Hair Loss 5 years after chemotherapy

[shkinfo]

It has now been over 5 years (6 years cancer free from diagnosis)since being treated with Chemotherapy. I had two rounds of treatment with the first occuring after my surgery (of which I was daignoised with Stage 3A some doctors insisted it was Stage 2b and was both PR and ER positive)treated with Adriamycin and Cytoxon every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. Then stopped for surgical biopsy of which there was no trace of cancer. After this, started Tamoxofen, then Taxol for weeky therapy for 12 weeks, but lasted only 9 weeks because of nerve tingling in feet. After a brief rest started Radiation therapy for 5-6 weeks.

I do have other problems right now, but wish to concentrate on the hair loss right now. I stopped Tamoxofen 12/04 (while on this I only experienced slight hair shedding). in January 2005 I stated taking Aromasin (a steroid) and only a few weeks into it I started to lose hair, gain weight (15 pounds in less than 1 month), my head started to tingle and my body pain got worse. I stopped taking this drug in April and I am not currently on any cancer drugs. The problem is, I still have tingling if not burning sensations on my scalp and I am losing on average about 185 hairs a day. I was wondering, if I lost all of my hair (twice in chemo) and it all grew back at the smae time, could my hair loss be new hair gorwth that occurs every 4-6 years OR is this a sign that I maay have permanent hair loss happening. I was also pushed into menopause during the first chemo threatment and have been in this state for 5-6 years. Hair loss doubles when washing hair.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear shkinfo:  There are many things that can factor into hair loss.  Hormone balance is one of them.  Genetics is another.  Many women will experience hair loss as they go through menopause.  Usually, this presents as thinning.  This is worse for women who have female family members with thinning hair.  Both tamoxifen and aromasin may contribute to this - although the drugs themselves usually don't produce much hair loss, the lack of hormones may cause thinning for some women.  You might discuss this situation with your oncologist.  If no light can be shed on this you might investigate further with a hair loss specialist (often in plastic surgery departments).

[seven7]

I had been wondering if Tamoxifen had caused my hair to not come back.  It has been nearly 3 years after chemotherapy,  and I am still having to wear a wig.  My hair never came back thick enough to go without one.