Cold cap during chemo

Hi @Cheri
I’m starting chemo next week and have discussed cold cap with my medical oncologist. Whether it works, depends on the type of chemo drugs you are given. In my case, the success rate is low (30%) so he has not recommended it.

Have a chat with your medical oncologist and he/she will be able to advise. However, if you know what type of drugs you will be given, below is the calculator.

https://scalpcoolingstudies.com/efficacy-calculator/

@GinGin thanks for that will check it out.All the best for your chemo, I might also be staring next week. I'm here if you want to vent or share xxx

Hello @Cheri
I had the cold cap in 2016/17 and while I did lose hair I was able to wear a wide headband, like those hiking ones you wear round your neck, and you couldn’t tell. My hairline at the back receded a little, the front stayed normal and I had baldish patches where the headband went. It was unnoticeable with headband.
Im glad I did it as it made me feel like I wasn’t obviously sick. Panadol beforehand helps as it’s a bit achy at first. Good luck!
Fifi lamour

Hi @Cheri, glad to see you have some of the members jump in and share their experience - hopefully some more will shortly. In the meantime I have done a search within the Online Network and there a quite a few discussions around that might be worth a read - https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/search?domain=all_content&query=Cold%20cap&scope=site&source=community

Also, there is an article on our website that talks about Hair loss and in particular scalp cooling - https://myjourney.org.au/article/1412

All the best for your treatment and please check back to keep us up to date. - Daina 

Hi @Cheri 
Like Gin, because of the drugs im being given I was told my hair wouldn't survive treatment.  And the cold cap was never realy an option for me anyways as I get migraines occasionally and the cap may trigger those .. 

Did you start chemo this week ? 
Let us know how you're going 😊

T. 

Hi @Cheri 
I just had 18weeks of Paclitaxel with the cold cap and have kept all of my hair. As the others' mentioned, it depends on which chemo you have and everyone's body is different. 
My nurse had great advice and said, you can always stop the cap if you decide you can't keep doing it. 
All the best
xx

Dear Cheri,
I couldn't reply earlier, as this new security system had me locked out until today. Have you started Chemo yet and have you used the Cold Cap? I used it very successfully. Thinned only slightly where the cap didn't fit the best. I had Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide and Paclitaxol. Let me know if you want to know more. All the best.

@Abbydog thanks for the response,seems like I missed a few responses. I did not receive notifications for them. But yeah using the calculator that gin gin shared the chemo meds I am on it's not really an option. I had my first session last week with little side effects so far .... next one is Tuesday. I will find the treatment I am on and share.

@Tarma sorry somehow I didn't know you had responded but yes the first session was last week , next one is Tuesday. Everything has moved so quickly , only found out less than a month ago and already started chemo so Saturday it hit me this is really happening and there were a lot of emotions... for the most part I have been pretty positive so I guess that off day is normal. Hope all you ladies are doing well. I appreciate the feedback care and engagement 

My first chemo yesterday (6/10/23).
giving the scalp cooling a go.
Ended up being a 7 hour session as it was my first!! Only 2.5 hours in the cap though - not pleasant but tolerable. So glad to get it off!  Very ugly look with the conditioner in the hair walking out of the hospital but I will make a turbin to cover up next week.