Aromatase Inhibitors & Hair Loss

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Tina11
Tina11 Member Posts: 5
edited December 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello everyone,

My mom was put on Arimidex after 3 years of Tamoxifen (which she tolerated very well) and had a number of side effects including hair loss. Other side effects seemed to be getting better but the hair loss was a problem.

She took Arimidex for about 3 months and a few days ago her oncologist switched her to Femara.

Im wondering if anyone here had hair loss as a side effect of AI's? And if so, any luck with changing from one to another or its pointless? Trying not to go back to Tamoxifen as its a bit less effective from what I've heard.

Would appreciate any tips!

-Kristina

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  • DebbieNinja
    DebbieNinja Member Posts: 18
    edited September 2014

    My hair has definitely thinned since starting on Arimidex.  I have a very thin spot on the back of my head and the top is also getting thinner.  It is frustrating because I have to try to style my hair in different ways so that it is not as noticeable.    I have very thick hair before losing it during chemo treatment. 

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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited September 2014

    My hair thinned a great deal on arimidex. was thick before. I now have to have it cut very well, chunky - ie longer, shorter chunks, and use Aveda men's hair grooming wax to make it stand up & fluff up 7 look messy. otherwise you can see my scalp. the hair didn't FALL out, it was more like 4 out of 10 hair follicles refused to grow.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited September 2014

    My neighbor tried all the different drugs she still had hair loss I've been lucky no hair loss.

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited September 2014

    ....arimidex? i didn't notice much hair loss, cause i was so busy noticing hair growth! but in the last couple months, i have been noticing especially in the nape of my neck, a tangle will develop overnight. and so i would comb it out, and that is when i would notice strands coming out from all over my head, tens a day. but, i had stopped doing biotin, so i think i will start again.

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  • jpteacher1
    jpteacher1 Member Posts: 52
    edited September 2014

    I have been wondering about Arimidex and hair loss ever since I began taking the medication in July.  I have had a thick head of hair all my life.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and only needed radiation therapy plus Arimidex, I was elated.  Now, I am experiencing my hair starting to thin out.  It's more like finding a strand here and a strand there.  Now I am worried after reading the posts.  I have an appointment with my beautician on Wednesday.  Believe me we will be having a conversation about what to do.  What is everyone else doing besides watching yourself get bald?

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  • SoLinda
    SoLinda Member Posts: 120
    edited September 2014

    My hair grew back thick and curly after chemo.  And brown! Prior to that, I had fine, poker straight, blonde hair.  After two years on anastrozole, I was switched to femara and my hair started to fall out and has continued to do so over the past year. , So did my eyelashes ...  I have eyelashes, but they are sparse and stubby.  My onc. told me that this is normal because of the loss of estrogen from the AI ... she also told me to cut my hair during the cycle of the full moon to encourage new growth.   I just stopped taking AIs, so it will be interesting to see if my hair changes again.

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited September 2014

    I take femera and had hair loss. I lost a lot in the begining and now it has started to slow down. I still lose it everyday though. My MO said that it would eventually slow down. I've been trying Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. Not sure if it is helping yet. I had think hair to begin with so I'm really the only person who can tell it's a lot thinner. 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited October 2014

    I've been on Arimidex or its generic equivalent for more than 6 years -- since I finished chemo in June 2008. I am absolutely sure that Arimidex has contributed to thinning of my hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes as well as scalp hair. My hair was very thick pre-chemo, and it was growing back nicely until the Arimidex kicked in. Now, it's fine and thin, my brows are thin and patchy, and my lashes are short and stubby. My onc confirmed that what I'm seeing is likely due to estrogen suppression. I figure it's like what happens in (very) elderly women: scalp hair gets really thin and brows almost disappear. <sigh>

    otter

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited October 2014

    My hair thinned on tamoxifen and arimidex.

    It puts your body in ultimate menopause, and thinning hair as we age is "normal."

    Other meds also contribute---my sister is on beta blockers and has thinning hair; thyroid meds--she is on and says that has not helped.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited October 2014

    Oh God - something else to look forward to. It seems as though the insults to body, soul and self-image never stop with this disease.

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited October 2014

    Good point, wallycat. There could be quite a few other factors contributing to thinning hair. I think sometimes we don't want to admit that it might be occurring anyway. ;)

    otter

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  • spots
    spots Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2014

    I've been on tamoxofin for 2 years.  I am just starting to experience hair loss so I am not sure if it is because of that or something else.  Just found out my "spots" in my back are growing so maybe that is what is causing it.  I may have to go on Arimidex because of the growth of the tumors.  Not sure if I want to.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited December 2014

    I've just re-read my post above, from October 2nd, which, unexpectedly, turned out to be 11 days before I started neoadjuvant Femara. I feel like I should apologize for it!

    Having taken it now for 2 months, I have to say that I've had NO issues with it. My hair is drier but I don't think that can be attributed to the medication.

    I'm actually VERY, very grateful to be on it, as it's reduced my tumor (which was under 2cm) to almost nothing and looks like it's clearing my node as well, which means I'll probably be able to avoid ALND. My perspective on AIs has done a 180; Femara is my wonder drug.

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