low iron levels/ anemia and hair loss

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amberyba
amberyba Member Posts: 608
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Ladies, this sounds crazy to me, but I don't know if it is something anyone else has experienced....shortly after my lumpectomy and before starting radiation, I started noticing lots of hair loss in the shower when I washed my hair...it got worse when I started radiation and has continued since I finished radiation....the rad team told me it was my nerves.

the med onc checked blood work  a couple of weeks ago and found me to be iron deficient anemia. I am taking ferrous sulfate now.

It occured to me to research if iron deficient anemia could cause hair loss. Indeed I found stuff on the web where it could.

Has anyone else had lumpectomy, rads and anemia with noticeble hair loss?

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited July 2008

    I didnt have Rads.  But I was very Iron Deficient Anemic for years.  I used to shed more then my Long fured Dog!   When My Iron levels were back to normal for a time...My hair did fall out less.

    After my BM I was Anemic from surgery & My hair started thinning right after surgery.

     Pam

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited July 2008

    Did you lose a lot of blood during your lumpectomy?

    Normally they'd do a blood count test before your surgery and would have picked that up. 

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  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited July 2008

    Hi Rose.

    I had my iron levels checked in Late Feb.  They were normal.   I have not been Anemic for several years.  I dropped to 9 after surgery...I was told I lost some blood.  But not enough for a transfusion.

    Pam

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  • myheidiscrapbooking
    myheidiscrapbooking Member Posts: 245
    edited July 2008

    Hi Rose, I did not have Rad. with the hair loss however when I had AC chemo - all hell broke loose with Anemia, hair loss and actually had to have an iron infusion with my chemo on the 2nd one. I wonder if your hair loss is due to the above and added stress (like alopecia??) I dont know but stress can do alot. I know anemia and low iron reeked havoc on my body. I was like LEAD. I hope you talk to your dr.s about this. I had to be very pushy with mine as I thought at times they thought it was in my head. (no pun intended) :) Good luck to you and push!

    Heidi

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