Analysis of Quantitative Changes in Hair Growth During Treatment With Chemotherapy or Tamoxifen in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Cohort Study

November 2013 in “ British Journal of Dermatology ”

Varvara Kanti, R. Nuwayhid, Judith Lindner, Kathrin Hillmann, Andrea Stroux, Nikola Bangemann, A. Kleine-Tebbe, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Natalie Garcia Bartels

chemotherapy tamoxifen anagen hairs hair density hair loss breast cancer

TLDR Chemotherapy causes hair loss starting soon after treatment begins and recovers about 3 months after ending, while tamoxifen does not significantly affect hair growth.

In the 2014 cohort study with 34 female breast cancer patients, the impact of chemotherapy and tamoxifen on hair loss was examined. The study divided the patients into two groups: 17 received chemotherapy (group C) and 17 received tamoxifen (group T). Measurements of hair growth were taken at the start, during, and after treatment. Group C saw a significant reduction in the number of anagen hairs and overall hair density, with the lowest levels at week 6, and these levels persisted until week 18. However, by week 28, after stopping chemotherapy, hair growth returned to baseline or improved. Group T did not experience significant changes in hair growth. The study concluded that hair loss due to chemotherapy starts soon after beginning treatment, with the most substantial loss at week 6, and recovery occurs within about 3 months after completing chemotherapy. Tamoxifen, on the other hand, did not significantly impact hair growth.

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