Hi All,Recently had a lumpectomy to now find my next two steps are chemo followed by a recommended single mastectomy. My Stage 2A cancer was behaving quite badly with a 30mm tumor and two smaller tumors of 5 and 6mm.Firstly, cold cap for some chance at saving hair - or some of it. My hair is thin already, so I am wondering about your experiences with this both good and bad - please share.

I used the cold cap treatment for my 4 x AC treatments. It is painful, but bearable. My nurses gave me a sedative so it relaxed me to deal with it. It does add about 1.5-2 hours to the time In the chair. It was reasonably effective - I kept about 50% of my hair. However when I had to do the 12x weekly Taxol treatments, I just decided to let it go, eg not do the cold cap. Too long in he chemo chair + I didn't like the idea of the sedative and I was stressing so much about keeping my hair. BEST decision I made! There are so many cute chemo turbans and scarves. Everyone at work - I have an executive role - loved seeing what my new scarf for the day was. I just decided to make it fun! As another persons has said: it's a very personal decision. But having been thru it -- and I loved my hair, it was gorgeous before! - I am glad I stopped the cold cap and just let it be. Part of the change and healing process......good luck!

I used the cold caps and only experienced the 'brain freeze' for first 20 minutes. Pandadol took edge off it. The following treatments were with minimal discomfort. After first treatment, I cut my hair short as found the dripping uncomfortable and the chemo affected hair quality. I thought if I can't stand the second one I would shave my head in preparation for hair loss. The only problem I found was the extra time you spend in the chemo unit. Was worth it as I only suffered a bit of thinning on top and wore a hat for sun protection like JoeyLIZ.

@kezmusc I think you are right, I do think alot of Oncologists are dismissive of it. Mine was really good, we discussed it, and was honest and said that if I were doing just Taxol he would definitely recommend it, but doing 4 rounds of FEC he said in all his years he hadn't 1 patient fully successful. I remember feeling disheartened but then thought I'd sooner know the truth. I have alot of friends that did use it and happily, although they didnt get the results they'd hoped for. I do think absolutely give it a go, there's nothing to lose, good to hear you had such success. I think this is something that will only improve possible with time and changing treatments.

Hi @JJ70 , my oncologist recommended I give the Cold caps a try when I started my AC Chemo but she also told me that I would have a 50/50 shot of keeping my hair. For me it wasn't worth the hassle, the cold caps themselves weren't too bad to put up with and if my hair hadn't started thinning quiet badly maybe I would have kept going with them.I found that not being able to wash, style or colour my hair was as big a stress for me as loosing it. I also found that I was getting really upset worrying about what each morning would bring when I brushed my hair. 3 weeks into treatment my husband shaved my head, all up I had 6 months of Chemo AC and Taxol and now have a full crop of hair. There were many other women who had varying degrees of success with the cold caps depending on the types and length of treatments they were on. One thing in favour of them is that your hair definately comes back faster once Chemo has finished. Like everything in this roller coaster we are on you have to do what works best for you, I was glad I gave them a try but in the end it wasn't that bad loosing my hair. ( lucky hats were in for winter )Good luck with your treatment

Hi @ JJ70. It is one of those personal things i guess. I would have walked over broken glass to keep my hair so I really didn't care about the cold or the time. Besides, the chairs are comfy, you can order food and get to sit under nice warm blankets and read a book:)I used the cold caps for 4 x AC and 12 x weekly taxol. The first time you do want to rip it off your head as soon as it starts, you just have to remember it doesn't take long to settle. It took me about 5 mins for it to be ok. I took no sedatives or panadol, it just depends how you cope with it I guess. It gets better as you go along as you know what to expect. The time at the appointment is a bit longer, but given that you need premeds an hour before they start anyway that takes up the first hour of cooling. Make sure the nurse knows how to fit it properly and keep a check throughout the treatment on the centre of your scalp. I just used to give it a bit of a shove down every 10 minutes or so to make sure it was flat on my head and that my hairline around my face stayed covered. I guess it all depends how much you want to keep your hair. Personally I was so absolutely thankful I got to use it. It worked brilliantly and made everything just that bit easier to deal with. I could go to work or out with friends and family not looking any different to normal. My profile picture is at week 1 of radiation so 4 weeks after chemo finished. It thinned but only I could notice. If you want to know about products or anything I used just message me. (I wasn't paying $100 for the recommended shampoo and conditioner).All the best. XOXO

COLD CAP - Your opinions and experiences please

12 Replies

melclarity
Member
8 years ago
@JJ70

Here is a link to a previous discussion on cold caps. I personally didn't, I wasn't recommended by my Oncologist as he said it wouldnt be successful having FEC, possibly just Taxol it may work. I've had friends that have used it and thinned alot on top and ended up having to wear scarves anyway. I think there are some success stories here on the forum however. Its alot of added time in the chair, its not pleasant from what others have said either. Very personal choice, I had gorgeous hair and didn't want to lose it, but figured too, I wanted every cell in my body to be hit with chemo and partly felt cold capping would interfere with my scalp.

http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/15635/cold-caps

Hugs Melinda xo
JoeyLiz
Member
8 years ago
I am using the cold cap. Imagine the worst brain freeze you can have then times it by 50! I said to my husband that I’d rather give birth again! But after 15 mins I got used to it and it really wasn’t that bad. The second time I took panadol 20 mins before and the headache wasn’t as bad.
it doesn’t fit properly on my crown and that’s where I’m losing my hair. Unless your 7 ft tall and looking directly down on my head you can’t really tell. But overall it has thinned but I don’t need to wear a hat (only for sun protection).

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COLD CAP - Your opinions and experiences please

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