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Hair loss or thining and hair color

Nursewithcancer profile image
18 Replies

Hello my lovely ladies.

I am looking for feedback. I am on my first cycle of ibrance. My whites are really showing and I am due for color. Have any of you experienced hair loss or thinning on ibrance and do you use hair color? I have an appointment tomorrow and am not sure if I should use hair color. I appreciate any feedback.

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Nursewithcancer profile image
Nursewithcancer
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18 Replies
nstonerocks profile image
nstonerocks

Yes to hair loss and thinning. Big change in texture from thick and wavy to limp and much thinner. I stopped coloring my hair after chemo. It is pure white. I put purple streaks in it. I’m 65 so don’t need a prom date and can’t deal with roots. I like it. It makes me feel spunky, and those brave souls who comment seem to like it. There isn’t much avant- garde where I live, so I get a lot of looks. The kids at school are amused by it. In NYC no one would give a second glance. 😱

Purple60 profile image
Purple60

Hi, yes I have been on Ibrance and letrozole for 5 months. Both can cause hair loss. The first month I had no hair loss but then it began and came out in first fulls. I have about a 50% loss at this point. I continue to work in the business world and at this point too uncomfortable to go out with my natural hair at this point. I can report that the loss is definitely slowing down at this point....and I can only hope it will grow back. But in the interim I have gotten a topper piece to put over my natural hair and my confidence is back! Best of luck to you.

Mermaiden profile image
Mermaiden

Hello Nurse with cancer. I remember wondering the same thing at the beginning. I did start doing color again, tho gentle without peroxide. I had some (25%) of hair loss the first four months or so tho I did not attribute it to color. Then it suddenly stopped. And has been steadily getting fuller again. I’ve even done two Brazilian Blowouts. I figure, as long as I have hair, it might as well look it’s best! I’ve been on this treatment protocol for one year now, and no new sites have popped up. Am very grateful and planning on that continuing for a very long time! All the best to you!

Nursewithcancer profile image
Nursewithcancer in reply toMermaiden

Thank you. I decided to go with it. What the heck it will make me feel better. So glad to hear that you have been stable. I hope that I can say the same in a year.

Mimigram profile image
Mimigram

I use hair color and highlights with no problem. Ibrance does cause hair thinning.

Jerseygirl45 profile image
Jerseygirl45 in reply toMimigram

That's what I thought. I think it was the letrozol. When they stopped that the hair got thicker even on the Ibrance.

Bubbles001 profile image
Bubbles001

I am on round 3 of Ibrance/Faslodex and have hair thinning and change in texture. I’m still coloring my hair but am washing it less often. I hope the thinning stops soon. Luckily, my hair was thick, so I can lose a lot before anyone but me notices.

BeckyinMaine profile image
BeckyinMaine

I waited until about the sixth month and then had highlights again. No problem for my hair and I felt better.

Kathyquilts profile image
Kathyquilts

I’ve been on Ibrance for 14 months. I color. I didn’t start really losing hair until 8 months in. It’s falling out faster than growing in, so now I have spots that are almost bald, spots that are curly ( I have poker straight hair), and the new hair is wispy in some places. Color on the roots helps disguise the thin areas and actually improves my texture and shine. I don’t see coloring to have any affect on the hair loss, but it really helps the appearance and my self esteem.

Jerseygirl45 profile image
Jerseygirl45

I was on letrozole and Ibrance for almost two years and always colored my hair. Did have thinning but that was not from the dye. It is bad enough we are going through this we need to feel good.

Get your hair done.

Barbara

Julie2233 profile image
Julie2233

I've had 10 rounds of faslodex and ibrance. I noticed that my hair has thinned, but it came back incredibly thick after finishing chem 2 years ago I'm hoping that it's just settling down. I made the decision to stop colouring my hair when I started on ibrance but I really hate the salt and pepper and grey on top look. So I've booked to have blond highlights put in which should brighten the grey and the foils mean it's not going to be in contact with the scalp.

Cshipley123 profile image
Cshipley123

I was on Ibrance and letrozole for 10 months. My hair was somewhat thinner but I colored it every 8 weeks and it was fine.

Scubad99 profile image
Scubad99

My Wife has MBC and on Ibrance and letrozole. We had a question, does the scalp cooling help? since it is pill form, i would imagine we would need to use the home type of Gel cooling caps. Anyone done this?

i have a call into our oncologist to get their answer, but thought i would ask here. Saw some great threads.

Klamato profile image
Klamato

Hello, I continue to color my hair, no problem. The only thing my hairdresser objects to is giving me my highlights. I am discouraged about that! My hair did thin a little but the worse part is that my hair is very brittle and filled with crazy shapes. I hate this. My stylist is afraid to highlight for fear of breakage etc. I'm giving this another month but miss my blonde highlights, so I'm going to have her put a few in next time I go there! Dryness of lips, eyes, hair is impossible, but I just got my PET scan results and tumors are shrinking and there is a lack of activity in the liver and bones. So I'll live with the side effects in hopes that my life keeps going on! God bless us all! Kathy, from Syracuse, NY.

ALYogaGirl profile image
ALYogaGirl

The first time I was on Ibrance, I did not have hair thinning but used the all natural dye from Whole Foods and it was fine. The hair thinning I am having now is due to another drug.

Sejj profile image
Sejj

I am on Ibrance for a year. I have had hair loss. I still have my hair colored and cut even though I wear a wig most of the time.

cherylgamson profile image
cherylgamson

I just discovered an organic hair color that is mailed to me on a regular basis. It is called e-salon. I sent them a picture of myself, and they matched the color well.

Red1246 profile image
Red1246 in reply tocherylgamson

That’s great. Where are you based? I live in California and wonder if I too might find this. Online? Thanks so much fir the u formation and all best, Kathleen

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