Tamoxifen and Grey hair

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prayrv
prayrv Member Posts: 941
edited November 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Here's a new one for everyone - has anyone notice that their grey hair has really taken off?  All of a sudden, my grey hair has just taken over my head!  I did not have chemo so I never lost my hair, have had normal grey hair since I was 25, but since my dx in April, and definately after rads and now tamoxifen since October, I have noticed that I'm grey hair city.  My roots make me look like a SKUNK!  Any thoughts?

Take care

Trish

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2007

    Trish,

    I too have had grey hair since my late teens, early twenties....I keep it dyed and have for years...

    Last month my daughter was getting married so even though my dye job was due I wanted to wait until just before the wedding....

    What a surprise!!!! I had NO idea my grey was that bad!!!!!.....your analogy of the skunk syndrome is completely correct!!!!!

    Im afraid to really let it grow now to see how grey it really is....Im only 47 and already feel years older after my bc dx and treatments.

    Im not sure there is an answer here but for me.......Im going to continue to dye my hair as Im just not ready to face old age just yet.....I made my daughter promise to tell me if dying my hair makes me look old or like and older woman trying to look young....

    Hugs

    Jule

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited December 2007

    I am also 47. I was on Tamox for 8 months only and stopped taking it in June. I also have had silver hair since my 20's, though I have not colored it. That being said, last month when I had my hair cut, my husband asked me if I had my hair highlighted!!! I was trying a different style and I of course slapped him. He said that it looked like the streaks were put there on purpose. I have light areas mixed in with the dark brown. I don't know if the tamox caused the silver or heriditary (my great grandfather was totally silver in his 20's).

    Sheila

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited December 2007

    I feel like the odd duck...

    my hair is actually getting less gray (I've had grey strands since I was 16 and was about 40% grey)...and where they were wirey and coarse, they are like silk now...ACK.

    I am nervous about this....

    seems like tamoxifen is acting like estrogen in my body and it terrifies me Frown

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  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited December 2007

    I'm glad that I'm not the only who has noticed that their grey hair is coming in faster and in greater quantities since starting tamoxifen.  I'm only 44, but if that's the worst of my se's, I'll take it.

    Take care all.

    Trish

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  • 3boys4me
    3boys4me Member Posts: 319
    edited December 2007

    I'm 47 and lost my hair during chemo.  When it started to grow in, it was GREY.  Now I knew I had some grey, but this is ridiculous!  Can't decide if I want to color it or just let mother nature take its course.  Misery loves company so it's nice to know others are trying to figure out what to do with their hair, too.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited December 2007

    I have also been gray since I was about 22, and I am 44 now.  But, I don't think the Tamoxifen is making my hair gray, it is just gray.  I won't know til it grows in better, because I lost most of it to chemo.  So far, the sides of my hair are a 'silver' color, because it is coming in darker, black actually, and I NEVER had black hair before.  The black is mixing with the white all along the sides and it is gray.  UGH!

    HARLEY

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  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited December 2007

    I lost all my hair from chemo - now it's back, about 1/2 inch long and ALL GREY! 100%! Yes, it's a nice silver/steel grey and my friends all love it but sheesh, I'm too young for this!

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  • bomber410
    bomber410 Member Posts: 564
    edited December 2007

    I can't blame Tamox for my grey.  I knew going into chemo that I was going to do a wait and see on my hair color as it grew back in.  Well it is now growing back in.  Probably 1/2 inch long.  It is salt and pepper.  I'm getting compliments for the color and length.  We shall see.  It is still too short to put any color to it.  Check with me in February.  :-)

    Debbie 

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  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited December 2007

    friends have been giving me "more" magazine (for women over 40) and there was a story about a woman pretending to be out in the online dating world with two pics:  one with gray hair, and one without, and the one with gray hair sparked more interest!

    that said, it's hard to leave the gray in, as I've always had it colored...

    and it's growing in with "sparkles".  and is starting to be wiry and curly and just whose hair is this anyways????  Not mine!  Yikes.   

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited December 2007

    Did you say Sparkly?  WOW!  That sounds beautiful!  I think mine will come in 'gunmetal' gray... not very attractive!

    Yes, I think I am TOO young for GRAY hair also!   I want to wait til I've been finished with chemo for SIX months, and that won't be until April...  so for now, I just sit and wait!!   I have been just sitting and waiting for the hair to grow, but so far, it is still just 1/4" .  Maybe that is as long as it's going to get.

    Harley

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  • ManuelaP
    ManuelaP Member Posts: 23
    edited December 2007
    My hair fell out from chemo and grew back completely gray.   Tamox causes hair-thinning I read.  I think cancer, the stress, and the brutality of the treatments ages one at a faster rate than normal.   That's my take on it.  Dye is the only remedy and it sure makes me feel better. Undecided
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  • ManuelaP
    ManuelaP Member Posts: 23
    edited December 2007
    Same  here, I am 47, and my hair grew back gray.  Yuck, I looked so freaking old.  So I died my 1/2" mane.   First I was afraid of using the chemicals but what the heck, they been pumping chemicals into me for a year now.  I have to say, it boosted my esteem 100%.  Cool
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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited December 2007

    I am afraid to color my hair, because maybe it causes cancer. 

    Harley

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited December 2007

    My husband is also younger than I am but people think that he is older, He is turning gray (I don't know what is causing his). I let my gray/silver hair shine. Some think that I have had it highlited at the salon.

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  • my3girls
    my3girls Member Posts: 3,766
    edited December 2007

    I dyed my gray!  I was very gray with my new growth.  I have highlighted my hair for years.  I will wait till I get older before I decide not to color, just me.  I love my new color that my hairdresser put on!

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  • AndreaJ50
    AndreaJ50 Member Posts: 889
    edited November 2014

    My hair has been coming in grey streaks. It has increased dramatically since radiation and Tamoxifen (past six months)

    Coincidence??

    I just realized you can't tell in my photo because my hair is falling forward. Different story when I comb it back.

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