Forum Discussion
Scalp issues on medications
Hi. Just wondering if anyone has any issues while on Abemiciclib and letrozole with scalp dry patches? I’ve always had beautiful healthy hair and skin but since my diagnosis and treatment I’ve had sc...
Hi JJR23
I'm currently on letrozole and abemaciclib and find my skin is a lot drier than it used to be, and I can get away with washing my hair once or twice a week, which I never would have got away with pre chemo and other medication. I'm using moogoo shampoo and conditioner at the moment, it's quite mild and doesn't dry my scalp. Katie
Thanks Katie. Do you mind if I ask how long you have been on the meds for? The reason I ask is my scalp issue only started 2 months before I finished my 2yr course of Abemiciclib. It’s now almost 3 weeks since I finished (am still on letrozole) and it’s not any better. I have used all of the moo goo products too but nothing is clearing this up. I’m worried I’m stuck with another wonderful side effect from the meds etc. I also have had a really sore wrist for 3 months and trigger fingers which I think could also be related to the meds & a result of being forced into early menopause. I hope you don’t experience the awful stomach problems from Abemiciclib like I did. I was so glad to be finished!
Hi JJR23
I'm into my second year of letrozole and abemaciclib. I'm fairly convinced the letrozole is causing the reduction of oil in my skin, or rather the lack of oestrogen. I also now have very dry eyes, I'm blaming letrozole for that too, although it started when I was on chemo.
Prior to all this I had quite oily skin and had to wash my hair every other day or it looked greasy, so although I've noticed it's a lot drier now, it's not itchy or patchy. Using sorbolene moisturiser daily and moo goo is working for me.
I've had a bumpy road with abemaciclib, my stomach does not like it at all. I started on 150 x 2 a day and that was a definite no, I only lasted 5 weeks and felt absolutely awful. I dropped down to 100 x 2 a day and that was a definite improvement, I was still getting stomach issues but it was more manageable with gastro stop. Recently the diarrhoea started ramping up again, so they've dropped me down to 50 x 2 daily, which has calmed things down again, so hopefully that will get me to the end of the 2 years.
