Thinning Hair 5 years later? Help

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Mary-Lou
Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230

I have noticed my hair getting thin, and I really don't know what to do. It grew back really thick as it was before BC. Now it doesn't feel like my hair at all.

Any body else have this experience.

Comments

  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited November 2010

    Thank You Mary-Lou.

    I'm on Femara since March 2006 and about 7 months ago I started to notice my forhead is getting bigger.

    I'm loosing it from the front. Maybe it will grow back after I'm done with Femara.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    might just be age. Seriously I don't know how old your are but if you've gone through menopause some women see hair thinning. Granted I do think you should discuss this with your doctor (internist or gyno).

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited November 2010
    I'm not on any meds for BC. I am old...lol will be 55 in Jan. 
  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited November 2010

    After about 1 year on Aromasin, I noticed my hair thinnning. I was losing waay to many strands every day. The front was really getting thin. I finished up my Aromasin last May and didn't ask about extending past 5 yrs (3 on Tamox, 2 on Aromasin). I wanted to see if my hair would thicken back up and we had a family wedding approaching - I didn't want to lose any more before that occasion. It seems about the same - no better, no worse.

    I guess the lack of estrogen results in thinner hair.

     Annie

  • BadPatient
    BadPatient Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2010

    I was on femara for 5 years and after going off of it I grew a full head of hair! While on femara I didn't even notice that my hair was particularly thin but man, what a nice head of hair I have now. It's not super thick but sure is nicer than when I was on femara. And I feel so much better...my brain is back (kind of!).

    I, too, am fully menopausal from a hysterectomy when I was 43. I can only wash my hair a couple of times a week because I have ZERO oil it seems. I am sure if I still had a little bit of estrogen that I would have thicker hair. Welcome to middle age!!!

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited November 2010
    I also have oily hair now, it was always dry. Maybe it is menopause..... CRAP... I have a wedding coming up in the spring. To much middle and thin hair. I guess I will live. I said I wasn't going to sweat the small stuff.
  • molly52
    molly52 Member Posts: 389
    edited November 2010

    On the Arimidex Thread - they are talking about taking Biotin (Vit B7) to help for thinning hair. I haven't tried it myself, yet - couldn't find it in the local pharmacy.

  • sdstarfish
    sdstarfish Member Posts: 544
    edited December 2010

    Sorry to hear about your hair. I know some people who have used rosemary to stimulate hair growth. If you want to try that, make a 'tea' of hot water and a sprig of rosemary. Let it sit until cool. Then pour it over your hair. Do this 2x week.

    Or, you could try biotin, which helps hair grow. Biotin is found in peanuts.

    Another idea is coconut milk. Once a week, use it like a deep conditioner.

    I've known all of these to work in different friends of mine. Good luck!

    Lisa

    Pink Kitchen

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited December 2010

    Thanks for all the feedback. I will try these.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2010

    Could be a Thyroid problem or low Vitamin D levels...google it...BEST WISHES to you!

  • KansasKay
    KansasKay Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2010

    Mary Lou - the same thing is going on with me and it is driving me crazy.  I am 56 yrs. and on Tamoxifen.  I had very thick hair my whole life, that is until I started on Tamoxifen.  It was falling out so badly my hair stylist didn't want to put highlights in my hair any longer.  I didn't have chemo, so didn't loose it that way.  Maybe its the loss of estrogen but I hate finding hair all over everything I wear.  I've been tested (by my GP)for thyroid levels and Vitamin D, which were both in the normal range.  I have been taking Biotin as suggested above but don't see that it has really helped.  I've been on it for  6 months at the dosage suggested by the dermatologist I went to because I was so worried about this.  When the stupid nurse from the GP's office called with the lab results and I asked what the doctor suggested I do next, she said, "Nothing, your results are normal.  Maybe it's just stress."  Wow - you think!  Yes, stress from dealing with people like you for the past two years since my diagnosis.  My B.S. is in Medical Technology and I HATE having nurses call with lab results.  They can't answer any of the technical questions I have as a laboratory scientist; they just parrot what ever note the doctor left.  I do not want to talk to some nurse about these on going problems.  I will pay to see the doctor again out of my own pocket.  Please do not just laugh off my problems.  - Kay

  • carol1949
    carol1949 Member Posts: 562
    edited December 2010

    Mary Lou, As some of the other posts mention, it could be thyroid, stress, almost anything.  Low estrogen....  I am a hairstylist w/ many year of experience.  Have fought w/ thin hair for years, but recently switched from synthroid to Armor natural thyroid and my hair thickened by 30%.  I try to take b complex vitamins and also just started on biotin, 5,000 mg for fingernails which are weak due to being in  so much water and chemicals.

    Also, I have had good results from Phtologee's program for hair loss in women. I use the phytopolein occasionally, and also the phytocyane and their vialls for hair loss.  You can buy it from Sephora and/or Ulta.  Just Google Phtyo.com and you can read about it.

    Typically, I can tell immediately if a client is on thyroid medications and/or blood pressure meds as they are terrible on the hair.  Since the estrogen blockers tend to make people loose hair, I am assuming that low estrogen levels can as well.

  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited December 2010

    I was on such an awful diet after my last child was born that my hair began comming out.  I lived on Freasca, a no cal, drink.  It wasn't until I was getting bald in places that I figured it out and began taking vitamins and improving my diet (my dh was in Korea and my other kid was only 3) by beginning to cook again. 

    I began to loose hair on Tamox but have been off for 5 + years and no improvement.  Hummm, I knew low thyroid people had less hair (I have awful eyebrows and pubic hair and only shave my legs every few weeks, except summer).  But i'm supposed to be with in normal limits now with taking oral replacement of thyroid.  Never knew it was hard on hair tho????

    I have had 2 major surgeies within 6 mos. and now my hair won't hold color--the top and crown are absolutely SLICK when when wet and won't even hold a curl with a curling iron.  Had my last perm in Feb, so it Should be in good shape, but isn't.  It's really straight as a stick.  I will continue to let it grow and maybe get rid of all the pain meds and anesthesia.

    Sorry TMI and all I meant to say was ck. out nutrition.

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited December 2010

    Dotti, never TMI for me. Maybe it is my BP meds? That may be it for sure. I may be able to get off them soon, I have been doing very well at the Y. Lots of my numbers have changed. I feel funny with thin hair. Mine grew back as thick as it was before.

  • ADK
    ADK Member Posts: 2,259
    edited January 2011

    I had very thick hair.  Due to taking steroids for an extended period of time and family history of arthritis, I started doing annual injections of Reclast three years ago at age 51.  When I had my last injection, my hair was falling out like crazy.  I checked it out on line and there it was - side effect of thinning hair.  The loss stopped after about six weeks.  I don't know if you are doing Reclast, but it could be the culprit.  Another reason for hair loss is diet - I had a friend who had gastric bypass surgery and due to the new diet, she started losing her hair.  It lasted a couple of months for her, but she seems to be doing fine now.

  • Mary-Lou
    Mary-Lou Member Posts: 2,230
    edited August 2011
    Can bone mets make your hair thin?

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