Chemo & hair loss

@Chris51 I used the cold cap and retained most of my hair. I have a couple  of thinned out spots on the top of my head where my hair was thickest

there was no additional cost in my clinic I am not sure about others

discomfort level for me was limited to 5 to 10 mins of brain freeze at the beginning and then nothing else. I was given a sedative before we started and that usually relaxed me so much that I’d sleep through a good bit of my treatment. It does add about an hour and a half to your treatment time because it has to be going for a period of time before they hook the chemo up and then more at the end. The end wasn’t a problem for me as I was having herceptin which takes about half an hour to run anyway so I still had to be there for that bit. 

Some have  great results @kezmusc
 Others have very ordinary results or can’t stand the brain freeze bit - experience pain for much longer than I did so give it up. As we say about all of our treatment we are all individuals and we all react differently 

personally for me it was worth it

Thank you for your feedback - am waiting on gonemic test results hoping that I might avoid chemo but don’t like my chances! I dread the ‘cancer victim’ appearance after chemo related hair loss especially when I don’t feel unwell in myself (other than the constant anxiety). Just want to get to the other side of this horrible experience.

Hi @Chris51,

I had a really good run with the cold cap. Kept pretty much all of my hair.  It did thin quite a lot but as it was even nobody could tell.  You can read my full story here on the Paxman website if you like.
https://paxmanscalpcooling.com/experiences/testimonials/kerry-muscat

@chris51 that was how I felt too. I didn’t want to look like a cancer victim no idea why cause I’ve been through so much now that hair seems irrelevant but it was 

that said ive recently returned to work and some people have no idea I was even sick

Thank you so much for your comments - I am pre-empting my oncology appointment I know but I just feel like I have been on this merry-go-round since first diagnosis a month ago. Just like initiating the gonemic testing, I want to feel that I am informed and in a knowledgeable position when faced with the decision making ahead of me. If I do need chemo I think this will be at the Epworth & from their website it appears that they do have access to these cold caps.🌹🌹

I have my treatment at Epworth Richmond and they definitely have the caps

I had it but it didn't work well enough for me to persist. The fit is really important. I don't think mine was pushed down hard enough on my head.

Once I got over my discomfort of looking like a cancer person I quite enjoyed being bald as a life experience. One I have NO wish to repeat I might add!

Good luck with your treatment. I had the genomic test too. Let us know how you get on. K xox

I tried it but gave up after the first two treatments as I had a bald strip across my head from ear to ear that no comb over could cover.  It may have been the fit but I did keep pushing it down - who knows?  If it works, it's great - if it doesn't it's not worth persevering.  I found the bald patch more upsetting than taking control and clipping it off.  And the caps add a significant amount of time to the treatment.  But I would say, if you've got the opportunity, go for it!

I had it and had significant thinning but my hair grew back afterwards so quickly!

It worked very well for me - it thinned over all but no bald patches. It was very uncomfortable for the first 5 to 10 minutes but they give you pain killers and a sedative - TAKE THEM
@kezmusc  was very supportive of me so I am keen to pass this on, it worked for me and my hair has grown back really strongly - the worst part was not being able to color it until 6 weeks after the last chemo (and then only natural color). As other ladies have said pushing the cap down really matters and I found the Cabrini nurses fantastic. I also ran through my chemo and it had no effect on the cool cap that is important on the day of treatment before and after the actual chemo not the rest of the time as I could get my head hot and sweaty. I could only wash it twice a week in tepid water but you get used to it.