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

kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@MelC503 Have a read of this thread lovely. K xox
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@Finch. I am kind of resigned to losing it. Will still need to get a cheap wig for occasions as I can’t wear my baseball cap everywhere
Finch
Member
8 years ago
Good luck @"Kiwi Angel" give it a go, no harm trying. If it doesn't , I will say from my perspective , the falling out bit is the hardest. Once it's out it doesn't look too bad at all .... I have bought cap/turbans from the wig shop and then dress with a scarf. I forget I've got it on my head. On the way home today we popped into Bunnings (we always pop into Bunnings , sigh) and I find myself chatting to check-out staff and making a comment here and there forgetting I look a little different. I'm used to it, this is me, I don't have to give my life story. No one else's business. Xxxxxx
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm The nurses advised to try the cold cap on more time. Said what is happening is not abnormal and I will definitely know after this one if it is worth it or not.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@"Kiwi Angel" Yes, that's the upside. Once it all went I had a period of adjustment but I'm mostly used to it now.
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
Worth a try @kmakm - will be rocking my cap from today. I’ll ask the nurses advice but I think it’s a lost cause. At least 2 less hours in the chemo chair.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@"Kiwi Angel" Bugger. Oh well, you gave it a try. I was glad that I did. The nurse that administered my second chemo told me that cold cap with TC doesn't get good results, but the NUM who did my first one thought that my hair would survive. 12 years and 15 years experience respectively. There just doesn't seem to be anything definitive about the cold cap. Pot luck, like so much about life eh? K xox
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@Finch @kmakm going by the dead animal in the bottom of the shower this morning I think I might of just delayed the inevitable and may be joining your ranks. Oh well - had a cry and it’s the husband on Friday and will go wig shopping on Saturday. Think of the money I will save on hair products and I may have a new head of hair for Christmas.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Finch Isn't it blissful?! #silverlining
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm - thanks xo. Worse than losing a boob for me. @Finch that is about how much I will spend - like u will just go with the cap most of the time but will make an appointment with the wig shop for next week just incase.

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Cold Cap Experience

181 Replies

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