sudden hair loss

[craigb]

i am recovering from colon cancer after going through chemotherapy. i finished chemo almost two years ago and the cancer has not come back. suddenly last month i started noticing my hair coming out, i should say thinning out, almost like when i was going through chemo. its thinning evenly, and no one ive mentioned it to even notices it including my hair stylist. i notice, because its in the shower drain etc. my cancer doctor, along with my family doctor and dermatologist all say its unrelated to the cancer/chemo and probably stress related. ive been diagnosed with anxiety too. i also got back to my running too, which is 5-6 times a week (30-35 mile a week) and went on a fruit/vegtable only diet for a couple months to lose 10 pounds just prior to the hair loss. my family doc checked all my protein levels etc and everything was ok. the last two weeks ive been taking my vitamins again (one-a-day, primrose, C)and it seems to have slowed down. during that period it seemed like my hair wasnt growing as fast either. what do you think? any advice?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sudden weight loss can cause a hair shedding a couple of months later.  Then it all grows back, as the body readjusts.  That's my best guess, but your dermatologist can comment more definitively.  It doesn't sound like there's a direct connection with the cancer or its recurrence.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff