Cold Cap Experience

@kezmusc have to have it with the docetaxel apparently or it can damage the main beds. 

Never used the mittens.  They were never mentioned.  I actually had to have a heat pack on the hand with the cannula in or it used to sting during the infusion.  

@Payne. The mittens are the worst - I hated them more than the cold cap. I took panadol before and will be doing the same again. It’s just the first 20 minutes that were the worst for me and then everything just went numb. 

It's such a classy look, isn't it?  I don't know if I should give advice because I had one area across the top of my head where the cold caps didn't work so I gave them up.  Funny thing is, the oncologist said that my hair would all be gone by now but even though I've had a No. 2, it's still really that same patch, a bit bigger and some overall thinning.  I have very fine hair and couldn't bear the thought of not washing it so used a little bit of baby shampoo on the ends, conditioner and an afro comb.

Was trying to attach this image with a comment but didn't seem to work.  Anyway, the experience was COLD, especially when combined with the frozen mittens.  Worth it for me as kept most of my hair.  Also @Kiwi Angel, took panadol and some diazepam.

@kezmusc. I shed quite abit too just noticing more now. Might do the same as u and just wash the ends and I have been basically doing the wipe over with the conditioner and I use tons to help with combing. I was thinking about keeping it up at night too as I am a restless sleeper and so I worry it gets rubbed against the pillow a lot. I just rinse my hair a lot now - no vigorous scrubbing. Second TC on Monday so will see how it goes. At least no clumps coming out. Thanks for your advice xoxo

Hey @"Kiwi Angel",
Hmmm I was very naughty.  I didn't really follow the rules very well.  Summer last year here was disgustingly hot.  Several weeks of 35 degrees and over.  I live on a farm so I work outside a lot.   I had an Akubra jammed on my head a lot of the time.  The idea of washing once a week did not appeal.  Gross. 10 mins outside and I was sweating and so was my head.  I figured it couldn't fall out by the ends right?  So I washed it every single day (sometimes twice if I'd been working outside) from mid length down. quickly and gently.  With the scalp I would just rub a little conditioner between my hands and smooth it over my scalp under the water so it would wash off straight away.  Kept it clean and smelling nice and was also less hassle getting any tangles out  I never used shampoo on my scalp at all the whole time nor did I rub the conditioner into my scalp.  Just a quick wipe over.  I would put it in a loose plait at night which seemed to help the morning shed.  Now I'm not saying don't follow their rules, but that's what I chose to do and it still worked a treat.  My hair sheds a lot normally it was a little more than normal at the start.  By AC number four it was about twice as normal then it started to slow down through taxol.  By about two weeks after taxol it was back to normal.  I also used double the amount of conditioner recommended to go under the cap so it was kind of plastered to my head.  I had ice crystals when I took it off LOL.

XOXOX

@kezmusc how often did u wash your hair?  I normally do every second day but now as it is shedding more I’m thinking about extending the time between washes. The shedding is very freaky. I have always shed quite abit so it is just strands but more than normal. 

@Maggienbub. So sorry u have to go through all this again - huge hugs xoxoxo

@kezmusc it is freaky when it sheds but as long as it isn’t coming out in clumps I’m happy. Treating it so carefully!!