Hair loss AFTER treatment is over

I don't know about head hair loss because I used the cold caps. However, I lost my eyebrows and eye lashes about 8 weeks after I finished chemo. I think there are times things can be delayed. I was also told the damage to your follicles can last about 6 months.

Linda, same here, as I posted on the Hair Hair Hair thread just today.  My scalp hair is thinner, my brows are patchy, and my lashes are short.  Even the hair on my arms, legs, and "elsewhere", isn't back to what it was pre-chemo.  But, is that because of the chemo (Taxotere & Cytoxan), or is it because I've been on Arimidex for the past 2 years?  My scalp hair grew back just fine and was thick and curly 8 months post-chemo.  Then, it gradually started to thin.

The topic of "thinning hair" surfaces every once in awhile on the Hormonal Therapy forum.  I think it's an under-appreciated SE of the aromatase inhibitors.  We appreciate it, of course; but our oncos seem to overlook it.  Mine told me thinning hair was a known SE of Arimidex, but it hadn't been studied in clinical trials because it was difficult to measure objectively.  <sigh>

As for stress-driven or hormone-driven hair loss ... my hairdresser told me she lost a lot of hair during her pregnancy; and she had a friend who darn near went bald with each of hers!  So, there are lots of possible causes of overall thinning, or outright bald patches like Sarah is describing.

You're right -- Sarah's dermatologist should be able to figure it out.  I hope so, anyway.  And I hope Sarah posts the answers after she meets with him/her.

otter

Nancy, good luck with the start of chemo tomorrow.  

I think there is something going on with the AIs regarding hair loss and extremely slow growth.   I finished chemo the end of January and started Femara in early April.   My head hair came in really thick and is still fine, but since starting Femara I've noticed I only have to shave my legs once and week and my arm pits even less frequently.   I'm not complaining exactly...but I hope the same slow growth doesn't happen on my head!

Patty

I just searched "bald spots" on this board and found this post. I finished chemo Dec. 2008 and my hair has come back, BUT... my hairdresser and I were just talking about how the original fine/thin texture of the post-chemo hair has never changed, and we thought it would go back to being thick and somewhat coarse.  And, I have two areas of bald spots that I never had, or maybe my hair was so thick I never knew I had them. But, one spot on the top/back of my head is so bald I bought a straw hat to wear on the beach.

I'm not on Femera, Tamoxifin, Arimidex, etc.  no AIs.  I think this is just the residual from chemo.  I think I'll go buy some Nioxin and see if that helps.

Sue

I had a lot of hair loss after the birth of my son and I was eating next to nothing with any calories in it.  I relate it to the poor nutrition more then hormone changes, but both together were my failing.  My husband had also been transferred to Korea when our son was about 6 weeks old and I had a 3 year old, too.  Whew.  

I did the same thing, searched for bald spots.  I finished my Herceptin March 2010.  My hair has grown back, although it is still thin.  But after my reconstruction surgery, I noticed a small round bald spot on the back of my head.  I thought it was from them shaving my head for some reason during the surgery!  But it has not grown back, and it has been 9 weeks.  It was about the size of a quarter, and now it is slightly bigger.  I am starting to get nervous!  After all I have been through, with chemo, loosing all my hair, having to wear wigs, now this??  I am not on anything now.  With Herceptin, it was for a year.  I am done with my year, and am not on any drugs today.  I am taking mega doses of Vitamin D, because of the recent connection of Breast Cancer linked to low levels of Vitamin D.  So, I guess I will look for this shampoo, and maybe call a dermatologist.