Hi All, 

I have been reading about the hair thinning during post cancer treatment, I am on Anastrozole and have noticed my hair has thinned dramatically on the top of my head. I have been on Anastrozole for about a year. I have been to the GP but they are not that helpful it is a kind of shrug the shoulders try Mixodil but you will have to keep using it and it is not available on the NHS.  After the loss from chemo I was so happy to see the hair no one told me that it is just short lived. 

Does anyone have any tips or is it worth seeing a Tricologist.

Thanks for reading this any offerings will be greatfully received.

Hi Jan,

Welcome to the forum.

I had 1 year on Tamoxifen, before 6 on Letrozole. My hair did thin, but I tried Alpocin Caffeine shampoo and, I feel that this boosted the growth again.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me, I am told the hair is just very thin. I don't know if this is still my hair trying to grow back after chemo (14months since the last one) or it is the affects of the anastrozole. I was never told that thinning hair is a side effect of the hormone treatment but there again it was on the leaflet. I use Simple products as advised by the Chemo nurse but I will give Alpocin a try. {Thanks} 

I have just found a website cancerhaircare.co.uk it is very good the lady is a hairdresser who set up the site to try and help . [This may be of use to anyone else picking up from this conversation]

I have bought a hair powder [make-up for hair] in Superdrug it does help making the scalp less obvious. 

Like everyone else after what we have been through you hope to put it behind you. Oh well I guess it all makes you a stronger person.

Thanks again for replying it does make a difference.

Wishing you all the very best Jan xx

Hi Shelley,

I am also new to the forum looking for an impossible answer, but I already feel better from people responding to me. 

I know the feeling, I have always had fine hair and the loss with chemo was more devistating than the treatment, the things we focus on. I was delighted when it started to return the same colour but wavy that gave it a bit more body. 

I am appreciative of all that has been done for me but it is quite clear that there is a need for support and more knowledge in respect of how hair loss and change affects both men and women. I am quite suprised that more has not been done as it is clearly a big money making market.

The lady on the cancerhaircare websit is trying to address this issue,  I am trying her advice on the massage with coconut oil. I was glad of the advice as I have always used far to much product when massaging the hair leaving it in a worse state for days.

I really can recommend the cosmetic powder for the hair scalp. Coloured dry shampoo's would probably work but it is messy to apply. I am impressed with the hair powder from Superdrug it is easy to apply where needed, I also found that it gave the hair I have a bit of a lift making it appear fuller. It is on offer at the moment I paid around £3.95 for it. I think eyebrow powders would do the same. The beauty is the colours can be blended. I have medium brown hair and bought the dark brown it gives the impression of depth on the hair. [I sound like and advert]  Be aware that it will rub off so protect your pillow slip. 

People think I am mad when I say I wish my hair would grey as the scalp would blend and grey hair is normally more course. Hey at 65 I should be proud that I have natural coloured hair.

I am having a Thyroid blood test today just to rule it out as it can be a cause of thinning hair. [mixed feelings on this, who wants something else to cope with]

On the positive side we are alive and well and there is always a wig [that was a boost when I had no hair]  The only problem is I have a small head and had to insist that I be allowed to try a childrens wig which fitted and did not have an abundance of hair. 

I have read a great deal on the subject and from what I have seen you are still at a very early time post Letrozole. The time to recovery is not quick but you could try helping the recovery with massage vitamin C and plenty of water. Did you ever join the Haven Breast Cancer group it is a voluntary organisation that provide various therapies for people who have had breast cancer.[no time limit] They are in various parts of the country. If you need the details I can post them. I am considering the Indian head massage.

Anyway I have run away with myself sorry. 

Good Luck and I am hoping my research is correct and given time your hair will pick up 

Best Wishes

Jan

Hi there just a post about hair loss. I have been taking Letrozole and Kiskali for secondary breast cancer for over a year now and I experienced quite a dramatic hair thinning back in May.  After a bit of research I decided to try the Philip Kingsley products called Trichotherapy, using a daily lotion and some supplements after checking they were suitable to take with my medication. The results have been slow but my hair is definitely growing back. Whether this would have happened anyway I'm not sure but I think it's certainly given it a helping hand. I was devastated to be losing my hair again because I will be on this medication Indefinitely. No doubt my hair won't go back to being the same, it is quite fine but plenty of it, but I feel encouraged by the growth so far. I understand how upsetting hair loss is, I can cope with many things but I'd like to look as normal as possible and really don't want to go back to wearing a wig. I hope you experience some positive results whatever you chose to use. Best wishes 

Hi 

Thanks for replying, I did see the Philip Kingsley products but I was a bit reluctant to purchase due to the cost if they did not work. I will certainly bear this in mind if my blood tests don't come up with anything.

I am going to a support group tonight for Breast Cancer I will have a word with the breast care nurses you never know they may know more. 

I can recommend the powder to cover the scalp as the light doesn't flash on the gleaming scalp.

I am with you on the loss of hair a second time when it was not anticipated, I guess the goal is to make you better and a head full of hair is just a bonus. 

www.cancerhaircare.co.uk is a good website to have a look at.

Wishing you well and thanks for replying it does help knowing you are not on your own. 

Hi, 

I have just been looking at the Philip Kingsley products is it Trico 7volumizing hair and scalp treatment ? They are selling these products in Marks and Spencer plus 2 types of tablet and other potions. The write up on the Trico 7 sounds as though it should work see below I lifted the information from the write up. 

'B6 works in harmony with zinc sulphate and azelaic acid to inhibit 5a reductive activity of converting testosterone to the more damaging DHT, the hormone commonly responsible for hair thinning'

I will copy all the info and take with me next month to the Oncologist just to make sure I am able to take. I would hate to undo the good work that Anastrozole is doing.

I really appreciate you taking the time out to help me.

Kind Regards

Jan

Hi Jan

Thanks for your post and your helpful advice, I will definitely give the superdrug powder a try, my hair is thinnest around the hairline and the front of my head and may help to cover my scalp.  I have taken vit B compound for around a year now and its hard to say if there has been any improvement but will stay on it for the time being. I stopped Letrozole 4 months ago after 5 years and think any improvement would have been apparent by now and the menopause is probably contributing to my hair thinning as well as I am 58.  I hadn't heard of Haven, it does help to talk to people who understand what you are going through and realise what a devastating effect it has.  I have seen the Philip Kingsley products on QVC a while back so might give them a try.  I really appreciate your help and support....wishing you all the best

Hi Shelley,

I would thoroughly recommend the Haven or Maggie's Centres. Both offer great support, advice, counselling and alternative therapies. If you want to talk to someone, you can just pop in for a cuppa and a chat.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx