Is Arimidex associated with hair loss?
My identical twin was diagnosted with breast cancer and underwent a masectomy. After she completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments, her hair grew back and looked normal. But since then she has taken Arimidex and Alopecia and she is experiencing significant hair loss. It is important to note that we still look very much alike except for the fact that her hair is now very thin whereas mine is still quite thick and full. Hair loss is not listed as an Arimidax side affect.
Hi Betsy - Alopecia is the scientific term for hair loss; they must have told her she has alopecia. And you're right, it isn't listed as a side effect of Arimidex, nor have I ever heard of any Arimidex takers having hair loss. Not to say it couldn't happen to your sister, because we all have our very own "special" side effects with whatever treatment we undergo! Maybe it's an unusual, late side effect of the chemo? Because usually, after chemo, your hair grows in very different - grayer, thinner, curly if it was straight, etc. Maybe since hers grew back exactly the same, it's a delayed reaction? Sorry I can't be more help - PJH
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PJ Hamel
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 06:45 PM
Arimidex is still so new, no one knows the answer to that question for sure. We're pretty much giong through an experiment right now. Hopefully, your hair will slow its thinning, and then get thicker once you're done with the Arimidex; but only time will tell. PJH
I'm wondering if maybe you meant another drug, cause as PJ said Alopecia is the actual term for hair loss. If she is on something else perhaps that is the culprit, because Arimidex does not have any known hair loss effects. But also as PJ said, chemo has strange effects on your hair. It never grows back quite the same....and this is true for just about everyone.
When I had cancer the first time I was warned by a gentleman that had had testicular cancer to let my hair grow in, then shave it all off again and when it grows back you will have hair that is more simular to your original hair. I did this and it worked for me. I was one of the ones who has curly hair and hoped for straight, but I wasn't lucky enough and ended up with the same curly, thick, textured hair I had before.....in fact I think my hair is thicker than before!
I would take a look at any other meds she is taking or have her consult her doctor and she way they say.
If all else fails she can always try Rogaine to grow more/thicken it up.
Best of luck to her!
Angi
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I have been on Arimidex without prior chemotherapy for 9 months now, and my formerly thick hair is beginning to thin. A friend has had the same experience after taking it for 4 years. As a physician myself, I have learned that just because a particular side effect isn't listed in the product insert for a medication doesn't mean it can't happen to a few people taking that medication. I would like to know if the hair will grow back once we stop taking Arimidex.
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Ricki
Friday, October 09, 2009 at 09:27 PM
I'm the new kid on the block. I've been taking Arimidex for almost two months. My hair is coming back slowly...after four months of chemo...which ended on May 14th 2009. And it is not only thinner on the top of my head...it is not the same type of hair as on the back of my head. The top of my head is more like that of a newborn baby....way soft...downy. My eyelashes and brows were the first to grow back...and they were thick and long. However...since using Arimidex...both my lashes and brows...are falling out daily. Needless to say...but I shall say it anyway....I am not a happy girl. Actually that is not true...I am a happy girl...but not very pleased about the hair loss.
PJ Hamel
Friday, October 09, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Well, Ricki, I'm glad you're a happy girl - but I'm with you. The side effects rage on, and they ain't pretty! Hopefully your body will get used to the Arimidex, and your eyelashes and brows will come back... PJH
Hi Betsy, I had breast cancer in 2005. I also had surgery, chemo and radiation. I have been taking Arimidex for 3 years now and my hair is getting much thinner. The chemo pushed me into menopause which lowers the production of estrogen from the overies. The function of Arimidex is to stop the conversion of androstenedione to estrogen (which is the main source of estrogen for post menopausel women.) So, although Arimidex doesn't list hair loss (and aging skin for that matter) as a side effect, the fact is that it lowers one's estrogen to a level below that of "normal" menopausal women, causing hair loss and any other effects of super low estrogen. I really feel like I have aged about 15 years in the last 3 but I am happy to be alive!
Suzi
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In 2007 I had breast cancer and was put on Arimidex after treatment. It has been a year and my hair, well, is very thin, very fine, and I have bald spots! I am going to see my oncologist about it next week. Prior to all of this, I used to have very thick, very curly hair. Now it is fine and straight like a baby's hair, and you can see the shine from the scalp. If I can't fix this, I will soon be wearing my wigs and caps again. This upsets me very much! I went through all of the treatment just fine, didn't even mind being bald because I thought it would be temporary. Now it doesn't appear to be the case. I know it must be the arimidex. I stopped taking it for a few weeks, and my hair started to grow back in bald spots. But I didn't want to take a chance of reoccuring cancer so I started taking Arimidex again. If anyone knows of a good hair thickening product, I would be interested.
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My mother had breast cancer in 2005, did chemo/radiation/surgery and is now on Arimidex. She immediately started taking Arimidex after completing chemotherapy and her hair has been growing back very slowly and different than before. It is now very fine, gray and thin.
I guess I want to ask: Are there any women out there who have finished taking Arimidex, and had their hair grow back thicker and fuller?! My mother holds her head up high (although bald)- always smiling, always laughing. But you can still tell that behind her smile, she just wants her hair back. What has your experience been? Thank you in advance for sharing your stories.
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I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have gone through chemo and radiation. My oncologist put me on Arimidex and after taking it for 18 months, I am experiencing hair loss. It was bad enough to lose my hair to chemo, but now to have to deal with this as well, when does it stop. Hair loss/thinning, unfortunately, is a side effect of arimidex.
Hopefully someone out there has some answers.
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I too have experienced a major change in my hair. Once thick and curly it is now very fine, straightening and thinning. Im just hoping that it will stop at some point soon. I have been on Arimidex for over 1 year now and I don't think that I am at a point where my thinning has stopped.
Just hoping that when I discontinue the Arimidex that my hair will thicken.
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I was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. I had a mastectomy, then chemotherapy followed by Tamoxifen for one year. Through all this, I felt very strong and positive, also my hair never fell out.
Now I have been taking Arimidex for six months and have lost aprox. half of all my hair the last six weeks. (It used to be long thick and wavy). I'm in shock. Could it be Arimidex or delayed reaction from chemo??? I know it's vain but this makes me very sad. I'm ready to quit... don't know what to do.
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Linda
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Hi
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 I had a mastectomy and chemo and then started to take tamoxifen for 18 months. I then changed to Arimidex I know that hair loss is not listed as a side effect but since taking this drug my hair has thinned considerably on top and I find it very distressing. I believe that too many ladies are reporting thinning hair and they can't all be wrong. It is so sad that we have all experienced cancer and if that was not enough, we now have hair loss. If there is any consoliation I believe hair grows back to it's normal density when you stop taking Arimidex.
Barbara Thames Ditton
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Hi. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and have been on Arimidex for 4 years now. I have coped with the muscle pain, blurred vision and horrendous hot flushes but about a year ago I noticed ny once thick dark curly hair was thinning badly. It is now soft very straight and rapidly disappearing - like male pattern baldness. I'm going to contact my oncologist - going bald is just too much for me and I'd rather be on another drug. Are you sure it grows back again. Has anyone been on this drug long enough to know for sure?
Linda
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 06:45 AM
Hi
I run a breast cancer support group and a friend of mine who has been taking Arimidex for 5 years has stopped taking it three months ago. Her hair looks healthier and all of the joint aches and pains she suffered have gone. But I think it will take at least six months for the real results to show in your hair. I have also asked my doctor and have looked on reputable breast cancer sites and they all state that your hair reverts back to its normal thickness after stopping the drug.
Linda
Barbara Thames Ditton
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Thanks for your very helpful comments. I am going to see what my oncologist says and I'll report back with the 'official' answer. It'll be interesting to see if he says 'yes, they are linked' or spins me a line. I think it'll be the former but one never knows!
Linda
Monday, October 12, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I went to see my consultant today and asked about my hair thinning she said that this was a common problem (thank goodness she did not deny it) she suggested I try another drug exemerstane to see if things improved. Because the drugs are so good at preventing reccurrance I might just have to live with thinning har, but if it becomes unbearable and affects my quality of life then you could stop taking the drugs. Somehow I don't think this drup is going to solve my problems as it is very similar to Arimidex. Has anyone taken Exemestane and seen any improvements?
Tina.
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 03:39 PM
I stopped taking Arimidex 5 weeks ago. One week later I noticed Much less hair loss while washing it. It's now back to normal, but drier. Another problem I think is linked to Arimidex is dental problems. I had a check up in June, no cavities (at that time only six weeks on Arimidex). Three months later I had to have a root canal and a new crown done. Very! costly!
I'm not going to take any more medications. It's very personal, but to me the side effects, and who knows what other ones may pop up, are not worth it.
PJ Hamel
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Actually, thinning hair is listed as a "minor" side effect for Arimidex. Since estrogen helps keep our hair from thinning, lack of estrogen, promoted by Arimidex, does the opposite - unfortunately. Hopefully, as you say, your hair will grow back to its former fullness once you quit the Arimidex. PJH
Pamela S.
Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 11:28 PM
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, had mastectomy, 6 mths of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation followed by 18 months on Tamoxifen before switching to Arimidex nearly a year ago. At first, it seemed like magic - no side effects, then slowly I started to notice the hip joint pain when standing up after sitting and also started to see that my hairline on my forehead is receding and one can see the shiny scalp through my hair at the top and front of my head. My head is itchy but only in that area. I would say that my hairline has receded at least 1 centimetre and probably a bit more. I asked my oncologist about it and he said that it happens to some people on Arimidex. I asked if there was any treatment, and he said that the solution would be to switch back to Tamoxifen. Now it seems I have the choice of trading off a slight survival benefit against quality of life. It's a hard choice. If only we knew conclusively that our hair would regrow when we stop taking it! But men don't grow back the hair they lose when they go bald so how do we know if we will???? Anyway, it's good to know I'm not alone.
PJ Hamel
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 04:40 AM
Indeed, it's a roll of the dice; and a tough decision. FYI, the literature for aromatase inhibitors says that hair loss IS reversed once you stop taking the drug. No guarantees, I'd guess - but that's what they say, anyway. Good luck - PJH
I have had hair loss too, from Arimidex. After my chemo and radiation for breast cancer, my hair started growing in curly and thick like it always had been. Then after about 6-8 months it started thinning, but only on the top like male pattern baldness. I want to know if more will fall out, or if hair will grow back in once I am off Arimidex.