Cold cap
Has anyone tried the cold cap when having chemo ? I commence chemo 14/6 .
Forum Discussion
Hi Lillianne. I had TC (short for your chemo) as well and tried the cold cap. Like you I was told that I would get good results as my hair was thick and dark. At my first infusion the nurse told me she thought I'd getca good result. At my second infusion the nurse told me the cold cap didn't help much with TC... As far as I can tell it's absolutely pot luck.
I was given Ativan and paracetemol half an hour before the cold cap was put on. It was agony for the first 12 minutes, painful for the next 18 and then completely tolerable for the rest of the time. The heated 'bear hugger' blanket helped as well.
My hair started to fall out on Day 13 of the first cycle. And it continued, in huge quantities. There was hair everywhere! I gave up in the third week of my second cycle. I had an enormously wide landing strip on top and bare patches at random elsewhere. The quality of the remaining hair was poor too, it had a lank, brittle dead feeling. I hated it and the whole monk like look so buzzed it off. It was a great relief!
I think the fit is the thing. Make sure the cap is squashed really firmly onto the top of your head. Most of the edges of my hair, where the cap had fit really tight, stayed. So squash it down regularly while you're sitting there.
It is a big time commitment. With the cold cap I was at the hospital for six and a half hours, wthout it I was there for three.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on. K
I was given Ativan and paracetemol half an hour before the cold cap was put on. It was agony for the first 12 minutes, painful for the next 18 and then completely tolerable for the rest of the time. The heated 'bear hugger' blanket helped as well.
My hair started to fall out on Day 13 of the first cycle. And it continued, in huge quantities. There was hair everywhere! I gave up in the third week of my second cycle. I had an enormously wide landing strip on top and bare patches at random elsewhere. The quality of the remaining hair was poor too, it had a lank, brittle dead feeling. I hated it and the whole monk like look so buzzed it off. It was a great relief!
I think the fit is the thing. Make sure the cap is squashed really firmly onto the top of your head. Most of the edges of my hair, where the cap had fit really tight, stayed. So squash it down regularly while you're sitting there.
It is a big time commitment. With the cold cap I was at the hospital for six and a half hours, wthout it I was there for three.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on. K