Anyone lost a lot of hair while on arimedex?

[Pray]

I'm almost a year on arimedex and I have lost enough that is starting to be noticeable. Sad face. (I don't know how to make it show here.)

[Rejoyce]

I started on Arimidex shortly after chemo was done. Some of my hair has grown back, but not enough that I can go without a headcovering. The top of my head is very thin. I just shave my head now instead of having all the wispy hair. I hope someday I will have more hair. I never connected it with Arimidex. I always thought it was from chemo and that I was one of the rare ones that didn't get there hair back!

[Hopeful]

Hair thinning is a listed SE for Arimidex: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000982/

Hopeful

[tricia keegan]

I'm sorry Pray and have'nt had this side effect which is rare, mybe try Femara instead??

[Hopeful]

Tricia,

Re Femara, the SE is for the entire class of drug, not just one brand. Hormone levels affect how many of the hair follicles are in the anagen/ telogen phase. Some shut down completely after being inactive for a long time, resulting in hair loss.

Hopeful

[karen z]

I would see a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss (and they are out there). There are some topical solutions (or meds) we can not use because of hormonal issues but others we can use. Someone with expertise in hair loss (and knowledge of hormones) would be able to steer you in the right direction. Often hair loss can be "stopped" where one is currently (without regrowth) and often times there can be regrowth. It is worth pursuing an expert in the field. In Atlanta, we likely have more than one person who specializes but one very well known person is Dr. Edmond Griffin (Dermatology Associates of Atlanta).

[tricia keegan]

Thanks Hopeful and I agree with you but strangely some women I know have had some improvement from some side effects when switching to the other sister drug which is why I suggested it.

[Pray]

Thank you so much ladies! My onc. said I could try one of the others but we are both afraid of what side effects I could have with them! I don't have a very good track record with any of the drugs I've had. He thinks my hair will come back once I have stopped it.

Hopeful, when you say shutdown does that mean they never start to grow again? (now I'm really worried!)

[karen z]

I would seriously not ignore what a hair loss specialist (hair loss is often related to hormonal issues) might be able to do to help.

[v-ness]

i agree - i'd either switch to Femara or see a hair specialist. oncologists are good with cancer, they are often not very helpful with other issues. i found this out when i was struggling with severe and frequent hot flashes on Tamoxifen. *I* was the one who researched until i was blue in the face and found ditropan (oxybutynin) which decreased my hot flashes significantly. my oncologist and her partner had never even heard of it. now she's trying it on patients who come to her asking for help with hot flashes. good luck at whatever you try and i hope your hair returns.