I used the cold caps at The Mater Cottage and I would say I probably lost around 30% of my hair and I used to wear caps & my own hair would show the main hair loss was at the top of my head. I won't lie to you it is very uncomfortable I used to take two Panadeine Forte before each visit and some days I had the cooling cap on for seven hours!! I would do it again if I had to, I finished chemo in January this year and had a hair cut (in a pixie style) in April and I had a full head of hair and now it looks great! The cooling cap also heaps the hair that you do lose to grow back quicker. You also need to treat your hair with kid gloves only very light brushing no more than once a day and only washing your hair once a week with an Organic Shampoo. If you want any other information just let me know. Cheers
Hi Chris!
I am 6 weeks post chemo and I did use the cold caps and have managed to save nearly all my hair! No-one at my hospital had used them and the nurses and Oncologist all believed they didn't work but they were basing their opinions on the cold caps they had seen used in the UK 10 years ago! Things have changed a bit since then! They were all quite intrigued when every time they saw me, I stil had my hair and I think I have managed to change their opinions a little bit and hopefully they will be a bit more encouraging for the next person that wants to use them. The caps I used were not attached to a machine but stored in my freezer and then put in dry ice and kept in an esky for me to take to the hospital. This meant no extra time at the hospital after chemo as although you have to keep them on for about four hours afterwards, I could go home and sit there with them on. I personally didn't find it too much of a bother, it was my husband who had to do the cap changes and freeze his fingers! It has been totally worth it for me. If you want to know any more details, let me know :)
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
x
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
x
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
x
