Perceptions of Delayed Alopecia Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Retrospective studies suggest that some breast cancer survivors report treatment-associated hair loss or thinning years after their diagnosis. This study investigates frequency and perceptions of alopecia persisting 6 years after patients' breast cancer diagnoses.

Breast cancer survivors participating in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR) were mailed a survey 6 years after diagnosis. They were asked about their degree of bother from hair thinning and hair loss and mental health was explored.

A total of 969 of 1476 participants (65.7%) responded to the survey. Of these, 755 patients were eligible for inclusion and had stage I-III breast cancer. Respondents' median age was 65.6 years (35-95 years). Chemotherapy (± endocrine therapy) was administered to 216 (29%) participants, and 342 (45%) received only endocrine therapy. Nearly half (345, 46%) of respondents reported hair loss and over half (431, 57%) reported hair thinning. Moderate to extreme bother from hair loss was reported by 27% of chemotherapy recipients, by 18% of endocrine therapy only recipients, and by 14% of patients who received neither. Moderate to extreme bother from hair thinning was reported by 31% of chemotherapy recipients, by 21% of endocrine therapy-only recipients, and by 19% of those who had received neither. Hair growth product usage was reported by 31% of chemotherapy recipients and 14% of endocrine therapy-only recipients.

Hair loss and thinning are frequently reported as persistently bothersome symptoms by breast cancer survivors. Future investigations into the incidence, predictors, and treatment of therapy-associated alopecia are needed.