Tamoxifen and Hair Loss

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stef324
stef324 Member Posts: 24
edited March 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I've been on Tamoxifen since August 2014 and have noticed significant hair loss from it. I did not have chemotherapy treatment prior to taking. Luckily I had a very full head of hair to start, but now it's so thin and I keep thinking will it get worse than this. I have very long hair and already had my stylist take off about 6 inches to make my hair appear more full. Now I wonder if I should give myself a short haircut to save myself the anxiety of more hair loss. Can anyone tell me if they too experienced this. Did anything help? Was it temporary or throughout the entire time on Tamoxifen. I've been starting to take a supplement (Biotin) which is supposed to help with strengthening my hair, but its too soon tell if its been helping.

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  • glowcat
    glowcat Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2015

    Hi Stef,

    I just joined today because I am experiencing hair loss while being on Femara for 4 months. I find it very disturbing but don't hear of many other people complaining about hair loss. After 13 weeks of chemo, rad, herceptin my hair grew back thick and curley now I have spots where the hair is thining and I don't want to go back to wearing a wig. I understand that Femara, Arimidex and Aromisin all make you lose hair. I can't figure out why no one ever discusses it. I use Rogain, Biotin and Vit D plus some b12.

    Hope your hair loss is only temporary. They told me I would have to take Femara for five years - does that mean my hair will continue to fall out for five years? Hope not but only time will tell.

    Good luck and God Bless.

    Glowcat

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  • stef324
    stef324 Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2015

    Glowcat,

    I so sorry to hear that you are experiencing the same thing! It is very odd that when you do searches on the side effects of these drugs that hair loss is not mentioned. It's incredible how much hair my has thinned out, and I don't know either, if it will only get worse. With 20% chance of reassurance without Tamox. it's not likely that I will opt out of taking it, and I have to be on this for 5-10 years. I'm only 43 :-(

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  • glowcat
    glowcat Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2015

    Hi Stef

    I'm a very young 67 - still working part time which takes a lot out of me. My husband thinks I'm a nut case when I complain about hair loss. He feels you just have to deal with it - but I say IT'S MY HEAD NOT YOURS! I wore a short bob wig which was very similar to my own hair in length and color but from May through Sept. it was very uncomfortable and hot. Do not want to go that route again. I cut it short and when light blow drying the hairdresser told me to twist and muss it as I dry it. I'm able to hide the spots and it doesn't look too bad until I wash it and then you can really see how thin it has gotten. One saving grace I found was Joico Whipped Foam - it's about $11 online and really makes the hair look thicker. I've tried a lot of others and they are gummy and stickey. This one will keep your hair thick until the next washing. I had shoulder length hair for years and always prided myself on how shiny it was and washed it every day = now I wash the short hair about twice a week. Try the Joico.it is stickey when you first put it in and then dries - I use a pick and fingers to style my spikey locks. Never use a comb or brush because they'll make u lose hair faster.

    Good luck. Glowcat

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  • stef324
    stef324 Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2015

    Glowcat,

    Thank you so much for the tips, I shall try them! I know it seems vain to fuss so much over hair, but as a woman it is important to at least me. I've already lost a breast, I don't want to have to lose more of who I am. My length is past my shoulders covering my chest. Prior to that, it was even longer, so I think I may need to consider the reality of really giving it a serious cut and style change. I've rocked a pixie cut and bob cut before, it may be time for it again. Thank you for your support!

    Peace,

    Stef

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  • glowcat
    glowcat Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2015

    Stef

    U r welcome.  Try the Joico - my hair is considered a pixie cut - a little longer and shaggy and spikey.

    Try it - it will give you a lift and you'll have fun trying it in different styles.

    Good luck and keep in touch.  Let's pray that we don't lose any more.  My Onc said "Oh, your hair will just thin a little"  Ha, why do they lie?  Every time I go into her office she says "you look great" so the last time I went I told her I felt like crap and she looked surprised.  Hello Dr. have you tried these meds??

    Keep smiling - it's the best we could do.

    Glowcat (NJ)

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  • Daninayd
    Daninayd Member Posts: 58
    edited February 2015


    I have been on Tamoxifen since July of 2013. No hair loss. It is possible that you have other condition. Did you consult with a dermatologist? Just a thought.

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  • Manu14
    Manu14 Member Posts: 153
    edited February 2015

    While I was on tamoxifen I didn't notice any hair loss at all; but now I feel my hair is getting more thin, sparse and dry from taking anastrozole. I haven't even been on it that long. I sure hope it doesn't get worse and I'm ready to try something to improve the situation be it Joico, biotin, or whatever anyone else suggests.

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  • stef324
    stef324 Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2015

    Hi Daninayd,

    It's definitely the Tamox. I have the fullest head of hair, luckily a family trait :-) Even my Dad, at 80 has a full head of hair and barely any hair loss. One month in to Tamox my hair was coming out and hasn't been the same since. I liken it to after I gave birth to my two sons and when through this 3 week period of hair loss until my hormones were back to normal, except this time my hair hasn't come back in, its just thin. At this point I don't have any bald spots or over exaggerated part, but my overall volume is 50% down....sadly that is an awful lot. My only saving grace is that I had so much to begin with that to people that don't know me they cannot tell. People that do know me well can tell the difference. I'm just worried that it will get worse. And since this isn't a common symptom there is not much input from the medical community. My Oncologist said we could switch meds, but I've heard similar results from women with other meds too. I guess some of us are more at risk for this than others :-(

    Stef

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  • DaniellaD
    DaniellaD Member Posts: 273
    edited February 2016

    I am only 3 months into taking tamoxifen and am experiencing extreme hair loss. I used cold caps during chemo and noticed less hair fall then! My derm seems to think it the stress of a new drug on my body and that it will level off. She put me on some hair vitamins - Matrix 5000. Praying it slows down bc it's really depressing me.

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  • Dianna_Papa
    Dianna_Papa Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2018

    I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 3 years and the last couple of months I have noticed large amounts of hair falling out during my shower and a very itchy scalp. I just cut a whole bunch of hair off and the hair is still falling out and is especially thinning in the front, where it's the most noticeable. My whole life I have had this wonderful, thick, curly mane and now it's limp, dull and lifeless. I have another 7 years on this drug and feel as though I will be bald before years end :(

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2018

    Hi there Dianna_Papa,

    Welcome to the Community.

    Just to let you know, this thread has been inactive since 2016 so you might not receive many responses to your post,

    May we suggest you also post in the very active thread: Bottle O'Tamox for more engagement with others going through similar situation.

    Also, if you have questions for us regarding the boards, feel free to send us a PM.

    Wishing you well,

    The Mods.

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  • 3dognitemama
    3dognitemama Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2018

    Soon after starting tamoxifen, I began losing unusual amts of hair, as well as having ridiculous breakage. Recently I stopped tamox for 3 mos, to undergo allergy patch testing. During those 3 mos, hair loss lessened to normal. When I restarted tamox, I started grumbling about the copious amts of dog hairs I was seeing on my clothes 1 evening, when I turned to ask my dog, if he was doing this on purpose. Well, when I looked at him, I realized that my remaining dog is the soft haired, long haired dog; my 2 shedders had already passed away. Slow count to 3, "oh, yeah, I'm the 1 who is shedding!"

    I, too, was very bothered about the hair loss. I have lots of hair, but it's baby-fine, so significant hair loss would show easily. I was fortunate enough to have not needed chemo, because I really was not at all certain that I was going to be willing to put my body through that, & go through the hair loss.

    Hope all goes well for you, & that the hair loss subsides soon.

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