Does Herceptin slow hair growth?

Sassa

Sweetbean - My hair started growing as soon as I finished my AC (Feb 2007). By June 2007, I had hair about 1/2 inch long and I stopped wearing head covering.  

The funny thing about my hair is that besides the chemo curls, my hair grew in white at first, changed to grey, then color started so that I progressed from blond to red to brown.  I was a brunette before BC, so the brown is similar to what I had before except I have a lot more blonde and red natural highlights then I had before.

My hair is now fine, thin, and straight.  It was thick, coarse, and naturally curly before BC. 

orange1

Could reduced hair growth be linked to chemo induced menopause?  My hair was looking very sad (much thinner than before chemo) until I started on tamoxifen, then it grew back very thick.

 Tamoxifen has some estrogenic properties so could conceivably contribute to hair growth.  I'm thinking of doing an extra 5 years of tamox just to keep my hair looking nice - justified by the 10,000 patient ATLAS trial (still ongoing) that is showing that longer tamoxifen (beyond 5 years) usage decreases risk of death, unlike what was previously thought.  The trial that led investigators to believe tamox should not be given beyond 5 years only had 200 patients, was stopped early, and results were not statistically significant.

Sassa

I did not have chemo induce menopause (my oncologist said I must have cast Iron ovaries) so that is not a cause for my slowed hair growth.

Herceptin works by blocking the HER2+ sites on the cell.  Normal body cells that reproduce quickly (hair, nails, mucosal tissue) is therefore also somewhat affected by herceptin.  I also noticed that wound healing (also a "quick" cell process) was also slowed when I was on herceptin.

sweetbean

Yikes!  Can I have my exchange on Herceptin?  

firebird

I noticed the same about slower healing. Also scratches, etc, bled more easily and for a slightly longer length of time -- I think it is because the skin in general is more fragile while on Herceptin.



I also had very dry flaky skin on my eyelids and in the corners of my eyes; that went away gradually but steadily over the 5 months after my last Herceptin infusion.



Sassa, your post-chemo grey went away by itself? Wow, I didn't think there was any chance of mine doing that! But I think at my age (60s) there is no way the color will revert; it had started down that "Silver Brick Road" already, about 3 years before BC. Not really noticeably (mainly at the temples underneath most of the top hair) but it had definitely started. If you got your brown back from Mother Nature, it's probably because you must be younger than I am. :-)

Sassa

Firebird,

I will be 61 in September.  I was 56 when diagnosed and going through chemo. 

One of my genetic blessings is that both sides of the family retain their hair color with very little gray ever appearing. So at nearly 61, I have only tiny wisps of gray in various spots around my hairline.  Because the gray is at my hairline, it is normally hidden by the rest of my hair and I have to pull my hair back or up to show people that I do have gray (and to prove that, NO!!!, I do not dye my hair).

sweetbean

oof. my hair is growing back. so. SLOWLY.  i ditched the scarf last week, although I think it was kind of wishful thinking.  I'm just so tired of it.  But it's still a bit too thin on top and filling in slowly.  it's only obviously when i am standing under a bright light or out in the sunlight, so i wear a lot of baseball caps.  someone, please talk me off of the ledge.  tell me it's going to fill in.

sweetbean

bumping because i despair...

edited to add: ok, not really.  but i sure could use some more encouragement... 

Sydneybased

I finished chemo the end of the first week in March. So it's been 5 months, and I've only just started going commando. The sides of my head took a long time to fill in enough not to look patchy/bald. The hair on top and at the back is thicker and filled in quicker. I've been very suprised at the slow hair growth. Maybe it's herceptin, maybe it's just the rate my hair grows. Who knows. More important than the length, however, is the colour, but let's not go there.....

sweetbean

thank you, sydneybased!  I finished Mar 22, so we are very similar.  I just started going commando, too, and it honestly, it  still looks a touch thin to me.  But I can't stand the wig/scarf one more second!  My family says that it looks fine, so I am just hoping that it fills in soon(ish). 

Fitz33

Sweetbean, your hair will fill in.  When I first went topless I had patches showing on top.  In fact, I still do but the hair is growing very slowly and covering a bit of that.  The Herceptin has definitely slowed my hair growth.  Somone suggested I cut the chemo frizz from my hair ends and I flatly said "no" because I've earned every frizz or strand I've got.  

MissMeg

I don't think it slowed my hair growth, but you can try taking vitamin E, that will help it grow faster. But ask teh doc before you do.

sweetbean

it is filling in.  I took another picture last week and was encouraged.  a bit slow, but it's getting there.  i'm going to try to color it soon....there's an awful lot of grey!

Sydneybased

Great!

On the colour front, I'm using a colour without peroxide - Herbaltint. It works well, if you want to go darker (e.g. chesnut brown). However, I tried a blonde on top of the chesnut brown at the weekend and the overall look is:

orangutan..... 

 Oh, what fun

Basia

My oncologist's PA warned me that herceptin will make the hair grow slower than usual. I have 2 more infusions to go and she said I should see a noticeable difference in growth in a month or so.  My hair usually grows freakishly fast so this slow growth is killing me.  Right now its about 1.5 inches long and looks horrible, plan on going to the hairdresser this week for cut/shaping and highlights.  I stopped wearing the scarf or hat at about 3 months PFC, I couldn't take it anymore so as soon as my husband said I had full coverage (didn't trust myself to make that determination)  I took off the head covering and haven't looked back!  

sweetbean

the thing that bums me out is that I will be on Herceptin for longer than I should have been.  I should have started in Feb and finished in Feb, but my onc made a mistake, so I didn't start until May.  I'm gonna have this slow growing stuff for a while.  Oh well, I guess it will teach me to be verrrry patient....

triple-positive-attitude

Right there with you!  I will be done in June too.  Hair has stayed at about 1/2 inch and still pretty chilli in Michigan!  Can't wait to be done!  

Trisha-Anne

My hair has grown fairly quickly, however I have noticed that it isn't as thick.  I used to have to have a haircut every six weeks, and have it thinned every six weeks.

I've had my first trim, and while there aren't any bald spots, you can see my scalp in places (not unless looking closely though).  It's definitely thinner.

It will be intersting to see what happens after Herceptin finishes.  I only have two treatments to go YAY!!  Is it obvious I'm looking forward to being done? :-)

Trish

gojojo21

I am really starting to think there is something to this notion that Herceptin slows hair growth.  My last round was Dec 22 and I have been anxiously anticipating for my hair to grow which everyone kept telling me to be patient, it takes time.  Well met lady today at my rad appt who finished chemo a week after me and was sporting a head full of hair!  versus my peach fuzz.  This is very depressing.  I know i should be greatful but its hard not to feel down about this.  I had hair down to my waist that was my security blanket since high school before all this

sweetbean

Gojojo, did you finish TCH on Dec 22?  And now you are just on Herceptin?  I finished ACT in March, started Herceptin in May and it was a solid 6-7 months before I had a full head of hair.  And honestly, it wasn't that full - it has continued to fill in, but slowly.  I get your frustration - especially when you see people who finished after you with more hair!  Aaaargh!

Patriotgirl

I had 17 Herceptin infusions over a one year period. (Also had other chemo drugs). I lost my hair but it started growing back after the 3rd treatment. The hair on my head is thick as ever and grows as fast as ever. I have noticed that my leg and under arm hair hardly grows at all, although I never had much anyway. I barely ever have to shave my legs.

LindaPhoenix

My onc's nurse educater and nurse practioner decided I didn't need to do Herceptin as well.  Never consulted with the Dr. who said I did in my second meeting with him.   So, instead of being done in September I will be done in December.   I started seeing a new Onc after my first Chemo treatment because of the decision making without the Dr's input.  My hair started growing before my last Chemo (12/28/11) and is very thick now.  It is about 3/4" long but, seems to not be growing very fast.   Maybe it's me because I see it everyday?   Can't wait to dispose of the wig.   I'm thinking in another 2 weeks I will get rid of it.  I also have watery eyes which started with the Chemo and has continued with the Herceptin.  I have only done 5 herceptin infusions thus far.   Can't wait to be done with all of this.

Hindsfeet

I've wondered about herceptin slowing hair growth.

The wikiepedia ...The HER receptors are proteins that are embedded in the cell membrane and communicate molecular signals from outside the cell to inside the cell, and turn genes on and off. The HER proteins regulate cell growth, survival, adhesion, migration, and differentiation...

Since Herceptin regulate cell growth it seems logical hair and nails would grow at least at a slower rate. My daughter remarked a few days ago my hair looks thinner. I notice overall thinner hair. I was letting it grow out down to my shoulder, but had it trimmed this week so not to notice my hair thinning.

Because of present heart issues I may be stopping after my fourth infusion on Monday. I will be taking a break or dropping it all together. I wonder how long it will take for my hair to lo be back to normal fullness.

To add, since I'm doing herceptin alone, I know it's not chemo or other drugs contributing to my thinning hair. It will be interesting atter stopping Herceptin how long it will take for my hair to thicken.  

JadeGirl

I'm so glad I found this thread as I too have been wondering why my hair has been slow coming back this time - I felt a bit down when my oncologist said it could be due to my body needing longer to recover as this is my second time on chemo BUT it looks like there could be other reasons too!

During my first treatment round (chemo only, no Herceptin ), my eyelashes/brows fell out but were practically fully grown within 3 days and I ditched my wig approx 10 - 12 weeks after chemo ended.

My last chemo treatment this time was on 9 March (and am continuing with Herceptin) and the hair re-growth rate is no where near what it was before.  My eyelashes/brows are only 1/2 grown and my hair has just started to 'fuzz'.  I also noticed that a cut on my leg has taken longer than usual to heal. 

I guess while it's annoying, I'll take it as a sign that the Herceptin is doing it's thing.  Just glad to know there are other reasons to consider, other than my body is falling apart!

Yellowbrickroad

Hello I live in Scotland. When I attended the Bearson clinic for radiotherapy before herceptin I found out the name of a hair colour product as my hair is also completely White! Yaaar. Was long and a lovely Amber colour. I will be phoni g the Beatson and let you know product name. Ach well guess that's the least of worries. Fed up wearing wigs.

Hindsfeet

Try chea seeds. I haven't used it for awhile because I'm plum out of it. When using it my hair grew thicker and faster. The last few months since running out of chea seeds and being on herceptin I've noticed my hair is thinner. I buy my chea seeds at Bob's Red Mill. You can probably find it on the Internet. You can put it in a smoothie, or just drink it. It has no taste.

Bwinkler

I have been on Herceptin every four weeks for 5 1/2 years. Over the past year, I have definitely seen a significant thinning of my hair? Also, it used to have a lot of body and none now. Also, the last time I had color applied by my stylist, I had a 3" circle of red/burned scalp. I am trying to decide whether to have color applied again, now two months since the scabs have healed. 

MizMarie

Before BC, my hair always grew fast. It definitely is growing more slowly, but if I really think about, the slowdown is not significant. I am nearly 7 months PFC, and I have about 2-1/2 inches in most places, a little less on the top. That represents about a third of an inch per month - not much less than the "average" half-inch per month. What makes the difference for me is that my hair is SUPER curly and it grows up and out, rather than down. It seems shorter than it really is.

ccjj

I believe Herceptin is definitely slowing my hair growth.  I had to take a herceptin break for 6 weeks and my hair was growing great, as fast as it did prior to BC. Back on the herceptin and it is super slow.  Ugh...

kathleen1966

My hair......oh my hair......I am coming up on ten months since my last Herceptin treatment (wow, hadn't really thought of it until now).  My hair is barely growing still.  I dyed it in April and it has grown maybe half an inch since this time. My hair is STILL not of the consistency it was before chemo and Herceptin.  It is very thick and curly. I can do nothing with it. I recently had it cut again as I can't seem to get it even slightly long, it only grows OUT still. My hair dresser straightened it with an iron and I looked like my old self for about an hour.  As soon as the humidity hit it, poof, it was out again.....I really, really, HATE this hair. But, I am really glad to have it. And I have decided to go and get a straightening iron...growth continues to be very slow for me....