Hair loss after medical menopause

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1

Hi everyone
I was diagnosed with bc in 2008 and went thru chemo, radio and then tamoxifen for 2 years.
Last feb I had both my ovaries out and swapped the tamoxifen for letrazole as now fully in the menopause.
Recently I have noticed that my hair is really thinning and I can see my scalp, which is beginning to stress me out a bit. Having lost my hair once I really dont want to go back there again :@

Is anyone else experiencing this or have any suggestions on how to improve it?

Thanks
x

2

Hi Doodledash
It might be worth seeing your GP - yes it could be menopausal, but it could be other simple to treat things like your thyroid function.

In the meantime just be kind to the hair you have & eat and sleep well.

Sue

3

Same is happening to me. My hair grew back it’s normal thickness after chemo finished in August 2010, but like you had my ovaries out in Jan this year and just in the last month noticed that my hair is definetely thinner. I am still on tamoxifen but have put it down to menopause. Same thing happened to me after giving birth, so I really beleive it is lack of hormones. Not sure what can be done so any ideas would be great. The last time I saw the onc he did say that although the menopausal symptons would be worse after a surgically induced menopause, they would eventually stop. He was right as my hot flushes which were really bad have now reduced, so I’m hoping my hair will also stop thinning, hopefully at the point where I still have some!

4

Thanks you guys.
I think it may be worth a trip to the GP to get it checked just in case it is something else.
Oh the joys!

It’s never really over is it? :@
xx

5

Hello Doodledash

I think your thinning hair may be caused by the letrozole. It’s mentioned on their leaflet as a possible side effect - although it seems to have happened quite soon as you started it less than a year ago.

I’ve also got thinning hair - in my case almost certainly caused by four and a half years on Aromasin. My hair was fine for the first 3 years on the medication and I’ve noticed the changes only during the past 18 months.

Good luck
Anthi x

6

Hi Doodledash,

Snap! Same thing - ovary ablation last Nov. and then letrazole from Feb. '11 onwards. I’ve really noticed my hair thinning since the summer. I’m sure it won’t all fall out, but it is annoying.

Sarah x