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Pink-Kayak's avatar
Pink-Kayak
Member
2 months ago

Scalp cooling - tips on cap size and forehead pressure?

Hi all,

I'm about to start my first of 12 x weekly paclitaxel treatments on Monday (combined with trastuzumab infusions every three weeks). I am keen to try scalp cooling to try to reduce hair loss and had gotten my mind around the cold factor (I think!). However, I had my chemo education session yesterday and got to try on a cap. I discovered that the cap alone for just a few minutes was very uncomfortable/slightly painful on my forehead and am now not sure how I'll go with this for several hours! The nurse did get me to then try the next cap size up, but this didn't seem to be as good a fit and had a gap at the back of my head - hence may not be effective. I also didn't have a headband on when I tried the first cap - so possibly this might also help a little.

Just wondering if this tightness/pressure/forehead pain is normal or if anyone else has experience and tips on dealing with this? I noticed from other posts about scalp cooling that these seem to suggest the hardest period is the first 15-20 mins and then your head acclimatises/becomes numb. Just wondering if this also applies to the feeling of tightness of the cap? Or if there are any other tips on reducing pain/pressure on your forehead during the cooling process?

I figure I'll give it a go anyway on Monday as I can always stop the scalp cooling if it is too much for me, but any advice would be very welcome!

 

chemotherapy
cold-cap
hair-loss
scalp-cooling
side-effects

4 Replies

  • Sally-Ann's avatar
    Sally-Ann
    Member
    10 days ago

    Hello lovely, 
    I am happy to share my experience with the cold cap, having just finished wearing it for 12wks of Taxol weekly. 
    PAXMAN was the scalp cooling therapy I used at our local public hospital, the first week I wore the SMALL size cap, and it was extremely tight, to the point I got a huge headache and almost didn't want to try it again.  The following week I chose to try the MEDIUM size cap which was much better, still had a firm enough feel, but still good enough contact with the scalp.
    A tip I would love to share to improve comfort during a very challenging time is to pop a few cotton pads (like the make up removal cotton pads you can buy) under the very front of the cap where it presses on your forehead.  This is where I found most discomfort and the padding sure helped. 
    I found the first 5mins I would breathe deeply and be distracted by my chair buddy talking to me... and then I found the last 20mins hard because I was just over it and again, deep breathing and distraction was key to make it through. 

    I have kept ALL of my hair, with a little bit of thinning, and lost ALL other hair on my body except my head.  So in my personal experience, i believe the cold cap has really been beneficial.  

    Wishing you all the best with the rest of your treatment.. you've got this xo 

     

    • arpie's avatar
      arpie
      Member
      10 days ago

      That's a terrific result, Sally-Ann​  xx. It will encourage others to give it a go too!!

      Wishing you all the best with your ongoing treatment xx

       

  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    2 months ago

    Hi Pink-Kayak​ 

    All the best with your treatments ..... there's been a few threads on Scalp Cooling ... some have bought their own caps to continue wearing at home as well as during treatment ...... I did a 'search' (choosing 'NEWEST' to put the most recent comments at the top) .... click on any that may help you.

    Search | BCNA Online Network

    If you comment on any of them, it will 'reactivate' the conversation & the person who started the thread (or those commenting on it) will hopefully reply xx

    Many have found it quite uncomfortable initially but 'get used to it' - or even 'put up with it' to lessen hair loss

    Take care, all the best with your ongoing treatments xx