Hair cooling caps to retain hair?

You are very welcome! It is a great site, isn't it?! You just have to ask and someone has the answer :). And for me personally, if I can help anybody going through this in even the smallest way, I'm happy. And there is not any part of me that regrets using the cold caps, I had brilliant results despite all the sceptism from my oncologist and chemo nurses, they are all quite amazed at the results now. Good luck x

Hi Perthmum, thank you for the great info. I just love this site, help is always just there around the corner. Cheers Juli

Hi juli I had mine at a private oncology centre. They were free for people with private health insurance. As I did not have insurance, I paid the daily rate for use of the oncology centre, which was $360 each time (x4 times). I have finished the EC chemo and now on abraxane. My hair is growing back fast despite being on chemo, without the cap. I lost a bit of hair with the caps after my first EC chemo but I used a head band to hide it. The rate of hair loss slowed down after that. I'm so glad I persisted. My hair is below shoulder length and nobody can tell I have been through chemo. But I know it is not for everyone. Good luck with your choice and your treatment!

Hi Juli. Hopefully Flickety won't mind me answering your question. I used the caps from April until June and the cost is approximately $600 per month. I got charged less the last month as it worked out only part of a month. I rented them from Penguin Cold Caps. They're not always easy to get as it just depends if they're all out on hire already and the timing of other people's chemo. I delayed my chemo by a week in order to get a set of caps but it's definitely worth enquiring. If you have any more questions, just let me know. Best of luck with your chemo :)

Flickety. I have heard about these cold cap. What is the cost. And are they readily available Hope you are doing really well. I start chemo in dec 15. :D Juli

Hi again everyone I just thought I would update you. Although I had a slight bald patch on the top of my head after my first chemo, the hair loss basically stopped after that. I have started having abraxane without the scalp cooling cap and hair loss is listed as a side effect. I had a little bit of shedding after the first dose but it is negligible now! I'm happy to say that people can't tell that I have lost any hair when I wear a headband. It's still shoulder length. I have some greys coming through and can't colour them yet unfortunately. I'm glad I chose to use the caps. It's not for everyone and there are pros and cons with either choice. Flickety.

Thanks Perthmum. I'm glad you were able to keep your hair. I have now had 3 rounds of EC chemo, and still have most of my hair. Unfortunately I started shedding a bit about two days before my second chemo cycle. I have some slight balding patches near the crown which can be hidden if I pull my hair back (combover lol) or wear a beanie. My children have found my small bald spots hard to cope with. I guess they would have found it even harder if I had lost all my hair. I have basically stopped shedding hair since then. My hair was fairly thick and just below the shoulder. I think it probably insulated the scalp a bit, so now that it is thinner, the cap works better. My second chemo was good and I just used neurofen for the pain from the caps. The second one was not as good. The chinstrap was on very tight that time, and was quite uncomfortable. But only one more to go! After that I will have another 12 weeks of different chemo drugs. I won't be using the cooling cap then. My oncologist tells me I will most likely keep my hair during the second part of my chemo, even though hair loss is listed as a side effect. Fingers crossed that this hasn't all been a waste! I have read on a UK site that your hair grows back more quickly if you use the scalp cooling. I will post again down the track. :)

Hi Flickety!

It's my first post here but I saw your post and had to reply.  I finished chemo 5 weeks ago and used the Cold Caps.  I am very pleased with the results and although I have had some shedding (to be expected) I don't think it is noticeable.  Certainly anyone who doesn't know me, wouldn't have a clue that I've just been through chemo.  My only thoughts were that you mentioned wearing them 30 mins before and 2 hours after and I had read somewhere else of a lady having a lot of shedding using that method.  Certainly the ones I have used advise 1 hour before and 4 hours after.  Your head is numb by then so the extra couple of hours don't matter too much :)   Anyway, I hope you are going well with your chemo and the caps.  For me personally, it was worth the effort or should I say my husband's effort, he was the one that did all the work, I just sat there!!

 

Whatever you chose is the right choice for you xx I'm a hairdresser so losing my hair hit me hard, but I'm rocking the GI Jane look and love my wig. My hair is coming back now and I'm quite excited to see what I'll get lol. I'm hoping for long luscious curls :-D

Whatever you chose is the right choice for you xx I'm a hairdresser so losing my hair hit me hard, but I'm rocking the GI Jane look and love my wig. My hair is coming back now and I'm quite excited to see what I'll get lol. I'm hoping for long luscious curls :-D