Scalp Cooling Caps

Hi Chris,

I didn't have 'cool caps' because there was a queue for them and my tumours were doubling every three weeks. I needed to get in there! I had treatment at 'The Cottage' at the Mater Hospital in North Sydney where they have a number of the 'cool cap' machines and I had lots of great conversations with the women using them and the staff.

The pros are that you MIGHT preserve your head hair, and even if you get hair loss and thining it might help you feel better to still have some hair.

The cons are that your treatment takes longer because you need to sit around after your drugs have finished and keep your head cool for a while. Women I saw were typically hooked up to cool caps for half an hour to an hour after their drugs finished.

Results were mixed, with some women still losing significant amounts of hair and some having a better result, but your hair will not look healthy during this process. Patients doing cool caps were advised not to use hair products, or to only use them infrequently and to favour organic ones. 

Some women still cut their hair fairly short while others were hoping to maintain there lovely long locks. 

From a personal perspective, I was glad I hadn't gone with the caps when I saw what was involved but I'm in my 50's and I'd previously shaved all my hair off for charity (a couple of years before I got cancer!) so going bald for a while was no big deal to me. I did get a wig after I did the 'Look Good, Feel Better' day, but only wore it a couple of times because the chemo put me into menopause and I loved my head being bare when I got hot flushes! 

I also have friends that say not losing all their hair and not 'looking like a cancer patient' was a really important part of their recovery. It's a very personal choice.

I didn't mind being visibly sick and, to be honest, it was heart warming to see how frquently people went out of their way to be kind to me. 

I finished chemo just before Christmas. Having previously had very fine hair I now have an impressive head of waves and my hair is thicker than it's ever been. For me, at least, going bald has been a blessing in disguise.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Meg

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