TLDR Topical minoxidil improves hair loss in 80% of women with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy.
The document, from 5 years ago, discussed a study by Freites-Martinez et al. on endocrine therapy-induced alopecia (EIA) in women with breast cancer, involving 112 patients. It found that 67% of alopecia cases were attributed to aromatase inhibitors and 33% to tamoxifen. The hair loss significantly affected the patients' quality of life. However, topical minoxidil improved alopecia in 80% of treated patients. The document also explored the role of estrogens and androgens in hair growth and loss, and the effectiveness of topical minoxidil in treating female androgenetic alopecia. It concluded that while hair loss from chemotherapy and endocrine therapy couldn't be completely prevented, it could be managed with treatments like scalp cooling and topical minoxidil.
34 citations,
November 2013 in “Breast Cancer Research and Treatment” Aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer increases the risk of hair loss and thinning.
48 citations,
September 2013 in “Oncologist” Endocrine therapies for cancer significantly increase the risk of hair loss.
52 citations,
May 2013 in “Supportive Care in Cancer” Scalp cooling significantly reduces hair loss in chemotherapy patients.
68 citations,
May 2012 in “Annals of Oncology” Some breast cancer chemotherapy can cause permanent hair loss.
57 citations,
March 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology” Chemotherapy can cause permanent, non-reversible hair loss similar to pattern baldness.
28 citations,
January 2007 in “Dermatology” Chemotherapy can cause rapid, extensive hair loss, with patterns varying between individuals.
159 citations,
July 2006 in “Endocrine Reviews” Estrogens significantly influence hair growth by interacting with receptors in hair follicles and may help regulate the hair growth cycle.
149 citations,
June 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Minoxidil works better for female hair loss, but cyproterone reduces scalp oiliness and causes menstrual issues.
67 citations,
April 2018 in “JAMA Dermatology” Hair loss from hormone therapy in breast cancer patients can be improved with minoxidil treatment.
7 citations,
September 2023 in “Cancer Treatment Reviews” Managing side effects of endocrine therapy is crucial to improve adherence and survival in breast cancer patients.
22 citations,
November 2018 in “Breast Cancer Research and Treatment” The medications 5α-reductase inhibitors and spironolactone are generally safe for breast cancer patients on endocrine therapies and do not significantly increase breast cancer risk.
2 citations,
October 2021 in “Exploration of targeted anti-tumor therapy” Breast cancer hormone therapy can cause hair loss, which can be treated with daily applications of specific topical solutions like minoxidil and hydrocortisone butyrate.
53 citations,
April 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Cancer treatments often cause hair disorders, significantly affecting patients' quality of life, and better management methods are needed.
