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
Oops. Spoke too soon. 3 weeks from single mastectomy & 10 months of herceptum (plus other lovelies for lung cancer) & saw oncologist for 1st time after op today. Back to Paclitaxel & the cold cap. Just when things were starting to get back to somewhere near normal & new hair growth starting. Will have to put my money where my mouth is re previous post. Bikini ready for winter again!! Since I only have 25% of very thick hair left I guess there will be plenty more loss but I shall keep on with the panadol & extra goop of conditioner. Before treatment starts on the 26th I plan to do heaps of conditioning treatments (probably coconut oil) & lots of gentle head massages. I hope they are ready for my snoring again up on Ward 8. Not happy but its the devil I know so fingers crossed. Again, grateful I have the cold cap option.
- Hi @Maggienbub,
So pleased you had a good run with the cap. It's great to hear. I am currently writing my story for the Paxman website and they have asked me to do some local press releases to raise more awareness in Australia.
@"Kiwi Angel" Hang in there lovely. It does keep on thinning (used to seriously freak me out) but mine stayed even as well so no one could tell. I would say it probably shed out about 25%. I hadn't realized it was that amount until it started to grow back. Wow it came back curly so I looked a bit like one of those peeking chickens in the morning with all the curly bits poking through the long straight bits until I could tame it down. - @Maggienbub that’s what I thought - bikini ready when it’s not really the weather - although in Sydney it is off and on. Mine is coming out in strands and I can’t see any bald/sparse areas so here’s hoping.
- Hi Kiwi Angel, really hope it works for you too. One tiny upside was the loss of leg, armpit & nether region hair. What a delight. Hours saved in the shower. Ha ha. I was "bikini ready" in the middle of winter! PS have not worn a bikini in 20 years but I was ready. As I mentioned, I had quite a bit of hair loss/thinning that came out in strands not clumps. I also only washed my hair once a week & blotted it gently with towel to dry. If I could figure out how to load a pic I would. Must work on that. All the v v best. Maggie.
- Really hope it works for you @"Kiwi Angel".
- 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.
- Great report @Maggienbub!
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.
- Thanks @Zoffiel , never thought of that . I'll definitely do it if there's a next time.
- @finch Don't be shy about checking in with the receptionist at your doctors and asking them to give you a call when you are the next patient then wait in your car. Most surgeries will adapt to this program if you ask them nicely and can assure them that you are only a minute away when you are needed. Sitting in waiting rooms is bad on all levels and it is very reasonable to try to cut down the time you are in there. If you get a snarky cow that doesn't want to do it, go over their heads--it isn't about them. Marg xx
