TLDR Some breast cancer treatments, like taxanes, can cause long-term hair loss.
The document discusses Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (PCIA), a condition where hair loss persists beyond 6 months after chemotherapy. It is increasingly reported in breast cancer patients, with at least 400 cases documented. The study focuses on the role of taxanes and endocrine therapies in causing PCIA. Taxanes, a type of chemotherapy drug, have cytotoxic effects that may lead to permanent hair loss. Endocrine therapies, often used in addition to chemotherapy, can also lead to alopecia, but their role in PCIA is not well defined. The document presents three case studies of breast cancer patients who experienced PCIA following chemotherapy with taxanes. The study suggests that further characterization of these cases may help identify risk factors for developing permanent alopecia, allowing for better risk stratification and counseling.
43 citations,
March 2019 in “JAMA Dermatology” Hair regrowth treatments had modest benefits for patients with long-term hair loss after chemotherapy.
31 citations,
March 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some breast cancer patients developed permanent hair loss after chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, showing patterns similar to common baldness and alopecia areata.
57 citations,
March 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology” Chemotherapy can cause permanent, non-reversible hair loss similar to pattern baldness.
67 citations,
May 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some chemotherapy can cause permanent hair loss.
61 citations,
April 2009 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Docetaxel and paclitaxel for breast cancer can cause permanent, severe hair loss.
120 citations,
October 2004 in “International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics” Higher doses of cranial irradiation are linked to permanent hair loss.
137 citations,
July 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Horizontally sectioned scalp biopsies are more reliable for diagnosing hair loss in women when three samples are taken instead of one.
43 citations,
March 2019 in “JAMA Dermatology” Hair regrowth treatments had modest benefits for patients with long-term hair loss after chemotherapy.
10 citations,
September 2021 in “JAMA Dermatology” Different types of persistent hair loss after chemotherapy respond differently to treatments.
4 citations,
November 2021 in “Cancers” The document concludes that understanding and managing hair loss in cancer patients is important, and more research is needed for better treatments.
4 citations,
March 2023 in “Current Oncology” Scalp cooling is the only FDA-approved method to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy, but other treatments like minoxidil and PRP are being tested.
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.
