Forum Discussion

Dory65's avatar
Dory65
Member
5 years ago

Endocrine therapy-induced hair loss (ETIHL)

Hi All,

Food for thought (no pun intended). I'm considering taking supplements (are they safe? contraindicated?) and looking for proven topical scalp treatments (waste of money?).

Started with this article: Management of hair loss associated with endocrine therapy in patients with breast cancer: an overview 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4864803/. 

"Vitamin C may loco regionally reduces the HL ...when locally applied with an oil-based buffer that enables vitamin C to pass across the hair texture. (Where would we find that?)

Low levels of vitamin D in serum and/or lack of Vitamin D receptor have been found to be associated with HL ...However, it is still uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation increases the proliferation of hair follicles.

Vitamin E has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of estrogen in the breast tissue and low levels of vitamin E are also reported to be associated with increased levels of estrogen. However, according to the results of the SELECT study in which an increased rate of prostate cancer was reported, Vitamin E carried a potential androgenic and anti-estrogenic activity in patients receiving Vitamin E supplementation. (So that's good for BC patient, right?)

Folic acid is also reported to have a positive effect on hair health...However, unfortunately, there are some epidemiological studies that suggest folate may increase the tissue levels of estrogen, indicating that high levels of folic acid might lead to BC. (Sounds bad)

Oral supplementation of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids is also known to positively affect the prognosis of BC (Bartsch et al. 1999) and many other cancers and also increase the apoptosis of BC cells in tissue cultures. Additionally, it has been recently shown that 6 months after the use of these fatty acids were found to protect and improve the hair health through antioxidant effects on the scalp tissue. (Definitely sounds like a good one)

5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors (local cream or shampoo forms) could possibly be the most appropriate and potent treatment options in the treatment of ETIHL. (I've no idea, and am suspicious of product claims anyway - but is there a good one available?)


anxiety
coping
hair-loss
hormone-therapy
nutrition
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    As a general principle, I would check all supplements with your medical team. If you have a good varied diet, additional vitamin C may not help much. More than one doctor has described vitamin C supplements as creating more expensive urine. But topical application may be different. I do take vitamin D (like many women, my vitamin D level was found to be low right at the start of treatment) and fish oil, and have done so through treatment and beyond. Folic acid is important if you are pregnant, ie building cells! So maybe not, certainly not without advice. Hair regrowth is very variable, for all sorts of reasons, texture and colour can change over quite a long period. A cream or shampoo form may be best, but check ‘em all, if only not to waste money. Best wishes.
  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hey @Dory65,

    I have used Fusion hair tonic supplements.  It was recommended to me by a hair dresser friend that had had a number of chemo ladies say they found it helped. As started taking it as soon as I found out I was having chemo hoping it would help along with the cold cap. I took it it for six weeks prior and stopped a week before. I had emailed the manufacturer and they basically said do not take this or any other supplement during chemo so I thought that was reasonably honest. I am very sceptical of all these kind of things as most of them do nothing except as @Afraser says give you expensive pee.

    I did find a noticeable improvement within a couple of  weeks.  One of my friends  has an auto immune system disease which causes alopecia. She has tried it and found some improvement as well. She has also used the rogaine with some success Like anything it can work for some people and not others I guess.  Check the ingredients and see what you think. I havent used it again since then so I have no idea of any contraindications with HT.
     For a general feeling of thicker hair (does not promote growth) the Viviscal range of shampoos is lovely.  I used that the whole way through chemo and found it really did make my hair feel thicker. 


  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    5 years ago
    OMG I had so much trouble getting this post to load...aggh  now it's there twice what the heck!