Tamoxifen and hairloss?

terri---actually, after 5 years on tamoxifen (and now on evista which is very similar), my hair is thicker and wavier than it has ever been.

Anne

I just started Tamoxifen, and am fearing hairloss too! I've read that it is a common side effect, and my mother's hair got VERY thin on it. Thin hair does run in the family though -I think that makes a difference. I'm just hoping it doesn't interfere with the regrowth of my hair,eyebrows, eyelashes etc. post chemo!

I've been on tamoxifen for 18 months and don't have noticed very small amt. of thinning, but nothing more than what was happening anyway due to my age.   I'm 49 now, so it could be just going through the menopausal change process that's causing it.  It's mostly around the temples that I notice slightly less hair than I used to have.  And it does break easier than previously.  However, my hair still looks shiny and still very rare to see any grays.  I've never had to color it.  If I use the right shampoo and blow dry it rather than letting it air dry, it really looks full.   So can't say the tamox has really caused any problems there.

Now as for my skin, I'm noticing more sagging this year and that bothers me, but then again, would  that not have probably happened anyway?  My daughter says I still look more than 10 years younger than my actual age, and that I'm crazy to complain. 

I think it's the aromotase inhibitors that would really cause thinning and bigger skin changes, as well as the bone loss and joint pains, because they take away all estrogen production in the body.  I've told my Onc I don't ever want to take those.  I'd rather just do my time on tamoxifen and then nothing else.   And yes, vanity is somewhat of a factor here!

I lost so much hair that I really felt like if that was the life I was left with I'd rather take a chance on recurrence.  I was completely, I mean completely, miserable.  I stopped the tamox after talking with my ONC and the hair loss dropped by about 75% within 3 weeks, and is now mostly grown back, and the fallout is still slightly more than I would call normal, but at least the hair on my head looks normal again. 

I've read that about 5% of women have major hair loss with tamox.  I was definitely one of them.  I would actually count the hair that fell out because I couldn't believe what was happening - I didn't have chemo, and after 7 months on tamox I was losing 300 strands a day.

Yesterday ONC suggested I could try tamox again if I want to, but it's really up to me.  I'm really torn - by the stats it only give me a 3% chance of benefit.  I just don't feel like it's worth it.  But you always have that fear!

About 6 weeks after I started Tamox I noticed more hair falling out, but it wasn't visibly a lot thinner until about 6 months after I started it - that's also when the fallout rate more than doubled.  At that point my husband suggested I should try wearing a hairpiece.  I quit the tamoxifen instead and the hair is growing back and pretty normal now.

I started on Tamox the end of January.  The paperwork that came with it listed hair thinning as a possible SE.  Since I have pretty thin hair normally, and my grandma got EXTREMELY thin as she aged, I was worried.  I started using Pantene Full & Thick shampoo and conditioner right away.  People at church have actually started to comment that my hair looks good now.  It's definitely worth a try.

I too am wondering if once the Tamox is stopped, will the hair grow back.  My hair came in curly after chemo and is now starting to straighten out.  I feel as though it is thinner in front and I can't tell if it's just because it isn't curly anymore or whether I'm losing hair.  I am also noticing hair falling out when I curl the front of my hair with the curling iron.  I hadn't noticed any falling out until now.  Maybe I'm noticing it because it's longer?  Before chemo though I lost a decent amount of hair everyday.  I'm afraid it's because of the Tamox.  Been on it since mid -December.

Hi, I've been on Tamoxifen for just about 7 months. I'm curious what others have experienced with regard to body hair. Not only the hair on your head, but also underarms, arms, legs, and yes, down there too. My hair regrowth from chemo (4xTC) has been slow (in all of the areas just mentioned) and a dermatologist suggested that it might be the Tamoxifen. Of course, I'm concerned about the long-term effects of the chemo Taxotere, but I interested in knowing what others have experienced with Tamoxifen. Thanks! ~Jumpy

I have to admit that I am extremely nervous thinking about taking Tamoxifen.  I see my MO tomorrow (10 weeks PFC), and I'm sure he will write me a prescription for it.  I'm more than two months PFC and barely have a quarter inch of hair, and certainly not enough to even go without a hat.  The hair loss for me is one of the most devastating things I've encountered since BC took over my life, and I cannot imagine living the next five years without some hope of regrowth. Of course, I don't want to have a recurrence after all I've been through (surgery, chemo, rads), and I have young kids and a husband to think of too.  But quality of life is something to think about, is it not?  Ugh.  We've all been through too much!