iBrance and hair loss

[sabal]

For those of you on iBrance...when did you begin experiencing hair loss or did you not have this side effect???

[Tap321]

I just had a little thinning in first few months.

[sabal in reply to Tap321]

thanks

[Kcuocci]

I have been on for ten months and just in the past month, I'm losing a lot of hair. It's thinning but a lot. Someone suggested taking biotin.

[sabal in reply to Kcuocci]

I was just reading in the "CURE" magazine where 2500 MCG of Biotin helps prevent hair loss. I have been taking 1000 MCG for my nails thinning and it has helped with that. Plan to ask my onc about the dosage and hair loss at next appointment next week. If he doesn't know will pursue it further.

[Kcuocci in reply to sabal]

2500 a day?

[sabal in reply to Kcuocci]

The quote in CURE magazine is 2500 MCG per day. I've been searching the MSK website but can't find a dosage recommendation there. Will keep searching.

[Juliandrea in reply to sabal]

Sabal, did you end up taking biotin and did it help with the thinning of your hair? I am experiencing thinning for the last 5 months and now I am looking for something to help.

[sabal in reply to Kcuocci]

thanks

[sabal in reply to Kcuocci]

Looked at the magazine again and it was quoting the Sloane Kettering Memorial website for Biotin dosage recommendation.

[Juliandrea in reply to Kcuocci]

Hi kuocci. I just read your post on possibly taking biotin for hair thinningDid you end up taking it? And how much? Did it help? I am on this combo for 6 months and still have thinning every time I comb it and lots more when I wash it.

[Bekadawn]

Cycle 4 and my hair I'd thinning. Thankfully I have thick hair and you can't tell it yet.

[Bekadawn in reply to Bekadawn]

Is thinning. Love auto correct

[sabal in reply to Bekadawn]

thanks

[hurricaneheather]

on Ibrance for 22 months. have lost hair, and it's thinned. however, it is not "noticeable" to others.

[sabal in reply to hurricaneheather]

thanks

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

Since my last post to you I had PET scan done which shows remission of solitary nets in T9. As happy as I am I cannot help being saddened by my hair Still shedding - starting cycle 8 next week. I can see new hair growing but shedding loads more than what I see growing. Will it ever get to the point of not shedding? I need so much reassurance.

[hurricaneheather in reply to Gramat]

it makes the heart happy to hear that the scan "shows remission...." i can not recall when i noticed the excessive shedding stopped? of course, the hair naturally sheds and is still shedding; i think long hair makes it appear that there is more shedding. i notice the 'volume' has been consistent for a few years.

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

Thanks for your message. I guess you mean natural seasonal shed which would be different to what I am now experiencing. Hair also feels drier, I am hoping that will also change once I can use normal shampoo’s.

[hurricaneheather in reply to Gramat]

yes, the 'seasonal shed.' the hair is drier than pre mets dx and treatment, especially when on an Ibrance cycle. i use vegan hair products and during the extremely dry times, extra (leave in) conditioner and aragon oil.

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

I would have keratin treatment to my hair but would not dare until shedding stops. I had keratin on a number of occasion post chemo 5 years ago and it dealt with dryness. I just hope I will be able to do this again. Did you cut your hair short or is it still long? Mine is shoulder length now but I find it is breaking, did you experience this?

[hurricaneheather in reply to Gramat]

i did not lose my hair. interestingly, i cut it short in early 2011, prior to the initial diagnosis. then, let it grow out again.

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

I will keep you posted, see what happens. Thanks.

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

I used cold cap during chemo when diagnosed with primary in 2015. Are you responding well to Ibrance be Letrozole?

[hurricaneheather in reply to Gramat]

i hope you were satisfied with the cold cap. i considered it as an option, if needed for the initial dx in 2011; it was new at that time. i hope that you will be able to make the choices for your hair that bring you happiness. i have continued to allow the hair to grow. i still notice some breakage around the forehead. i still color it with a plant based product, not Henna. this profile pic is from 2018. the body is responding well to to Ibrance, Anastrozole, and Lupron; there are manageable side effects. fIVe years on the same line of treatment.

[Gramat in reply to hurricaneheather]

Yes, cold cap did work. I kept a lot of hair and Yes did lose hair but I knew it would grow. I grew a beautiful blanket of hair and now I see my hair shedding daily and how it has lost life. I am hopi g this will pick up soon. I am taking Viviscal vitamins - on my 6th week and noticing small new hairs. I just hope it will stop shedding the way it is and starts growing.

[Susia59]

I did not lose my hair, a bit of thinning did occur. I've been on Ibrance for a year and a half now.

[sabal in reply to Susia59]

thanks

[Boogitymom]

I've been on ibrance for 15 months, hair thinning, hair loss varies month to month

[sabal in reply to Boogitymom]

thanks

[Meadesmith]

two years on ibrance, some thinning. After adding Xgeva the thinning is very noticeable. I have been taking biotin and noticed nails are better. It was not the appearance so much as the breakage, torn and hurting. Also, i scratched myself a lot. I am ramping up to 1000 mcg this month after six months on 500. I believe that this, like so many cancers treatments, is highly personalized. try it for three months and see if you see a difference.

[sabal]

I went up to 2000 MCG of Biotin a day. I will see what happens. Suddenly I seem to be taking so many meds!!!...chemo, Gerd meds, pain meds, and soon to start movantix for opioid constipation...not much fun!!!

[JeanieLee3]

Hi Sabal-- around the 4th or 5th month -- lost hair-- more like thinning-- It stopped after that and now into my seventh month with no loss.... good luck with it...

[Gramat in reply to JeanieLee3]

What dose of Ibrance are you on and did shedding stop and did you get new regrowth?

[GG22]

Sabal - I have been on Ibrance/Letrozole combo for about 5 month no. I am noticeing some thinning but only noticeable to me. I actually think the hair loss could be from the Letrozole (estrogen blocker) rather than the Ibrance. I cut my hair to shoulder length. I have very fine hair. I have also added biotin as well as a marine based hair supplement. The lady that cut my hair said that the best thing to eat for hair is greens like spinach, kale, cabbage and broccoli. I can only east so much of those so I have a serving of SuperGreens that come in powdered form. I hope that all these posts have been of some help. All we can do is try and see what works. Prayers.

[Hope1111 in reply to GG22]

Hi Sabal. The hair loss is from the Letrozole. I asked the oncologist. It is blocking Estrogen which will affect hair, nails and sex drive.

[ArizonaGramma]

By the second week on Ibrance I started to experience some thinning. I am on second cycle and hair loss continues when I run my hands through my hair each day, but it is not as bad as when I lost my hair in chunks on my first rounds of intravenous chemo four years ago for the breast cancer. Back then I ended up shaving off the remainder and using a wig.

[ArizonaGramma]

I am on cycle 2 and my hair thinning started by second week of the first cycle. Still losing it by just running my hands through my hair, but it is not like the first chemo where I lost chunks and ending up shaving the rest. This is a noticeable thinning, itchy scalp too.

[Shylow7]

After 3 months.

[deepsea222]

within a few weeks of starting it dr says use biotin offers no other help biotin seems to have no effect at all there has to be something out there to strengthen hair