Does hair lost on tamoxifen grow back when you stop taking the tablets?

Going through breast cancer treatment Hormone therapy
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After nearly 4 months if being absolutely fine on Tamoxifen, bar the odd flush here & there, a lot of my hair suddenly fell out last weekend & my head feels raw & sensitive like it did during chemo hair loss. Could someone please reassure me that it will grow back or I am stopping this tablet right now. I am devastated about this, because I was previously doing so well.  I found the hairloss on chemo really upsetting & I can’t go through that again. Any help gratefully received. xx

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Hi Bibi44, 

I am sorry you have been going through hair loss on Tamoxifen and that this has been a difficult time for you. I am sure some of our users will be showing their support soon. 

I have moved your post to the Hormone therapy board in order to give users a chance to respond and share their experiences. You can also look at our page on tamoxifen here.

If you would like to have a chat please do call ourhelpline at 0808 800 6000 who will be able to talk through some of the questions you have about hair loss and offer a friendly ear.

Best wishes, 

Lizzy

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Mine started to fall out quite dramatically after 2 months ,the rate it was falling out I didn’t think I would have any left,it did slow down though and although a lot thinner now I can live with it.I have found Nioxin shampoo and conditioner help ,when I stopped using it it fell out again!!People I have spoken to who stopped taking Tamoxifen or the other meds have generally found hair improves.Depressing isn’t it,particularly when you have gone through hair loss with chemo.

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Thanks Jill. Yes profoundly depressing! Lizzy I had posted there in the hope that someone 5 or 10 years down the line might be able to tell me whether it grows back as there is just zero information about this anywhere on the Internet. It’s such an important thing & it’s just brushed aside by my team in a ‘we got rid of your cancer, what are you moaning about, small price to pay’ kind of a way BUT it is not a small price to pay. Guess they are all off living their lives xx

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Yes ,it is a big issue as it makes you feel rubbish.GP told me hairloss not a side effect of Tamoxifen (oh yes it is) and a pretty common one.Some people have been referred to dermatology re hair loss may be worth asking about it Bibi if you have other symptoms too.Fingers crossed it settles down for you .

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Hi Bibi44. Your thread came up when I did a search on the hair loss topic. I’ve been on Tamoxiffen for 5+years and only about 4 months ago started having hair loss. It’s thinning evenly but my pony tail is already 1/2 its size. My oncologist didn’t seem concerned either but agreed that it would be alright to stop the medication. I’m sure hoping it comes back or at least subsides.

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Susie so sorry you find yourself in the same situation, but well done on doing 5 years.  I think the marginal additional benefit of extra years on Tamox gradually gets smaller the longer you take it & the risks higher, so I wouldn’t beat yourself up for needing to stop now. Please please come back & tell me if it grows back.  It makes a big difference because you could probably tolerate slightly thinner hair for a while, whereas, if it doesn’t, there would come a point where I would come off it& accept the risk of more BC.  Clearly I don’t want that either.  I was talking to a friend the other day, saying you can’t ever walk away from this thing…you either take the Tamox & put up with revolting SEs or don’t have the worry you are doing the wrong thing.  It’s like a life sentence. Depressing thought. xx

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Hello

I finished my chemotherapy 14th August 2017 and my last Herceptin was June 25th 2018. I started on Tamoxifen in the September 2017. The past few days I have been wondering why my hair was not growing back, it is nearly 12months since I finished my chemo. My hair has grown some but very short, thin and fluffy. So I thought I would take a look if it is normal as people always say your hair grows back thick and curly NOT MINE but I always like to be different. I am interested to hear that it is the Tamoxifen that might be causing my thin fluffy hair. Will it always be like this? as I am on Tamoxifen for the next ten years.

I am cycling the world now for Prevent Breast Cancer to raise money and awareness to prevent and predict  breast cancer, but the good side is having little hair makes it easy for me whilst traveling but I would love to start looking a bit like my old self again even after a double mastectomy. You can check out my crazy hair on my website

Any advice would be great thanks or tell me your hair has grown back please.

 

Thanks 

Gabriella 

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Hi Gabriella , my hair thinned noticeably on Tamoxifen ,I didn’t have chemo so had a full head of hair .I can imagine how upsetting it is not to have your hair grow back after chemo .Have you discussed this with your oncologist ? There may be ways to improve things it may not just be related to the Tamoxifen .Some ladies have been referred to dermatologist for advice ,some have been prescribed Regaine (for women ) some have tried supplements ( Biotin ) and special shampoos e.g. Minoxil .Its definately worth getting some specialist advice .Good look with your bike ride .Jill x

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That should be Nioxin shampoo .

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Hi

i’ve been on Tamoxifen for 12 months now and my hair has stopped growing! Not falling out but just doesn’t grow anymore… 

Hope your doing well.

xx

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If hair loss is a side effect of hormone therapy, it can take six months to two years before you notice it. Often hair loss stops after the first year or so. But hair thinning will continue as long as you take the medication, which is often five to 10 years. Hair usually starts to grow back a few months after you stop taking hormone therapy. I was advised to go to novahairtransplantnyc.com to get help with my hair treatment.