole there was definite improvement and then I added collagen supplements. Within a few monyhs my knees felt almost brand new.

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I used Keranique spray and biotin. My hair first came back courser. But I cut that off when it got a few inches long into a pixie cut. Since then the texture is good and hair is a bit fuller than pre chemo.

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@jldavis823

I used Keranique spray and biotin. My hair first came back courser. But I cut that off when it got a few inches long into a pixie cut. Since then the texture is good and hair is a bit fuller than pre chemo.

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Thank you. I’m tolerating Anastrozole pretty well . Mid 7th month now but I’m starting to feel some joint discomfort and I have a tendinitis in my foot ( peroneal). Wondering if it could be contributing factor. But I’ve been fine with minor joint stiffness worked out with stretching yoga and walking.

I have at least 4 years and 3 months to go 😂 so I’m hoping this is a blip!

Glad you are finding a better path for yourself!

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I has no desire to add any medications to my life so I accepted what was happening with chemo. I started chemo August 3, 2021. My first hair loss was August 18, which I only remembered because it was six months from my birthday. By September, it was gone. I tried wigs but didn't like them and used baseball caps when I went out. I never could tie a scarf. I posted on Facebook about the experience and had many positive comments from others who wondered what it was like. In January I premiered my new "biker chic" look buzz cut as an emcee at our Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. It came back, probably by May, I don't remember: very curly and light gray. (I had previsouly been spending $250 every two months for highlights & $60 a month for cut in between.) At first I didn't like curls or gray but I love them now and get a trim monthly from a barber for $30. I get so many compliments which at first I declined but now I'm thrilled. If you can find a way to accept the loss, be a proud, gutsy woman and accept what will surely be compliments, I'd encourage that. Hair loss did not bring the fear and pain I had expected.

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