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suggestions for thinning hair

PJBinMI profile image
33 Replies

I'm a long timer with MBC and didn't mind haair loss when it was just my arm pits and legs, but now the hair on my head has thinned. Not enough that Ilook much different but when I look in the mirror, I can see mu scalp along the part line. Has anyone's onc oked any of the advertized hair restoration products?

A very minor issue compared to so many side effects and symptoms, but if there's something that'll help this, I'd love to hear about it!

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PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI
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33 Replies

I’m going on 5 years of Ibrance & Faslodex & have had quite a bit of hair thinking in the past year. I’ve tried many hair products with biotin & a stronger one I saw on this community, I think it was Nioxen?. None of it worked. I finally got a prescription from my oncologist for human hair topper (lighter than a wig) and it has restored my confidence. They are pricey. The Rx provides a tax-free price.

All the best!

❤️🙏❤️

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI in reply tohopenowandtomorrow

Thanks! I just got home from an appt at the hair salon, where I've been getting hair cuts since I moved here in 2000. I see the owner and she's just a bit younger than I am. She also has a number of clients who've had or have cancer and her husband has a long term cancer, too. She thinks my thinning is age related and not from cancer.....is that good news or bad, LOL! Five years from Faslodex is very promising! getting that long on one hormonal treatment bodes well for you! I got nearly five years from initial Letrozole and then over 9 years from Faslodex, then around five years from Exemestane. Then the lousy cancer cells morphed from E+ to triple negative. I'm getting hand-foot syndrome from my first "chemo," Xeloda. But I'm stilll here and able to enjoy alot about life! Hope you get a good long time, too. Hugs, Pam

TammyCross profile image
TammyCross in reply toPJBinMI

I thought thinning when I was on Ibrance with fulvestrant injections was age related. When I went on an oral SERD, it came back so bushy I had to thin it. That was a first for me, since I have fine hair.

Susan1953 profile image
Susan1953

I have the same issue with thinning hair. I bought a synthetic topper and ai really like it. It costs around $300. I don’t wear it all the time. 6+ years on Ibrance and letrozole.

Close up indoors
Mimigram profile image
Mimigram in reply toSusan1953

Your hair topper looks very nice. Can you tell me where you bought it?

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi in reply toMimigram

That looks great. Looks like your own hair

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI in reply toSusan1953

Looks very natural! My hair stylist thinks my hair thinning is age related....not exactly good news, LOL! I trust her alot--she's nearly as old as I am and her husband and many clients have cancer. 6+ years on Letrozole is very hopeful for you. I got almost five years from it, then over 9 from Faslodex and have met quite a few metsters who have also gotten more time from Faslodex than from an initial AI. I',m now at a bit over 19 years with MBC, and the E+ cancer cells have becoome triple negative. I'm having very sore hands from Xeloda but it seems to be working. Got reduced dose and so far my hhands are a tiny bit better. Waiting to get more scans after next onc appt.

Sister3nkc profile image
Sister3nkc in reply toSusan1953

Love your hair topper! Can you please share where you got it?

Susan1953 profile image
Susan1953 in reply toSister3nkc

The brand is Ellen Wille, “Just”. It’s my first and very comfortable. I recommend you go to a wig store and she will help you learn how to clip it on.

Sister3nkc profile image
Sister3nkc in reply toSusan1953

Thank you

Camppy3 profile image
Camppy3 in reply toSusan1953

It looks really natural,did you get it through the beauty salon?

Susan1953 profile image
Susan1953 in reply toCamppy3

I got it at a wig store but it is a “topper”. It has 4 clips that fasten to the top of your head. My hairdresser colored my hair to the exact color of the topper so it looks very natural and covers the crown of my head which has thinning.

I am on the left in the white outfit.
Andersl profile image
Andersl

Keep your scalp healthy. Use a good shampoo and conditioner. Make a smoothie with apple, strawberry and blue/black berries and a banana. Add spinach and teaspoon of smooth peanut butter and enough milk to create the consistency you like.There are specific vitamins to help with hair strengthening. Google will help to find them.

You could also try CBD oil as ots helped to improve my eyebrows.

Sorry, got to rush but just wanted to reply before I go out.

I'm sure you'll get lots more info from others om here.

AndersL xx

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell

I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole for over 2 1/2 years and have lost a lot of volume in my hair. I, too, think some of it is age related as I have friends who are not on meds like this and experience hair thinning. I keep my hair cut quite short and I have 2 wigs I can wear when I go out. One was relatively inexpensive from Wigs.com and is synthetic, the other was part human hair/part synthetic and more expensive but insurance covered half of it as I had a prescription from the oncologist. I get lots of complements on both and it makes me feel more confident in public when I wear them. My sister who is on Letrozole recommended a hair product to me but I can't find her text with the info. I have asked her for it again. When I get it, I will post it here. I know we are not supposed to take Biotin or other products like that which would help with this issue, but should be able to use good shampoos and conditioners. Also, I'm glad you are finding some relief from HFS. Sending hugs.

Dflur profile image
Dflur in reply tolove2golfwell

I did not know we were not supposed to take Biotin? I was just going to comment, that after 4 years on Ibrance and anastrozole, I have very thin hair (some due to genetics and age). But I do eat the Biotin gummies. I have seen results and my daughter said my hair looks thicker too.

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell in reply toDflur

My oncologist said I could not take Biotin for the reason that Chef50 said, it supports rapid cell growth which could include cancer cells. Also, I had heard it could interfere with blood test results. In this day and age, who knows what is true and what is not. I wish oncologists could agree on what is safe to take. I would love to take Biotin for my hair as well as other supplements, but she always says no to them. I am afraid to not listen to her because if I don't stay stable I will question whether or not it is the supplements I am taking. I used to take the Hair, Skin and Nails gummies but they had sugar in them which I know was not a good thing, and my doctor said not to take them because of the biotin.

Dflur profile image
Dflur in reply tolove2golfwell

thanks for sharing, it could cause cell growth? I have seen no progression in bone tumors… and the very little bit of sugar is not very much. I choose to cut out sugars in a lot of bigger amounts!

But we need to feel comfortable in our decisions, for me, a biotin gummy is the least of my concerns.

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell in reply toDflur

You are welcome. I am so glad you have had no progression in bone tumors and are successfully using the gummies. You are correct that they don't have a lot of sugar, compared to other things. I have cut way back on sugar in general. If the biotin is working for you and not causing issues, I would keep with it! Sending hugs.

Puppy_love profile image
Puppy_love

Just wondering why we aren’t supposed to take biotin. I’ve been taking it all along and oncologist never said anything about it.

Chef50 profile image
Chef50 in reply toPuppy_love

The reason that I was given was that Biotin supports cell growth and may help cancer cells to grow

Puppy_love profile image
Puppy_love in reply toChef50

oh wow I was never told that. The oncologist said this.

Chef50 profile image
Chef50 in reply toPuppy_love

It is all a big may do that. Not enough research to support the theory but I stopped taking it. I wash my hair with a rosemary tonic i make by soaking fresh rosemary in water

Dflur profile image
Dflur in reply toChef50

I have not read that anywhere

TammyCross profile image
TammyCross in reply toChef50

I was told -- and this is what the Memorial Sloan Kettering herbal advice website says -- that the problem is that it can interfere with tests, lead to misreading.

I decided to skip it. Cancer first.

kokopelli2017 profile image
kokopelli2017 in reply toTammyCross

hi Tammy. I've been taking 10,000mcg daily for over 5 years now. my oncologist is aware. screw cancer. I'm all about the hair. lol. xo

(of course I am teasing. but I never heard not to take it. after 5 years....I figure it's not causing any issues so I will continue. personal choice. I am on fulvestrant only for past 8 months and before that I was on letrozole only for 5 years...so far, bone only)

Sharonpat profile image
Sharonpat

natures spell rosemary oil i aware by it I have used it since chemo and it’s really good x

Kerryd22 profile image
Kerryd22

I was reading an article that appeared in my newsfeed about hair loss and it suggested Rogaine is the bee’s knees. There’s cheaper versions but they all contain the same active ingredient in various strengths. I thought about trying it but the article warned that a doctor should be consulted first just in case. The active ingredient is Minoxidil.

I’m on Exemestane and I’m sure if I stay on it much longer I’ll be as bald as a badger but my brother assures me I won’t. He’s not a specialist of any kind but I want to believe him! A friend who’s on a non oncology drug loses her hair just the same way as I do. If I touch it, it comes away on my hands. She’s thirty years younger than me.

I’ll see if I can find the link to the article and if I do, I’ll post it.

apple.news/Aq05majfCRii8JvD...

AvidBooklover profile image
AvidBooklover

I lost hair at the part line on Faslodex and Ibrance. I spend a lot of time on camera and my salon suggested XFusion Keratin Hair Fibers by Toppix. Works for light thinning. It is a powder that you shake on. Great for when you need color from growth too. About $24 on Amazon.

104shopgirl profile image
104shopgirl

Hi, I was diagnosed almost 4 years ago with MBC, and since then, I have had thinning, and then grow back of my hair 3 times. This last time was the most amount of hair thinning I have suffered. Not only did it thin, it started to break as well. I found a product to nourish my hair the hair that was still on my head, and started wearing headbands to disguise my loss. The product Chi, is a hair serum, with keratin and silk infusion. You simply work it through your hair, dry, not wet, and leave it in. Your hair absorbs it and it isn't greasy at all. It calmed my crazy hair and completely nourished it, in no time at all. And I found it on Amazon, and it was not horribly expensive. I love this product! I think it has been a year that I started my last hair loss episode, and a few months ago, it started to grow back in, and I'm still noticing new growth! So, try not to fret too much, and do what you can to shore up your self estimate, my headbands were game changers! 😉, and wait for your hair to start coming back in. Best Wishes! ☺️

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI in reply to104shopgirl

I just ordered some from Amazon.

Mimigram profile image
Mimigram

You could try the thickening shampoo recommended by a salon called Bondi Boost.

DorothyR profile image
DorothyR

My hair dresser suggested the following: Ovation Volume Shampoo, Ovation Cell Therapy and Ovation Volume Rinse. I don't know if it works since I have not tried it. I was told that people have had success with it.

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell

So my sister texted me the shampoo and conditioner she uses for her thinning hair. She is on letrozole only as she has early stage breast cancer. It is called Living Proof full shampoo and full conditioner. She said it has made her hair thicker. She thinks she bought it on QVC but you could check Amazon. Good luck. Hugs

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