You can see I'm back with a vengeance... I was offered cold caps at the same place I would be having the chemo, at no extra cost or runaround so I decided to give it a go if I could tolerate it. I'm not hung up on losing my hair but know that it would make everything a little bit gentler for the kids (and partner) and if I could manage it and the extra time it takes, no problems. The day of the disastrous non-chemo, about the only thing that wasn't a problem was the cold cap - whether it wasn't on really firmly or I was just so traumatised from the preceding 6 hours, who knows... Jump 3 days to second try at chemo and I found the cap only just bearable. I've still got a couple of weeks to see if it has had the desired effect but I really hate having the greasy feeling of the conditioner-washed hair hanging around my face and I look like one of the lesser-groomed side characters on Midsomer Murders. So, I'm starting to assemble fors and againsts.I know from reading everyone's posts that when their hair falls out and grows back, the texture, colour and spread can be quite different from how it was before.I'm sure that even with cold caps (and I know even if successful there's likely to be thinning) there will be changes to the hair. Of those of you who have used them, how would you compare your hair to before, immediately after chemo course, and further down the track?

Hi lovely ladies, Months down the track of chemo & radio. Lung cancer primary - tick. HER2 POS breast cancer - a work in progress. Grrrrr. I just wanted to share my experience with cold cap. 1st time was horrific. So painful, tears (not like me) & fear. I learnt by trial and error that taking a couple of panadol beforehand helped heaps & as the brochure says "place an extra goop of sukin conditioner on crown of head and smear a little way down." This helped to lessen the pain during endless hours and especially helped at removal time with the freezer feel/look. 3rd treatment & I could barely feel the cold cap. PS this was winter in Hobart! I had longish, straight quite thick blonde COLOURED hair & I chose not to cut it as I wanted to see what happened & I've never had short hair. Tried to stay as "normal as pos".End result, hair thinned quite a lot after extreme chemo/treatment had finished & have receding temples so have changed part to cover. Slowly returning now. I used an afro comb if anyone can remember those & combed my hair in the backyard. My hairdresser had products that did not contain any nasties so was able to continue colouring. I see a huge difference in loss of thickness but no one else seems to notice and I actually get compliments on my hair. If they only knew. I feel it was worth the initial pain,effort & many extra hours it added to my treatment. I am grateful my hospital at least had cold caps as an option. Best wishes & hugs. Maggie.

I am 15 days after my first dose and I am shedding hair abit more and the hair in my nether regions is dropping out at a great rate but my head hair is hanging in there - fingers crossed.

The new hat I may be rocking - it says it all though - gratitude - to be alive!! There is a little sparseness on top now.

Well, that sort of puts a different perspective on it. You are going through all this and lost your sister 18 months ago - and you want to spare your sister's children the pain of seeing the visual effects again. You are one extraordinary woman! I can't even start to imagine those circumstances but a complementary buzz cut is the very least you deserve. I'd have done the Sinead O'Connor thing if my head wasn't the wrong shape, with a pre cancer bald patch, a few scars and a mole to boot!! But go for it - given what you have been through, a few stares and thin eyebrows are hardly in the race. I hope this is the worst part, that you triumph over this and that there are no more tears. Best, best wishes and all power to you.

@kmakm Sometimes the heavens open up and just rain a shitstorm, don't they? I'm sure you're on top of it, but just in case you're not (and I know you've got so much energy to sort everything out), have you looked into what care your father-in-law might be entitled to (I also don't know how active he is)? My in-laws are entitled to quite a bit under different schemes and, although your situation is different, I would assume that you could make a claim as being an invalid carer (not that I know an awful lot about this stuff but might be worth trying to find out). This may mean that you can get services to help out. It might not be much but, hell..I'd give over the cooking and cleaning to someone else any day of the week!

Cold Cap Experience | BCNA Online Network

181 Replies

Finch
Member
8 years ago
I've finally shaved mine all off this morning and feeling much better for it. @"Kiwi Angel" I had/have a very itchy, fuzzy, sore, headachy head. If you don't have those symptoms, hopefully you'll be ok.
Also, I've always thought I didn't have much hair , it's very fine and never held a good style. I can now say, I had soooo much hair. If it's shedding, try not to worry too much, I was loosing so much on the weekend and yet I still looked like I had a full head of hair. Hopefully you'll be ok. Fingers crossed for you you're ok.
My pubes have flown. I paid for expensive laser treatment 16 years ago for a perfect bikini line (and had my underarm hair permanently removed also) and now the lot has disappeared ..... hope it grows back as neat and tidy as before ;)
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@kezmusc. I’m lucky I only have 4 in total and my second one is on Monday. That’s what I was thinking this morning - how is it going to last the whole of treatment!! I was taking photos of the top of my head and the back to see if I have any bald spots lol. If it thins and I have to start wearing a hat of cap I’m using stress related alopecia as the excuse. Thanks for the good hair vibes!! Xo
kezmusc
Member
8 years ago
Hey @"Kiwi Angel",

I know it used to scare me too. It wasn't too bad with the stuff that looked like normal shedding but when long, healthy looking bits came out I freaked. With the amount that was shedding I thought no way was it going to last 6 months. But it did. And, it grew back like wildfire. How many more treatments do you have? Sending you good hair vibes.....xoxoxo
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@kezmusc. The shedding is freaking me out!!
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
Aw @Finch. Sorry about that - I’m sure u will be rocking the headscarves though and look absolutely fab!! How much are your taste buds muted?? I find that things taste duller than they should - I have to eat really strong flavours. Love mashed potato and had some last week and it tasted like nothing.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Finch Oh dear! Time for the clippers?
Finch
Member
8 years ago
The above this morning .... My hair has run off with my taste buds
Finch
Member
8 years ago
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm. Ow!!! I have also gotten my nails painted black to help them. Glad yours are getting better xoxo
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
Like @kezmusc I was never offered the mittens & they were never mentioned. Heat pack too! All my fingernails have discoloured, and several of my toenails have gone brown. I've had six weeks of extreme tenderness and a little numbness in my fingers and hands but I'm thankful to say over the last three days they've started to improve.

Yes it's my 'rude' finger! You can see on the right that it started to lift but it's feeling firmer now. I won't show you my toes. Too gross!

Forum Discussion

Cold Cap Experience

181 Replies

Recent Discussions

Grade 3 Oncotype Test Chemo decisions

Radiation, driving and fatigue

Radiation treatment

Length of treatment 1 or 3 wks?

Working through Chemo