skull caps

Hi, @Melc503, @htav, and all. I'm going to attach a link to a podcast, where they're talking to someone from the main company that manufactures cold caps in the UK. I found it really interesting. I think it would be good to have the knowledge provided befor starting with the cold cap.I have got a lot from each episode in the series, actually.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0639d7n

If the link doesn't work, the podcast ist called youmebigc and the episode is called about the body.

There is also an episode about chemo.

I was actively discouraged from using a cold cap, and always felt that it was because the nurses didn't want the extra work/time it would take. 

Don't feel that it's vanity. Our hair is a a huge part of our identity. I found losing my hair was one of the most emotionally draining components of my treatment 

Hi @Melc503,

I felt the same way.   That's the impression my first oncologist gave me when I enquired about the cold cap.  She had just rattled off what felt like a hundred possible side effects and I was worried about my hair.  She said "I think your hair would be the least of your concerns when you are fighting caner"  All well and good I guess, when its not your boobs or your hair and your just sitting there telling person after person the same thing.

Is it really vanity though? Well somewhat, but the thing I really did want was normal.  I knew that it would give me strength,  Even if I felt trashy on the inside at least I could look normal to the outside world. I did everything possible the whole way through to keep a sense of normality. So much happens and changes through this so any shred of the usual is valuable.

Not sure whether or not the cold cap helped but I never lost all of my eyebrows and there were enough lashes left that it was hardly noticeable with mascara on.  

Let me know if you want any help.

Cheers
xoxoxoxo

@Melc503 I felt exactly the same as u. U can hide the fact u r missing a breast but not your hair and then your private business becomes public. 

@Melc503 You do what you need to do to be as happy as you can be.

I tried the cold cap in order to spare my niece & nephew the visual. It didn't work very well at all for me, despite most of the medical professionals saying they thought it would. After two chemo sessions I ended up with an incredibly wide stripdown the middle, big patches underneath what was remaining and hair falling out all over the house. The texture of what was holding on was dreadful. Manky, lifeless and kind of crunchy. At that point it was distressing me far more to deal with than if I'd had nothing so I went to a groovy hipster barber and had the rest removed. No tears shed and wow, showers were a whole new fantastic sensation.

I can send you a picture of what my hair looked like the morning of when I got rid of it. I found these images very confronting when I was researching online so I'll PM you only if you want to see it.

I coped with the cold cap OK after the first 12 minutes which were dreadful. Then it was difficult for 20 minutes and after that it was fine, just numb. I had to have it on for six hours (different chemos have different recommendations) and because it was quite heavy I was in a bed so I could rest my head on a pillow and be covered in a heated blanket.

Keep squashing the cap down on the top of your head so it freezes the hair there thoroughly. And be prepared for the icicles when the cap comes off! Good luck. K xox

Hair I have coped with - eyebrows, I haven't. I pencil them in every morning, no matter what, because I don't recognise myself at all without them.

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Oh my god. I love this thread. Thank you ladies. I am embarrassed and feel very vain to say I am more upset about losing my hair than my breast. I love my hair. And everyone comments on how nice my hair is. 
I will certainly be giving the cold cap a try xxx

@htav. Good luck - what kind of chemo are u having?

Thank you so much for going to so much trouble in responding to my post. It has been offered as an option for me.  <3 

thanks Kiwi Angel, I start in a few weeks.