I was diagnosed with secondary last April, lymph nodes, left lung and bones, spine 5 places. I am on letrozole, ribociclib and denosumab. A few months after starting treatment I and my hairdresser noticed a slight “kink” in my hair, I was born with and have always had poker straight hair. Now a year on my hair is curly. Has anyone else had this? Sadly I seem to be shedding lots more hair than normal, loads of thick strands come away particularly when I wash it even though I use really gentle products and am super gentle with my hair. I would love to know anyone else’s experiences with this.
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Hi.
Im about to start your mentioned medication.
Ive delayed as lm worrying about side effects including hair loss as l don’t have much to start with.
I had one radiotherapy treatment and scalp itch since and hair looked liked it dried up .
Xx
Hi,
I have never had radiotherapy or chemo. I still have my hair so I guess I count that as a blessing, but the texture and thickness is certainly different. Its a lot dryer and thinner too. I also have dry itchy skin. What does your team think of you delaying the treatment? Dont forget, everyone reacts differently and you may be absolutely fine. I have still yet to find someone who has not ahd chem but had their hair change shape, its bizarre!
xxx
I have secondary breast cancer. I need something to
Control it but lve given up really l suppose.
Im in a constant state of anxiety and depression.
I don’t like morphine ( for spine pain )
My team are supportive. I been so unwell since radiotherapy
( one session ) and desunab (.one injection up to now)
I dont want anything else… )
Everyone is so brave. Strange that drugs change hair
And skin chemistry. I find it scary
Good luck xx
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Hi,
I had a lumpectomy and radiation, then I went on to letrozole for 10months, side effects terrible, my hair was thinning on the crown, I could see my scalp, I always had thick lovely hair, i didn’t know what was causing it, then I quit the hormone pills and little by little my hair is coming back, I’m off 1 1/2 years now, my skin is better and my hair is fuller, and not as dry.
I don’t know about the curly hair, I didn’t get that.
Hope this helps.
Trish
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Hi Jackbaz. I also have secondary cancer. I did have chemo over 20 years ago and lost all my hair. It grew back very frizzy, then curly and it got longer and finally straight as it had been before. Now, however, on letrozole, palbociclib and denosumab, it started breaking off and got very straggly. The bedroom floor was covered in my hair. My hairdresser cut it short and it curls up everywhere, and is much thicker, so much so that a friend asked me if I’d had a perm and my driving licence photo looks nothing like me. I have decided to try and grow it longer and see if the weight straightens it out a bit. I only use Simple shampoo and conditioner now. Thank you for posting as I thought I was alone in this.
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Hi There,
Thank you for replying. I know a lot of people have hair changes with chemo but I have never had chemo, I know what you mean though, I am proper curly now, like a perm, but its not a “nice” curl, its straggly and a horrible texture too. When I wash my hair even before I attempt to comb it through it just comes away in my hands. My brush is always full of it too. I also find my hair all over the house.
You are so not alone and my guess is there are loads more like us out there.
How are you getting on with the treatment and other side effects? Where are your secondaries?
Hi. My secondaries are in the chest wall and sternum currently. I had a PET scan to check again a few days ago so fingers crossed there aren’t any more. My hair stopped falling out at such a rate when I had it cut short. But now it makes me feel older than I am.
Best wishes to you.
I’m about to start round 21 of the same drug regime as you for my secondary breast cancer - and my lifelong very straight hair has started curling too! There’s times when I think I’m losing more hair than usual but then I don’t notice it anymore - and I’m fortunate to have pretty thick hair I wear short. I’ve read that after the menopause some women’s hair goes curly. So I imagine our hair changes are caused by the Letrozole inhibiting the oestrogen in our systems - and as we need to take it, we’re stuck with it. Sorry I can’t be more help but you’re not alone. By the way - ever since I was diagnosed I’ve switched to Aveeno shampoo and conditioner and when I thought I was losing some hair, I switched to the Volumising one. Not sure if it does what it says on the bottle but I can kid myself it does!
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