I am 4 years post treatment for TNBC. I have started to have some menopause syptoms and my already thin hair is now getthing thinner and my scalp tender. At 41 this is really affecting my confidence.
Is there any suppliments I can take that may help? I see all these recommendations such as pumpkin oil, zinc, etc but is there anything that is ok for me to take without any issues?
My hairdresser specialises in hair loss and has her clients that need it use Nioxin products. It may be worth finding a salon near you that stocks it for advice on which to use.
Hi @niknaknew,
Thanks for posting. It’s understandable that your confidence is being affected by changes to your hair and scalp. You mention you are having menopausal symptoms and hair thinning can be one of these.
Many people ask about vitamins, supplements and herbal medicines following a diagnosis of breast cancer to help manage the side effects from treatments. There is often the belief that these products are safe as they are considered natural.
However, most don’t have to comply with the same regulations or rigorous testing that conventional medicines do. For many products there is a lack of research to support their use.
It’s important to speak to your breast care nurse, treatment team, GP, or a pharmacist before taking or applying any supplements. Do also speak to your GP about your scalp being tender.
You can search this American website, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, for information about individual supplements. Each has sections on existing evidence and what known interaction there is with other medications. You may find that that some herbs have different names in America. You can read their information about zinc supplements but there doesn’t seem to be any information about pumpkin oil. You can also search herbal products and supplements on the European website Complementary and Alternative Medicine for cancer and on the American website Medicine Plus
You may also find our breast cancer now chat on supplements, diet and myth busting useful. There are no specific foods that are recommended but a healthy well-balanced diet generally helps the condition of hair and skin. Although there are some supplements which the manufacturers claim help strengthen hair or reduce hair loss, we are not aware that there is evidence to support this. Some women prefer to use mild shampoos, conditioners, and hair products to reduce the risk of hair breaking.
The organisation Cancer Hair Care offers specific support to women experiencing hair loss following cancer treatment. As well as information and support about hair loss and thinning, they have a helpline and email service that may be helpful.
You may also be interested in the tailored support we offer specifically for younger women with primary breast cancer who are aged between 18-45 years. This includes our Younger Women Together events that are run face to face and online. This support offers the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other younger women and get expert information in a confidential space. More information can be found on the links above.
You may also be interested in The Younger Breast Cancer Support Group (YBCSG) which is a private Facebook group run by young women for young women (18-45 years) who’ve had breast cancer. To join, go to Facebook and search ‘Younger Breast Cancer Support Group’ and send them a private message.
Some people find talking with another younger woman who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. They’ll contact you by phone call or email to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen. You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org so they can then match you to your volunteer.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
Our number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties dial 18001 followed by our number and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes,
Carolyn
Breast Care Nurse
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