Persistent Alopecia in a Breast Cancer Patient Following Taxane Chemotherapy and Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy: Case Report and Review of Post-treatment Hair Loss in Oncology Patients with Breast Cancer

In a 2018 case report, a 59-year-old breast cancer patient experienced persistent scalp alopecia after receiving taxane chemotherapy and adjuvant endocrine therapy. Her hair loss, which did not improve post-chemotherapy, was found to have characteristics of both androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata upon histopathological examination. The patient saw significant hair regrowth after using topical minoxidil therapy. The literature review indicated that while hair loss is typically temporary following taxane chemotherapy, there are rare cases of it being persistent or permanent. This case highlights the potential effectiveness of topical minoxidil for breast cancer patients suffering from treatment-related alopecia, suggesting that a trial of topical 5% minoxidil could be beneficial for managing such hair loss.