Forum Discussion
Cold Cap Experience
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?
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?
181 Replies
- The oncologist has ordered me to have it apparently but I was wondering if I can see how I go as that will be getting tested before each session anyway. That one has its own list of side effects.
- @"Kiwi Angel" For what it's worth, I never needed the white blood cell booster injection.
- I can get expensive. I'm sure that you can get the scripts filled anywhere that can supply them. The pharmacy at the chemo place I go to is reasonable but I've had the scripts faxed to somewhere more convenient when I needed something new or ran out and that wasn't problem.
- @Sister thanks for that - I figure if its available I will give it a go. On an unrelated topic I am doing Chemo through a private clinic/hospital that has a pharmacy attached and they gave me my Dex tablets from that which were quite expensive compared to what I imagine the chemist warehouse down the road charges. Can I get them to write scripts and take them down there? I'm wanting to get some Zoffran wafers to have if I need them, I will need more Dex, possibly some sleeping tablets and I'm assuming I will have to pay for the WBC booster injections too. All adds up to being very expensive.
- @"Kiwi Angel" I had the cap for the first two times. To repeat what @kmakm says, you get some panadal to help. The nurses will fit the caps (one on top of the other) but you have to help them know that it is tight. It gets turned on for approx 1/2 hour before treatment and stays on for 1 to 1 1/2 hours after depending on the chemo regime. And you can get off for loo stops. You have to keep making sure it doesn't come away from you scalp. It is cold and I mean COLD. First time bearly bearable, second time better. You get a headband to stop your ears falling off - I found it better if I could get the nurses to inch that over my forehead a little. Your hair will be wet underneath and you will get ice forming. Last time they had to let the cap warm up at the end because there was so much ice. You'll probably get a heated quilt to snuggle in - it makes it much easer - I had mine on full heat most of the time. I didn't need the beanie afterwards 'cos I was walking out into 35oC. I stopped after 2 treatments as I didn't feel it was working well enough - possibly not enough contact somewhere, maybe something else but I would advocate giving it a go if it's available.
- @kmakm that fine to get involved - any advice is appreciated. I am
planning on taking some panadol before I go and was expecting an ice cream headache. Thanks for the tip on the beanie! - @"Kiwi Angel" I can give your cold cap question an answer if you don't mind me jumping in? Hope that's OK.
I was given two paracetemol and Ativan to help me cope with the cold cap. They gave them 20 mins to work before switching it on. The first ten minutes was intense, insanely cold. Not painful like stubbing your toe, more like an ice cream headache x 100. Very difficult but not impossible. The nurse (and she was the NUM & very experienced) said the first ten minutes were the worst but that she'd only ever had one woman ask her to take it off. I found it eased off slightly at the 12 minute mark, and then quite suddenly was very bearable at the 30 minute mark. Do take a beanie with you to wear when it's finished. My head was chilly for the rest of the day!
I haven't lost my eyebrows and lashes yet on TC (though I do have one last hair drop to go), but they have thinned a bit. Only really noticeable to me however! - @AllyJay Love it! He's a keeper that one!
- @kmakm and @Sister, I never went with the henna, but my Dearly Beloved let rip with a texta. This was what I had for my third cycle of AC chemo.
