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Lucylou's avatar
Lucylou
Member
9 years ago

When to give up on ice caps

Hi, after 2 rounds of a/c chemo with ice caps my hair is very thin with a few small bald patches. I'm not sure whether to give up on the ice caps. Having some hair gives me a reasonably "normal" look with a hat on. I'd welcome any thoughts. If I hang on to what hair I have left, will that make the hair regrowth a little easier to manage or mean a mix of straighr, brown hair and curly, grey fuzz? Many thanks!

8 Replies

  • Hope goes well at the wig library. You can buy some nice wigs on line too.
  • Thanks Traceyb and melclarity, yes, I think the hair issue has been the hardest part of all of this. I guess I'm lucky it's not nausea! I've had the constant runny nose too. Not pleasant! Big cuddles to you all through this challenging journey xx
  • Thanks Kat09, primek & karenhappyquilter, yes i'm leaning towards embracing the bald head! Yes, I've got taxol to come so I'd need to wear the ice cap 14 more times and given the lack of success so far I don't think it's worth it. I agree, kat09, it's a stress trying to hang on to and manage the hair I have left. I'm off to the wig library this Thursday. And I've got another week till AC#3  so I can give it some thought till then. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts xx
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    A friend of mine used cold caps during herceptin treatment and although her hair thinned, she kept a lot of it. She laughed when she told me that her hairdresser had cut her hair into a "comb over" Having lost every hair on my body, and lived with running eyes and nose until the hair grows back, my advice is yo just think about it and do what your heart tells you. We all have to manage this treatment our own way, so if the ice cap is too unbearable, make your own choice. Sending you a big cuddle, Trace xxxx
  • Hey Lucylou, I also didnt try coldcaps as was told on my regime it wouldnt work. I did however have friends who did and yes it thinned and yes they still had to wear caps/headwear and yes it was different where it grew back at first. Very individual, I had long blonde hair but honestly Im 15 months post now and its grown back fine its nearly to end of my collar now all be it curly LOL but I straighten it :) Melinda xo
  • Hi Lucylou, I tried cold caps for the 1st of my AC treatments as I was hopeful that it would help save my hair or at the very least help with regrowth once I was finished treatment. My hair started thinning quiet substantially 2 and a half weeks after the 1st treatment and each day was becoming a major stress that I didn't need. I decided to shave my head and for me that was the best choice as the emotional rollercoaster I faced each morning when I brushed my hair was something I didn't need. I am glad that I gave the Cold caps a go and my oncologist told me right from the start it was only a 50/50 chance that I would keep my hair, my choice not to continue with them was what was right for me. I didn't choose to shave my head lightly as like all of us I wanted to keep my hair but I didn't want it thin or patchy and not being able to style it also became an issue for me. You have to do what you think is best for you, perhaps if you continue through to your 3rd treatment and then see how things are going? One of the ladies that I have treatment with did the Cold caps through 12 x Taxol treatments and still has all her hair, but AC is of course different and we all have different reactions to treatment. I am really glad that I tried the Cold caps and it is great that the opportunity to do so is there for most of us, unfortunately though it doesn't work for all treatments and all patients. I hope that things go well for you

  • Sorry can't help. Do you have taxol after AC. Is it 12 weeks worth?  Do you think you can tolerate through this. It's your decision. I just cut mine as soon as it started to fall and went to scarves and hats. Perhaps get fitted for a wig, there are many that can look very natural. I imagine you might need to get your hair cut quite short to accommodate regrowth. 
  • I didn't try cold caps.  I found after I had my hair buzz cut, my children sent me photos of beautiful bald women and I felt better.  I learnt that for me being bald was comfortable and easy.  I had a wig but rarely wore it.  In winter I wore warm soft beanies which I told myself looked elegant!  I often went bald at home but then realized my husband didn't like it so much so I wore beanies and caps inside. Also at night for sleeping.  With everything going on with treatment, it was easy to just be bald.  I don't know if that helps at all, but good luck.  Karen