Scalp cooling - tips on cap size and forehead pressure?
Hi all, I'm about to start my first of 12 x weekly paclitaxel treatments on Monday (combined with trastuzumab infusions every three weeks). I am keen to try scalp cooling to try to reduce hair loss and had gotten my mind around the cold factor (I think!). However, I had my chemo education session yesterday and got to try on a cap. I discovered that the cap alone for just a few minutes was very uncomfortable/slightly painful on my forehead and am now not sure how I'll go with this for several hours! The nurse did get me to then try the next cap size up, but this didn't seem to be as good a fit and had a gap at the back of my head - hence may not be effective. I also didn't have a headband on when I tried the first cap - so possibly this might also help a little. Just wondering if this tightness/pressure/forehead pain is normal or if anyone else has experience and tips on dealing with this? I noticed from other posts about scalp cooling that these seem to suggest the hardest period is the first 15-20 mins and then your head acclimatises/becomes numb. Just wondering if this also applies to the feeling of tightness of the cap? Or if there are any other tips on reducing pain/pressure on your forehead during the cooling process? I figure I'll give it a go anyway on Monday as I can always stop the scalp cooling if it is too much for me, but any advice would be very welcome!
Scalp Cooling - long curly hair
Hi all, I started TC (docataxel/ cyclophosphamide) two weeks ago and had the scalp cooling PAXMAN. My hair is naturally curly and long, just past the shoulders. On day 15 post first chemo half of my hair came out as I combed the conditioner through in the shower. I've tried so hard to only wash my hair once every 5 or 6 days and do not brush it at all. Have others in this situation had their hair cut to a short bob length, or gone straight to a very short hair style? Are there any specific brands of shampoo and conditioner that are gentle enough that are also moisturising enough to comb the conditioner through the curls without causing more pulling? Has anyone had success with keeping some of their hair?
Ice Caps to prevent hair loss
Are you worried about losing your hair during chemo treatments? For me keeping my hair was very important. I am a private person and the thought of people seeing me hairless felt very intimidating and public. I wanted to choose who I would like to tell I had breast cancer and not just be on display everywhere I went for everyone and anyone to diagnose. I decided to give ice caps a try and it was absolutely successful. Keeping my hair gave me a sense of control over the chemotherapy and its nasty side effects. For me it became an uplifting and very positive experience, giving me something satisfying to focus on, instead of on the cancer.
Cold Capping and hair loss experience with TC chemo
I went for my first TC chemo session with cold capping on a Paxman. I've got wavy coarse hair, that's not particularly thick. Conditioner and water was applied with a focus on the top of the head. I was expecting a brain freeze but came nowhere near that in the 2.5 hours of the cold capping. I'm a skier so I'm comparing it to having damp hair on the snowfieds. The nurse said only about 20% of his patients keep their hair. I'm now paranoid it was ineffective and am sitting at home with a bag of ice in a large ziplock affixed to my head, which feels colder than the cap. Has anyone had a similar experience with cold cap not being as cold as you expected, but still had reasonable hair retention after that session?
Hair cut before cold cap?
Hello there! I am going to start chemo soon and am going to use a cold cap. I've read your hair may still fall out so I'm wondering if I should still make a hair appointment to get it cut pretty short? Did any ladies with the cold cap get their hair cut short before starting chemo or should I just wait and see how my hair goes before taking drastic measures? And while you're at it, any tips on withstanding the cold cap? xx
Cold cap - is it worth continuing the frosty hell?
Hi ladies...having had two surgeries (masectomy and DIEP flap) in June / July I am now on the chemo journey 4 x AC (every 2 weeks) and then weekly Taxol for 12 weeks. It sucks. I have had 2 rounds of AC and tried the cold cap for both. The first time it was manageable although not fun but the last round (this Thursday just gone) was unbearable and I felt so unwell the entire 4 hours of chemo even with all the drugs. I am now wondering if I can do this for another 14 more rounds. This week will be the week my hair should start to fall out which fills me with dread but so does 14 more rounds of cold cap. I feel absolutely awful for days after chemo and have horrible nausea and the whole process is very overwhelming. Has anyone had AC and Taxol and done the cold cap for so many treatments with success? I would appreciate any advice as I now feel even more anxious about my next round. Thank you so much xIce cap or no ice cap? personal experiences?
Hi All, I was newly diagnosed mid December, have had surgery and am recovering well. I am due to start 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy using paclitaxel. I will also be receiving Herceptin 3 weekly for 12 months and goserelin (hormone treatment) for 5 years. I have been told about ice caps to minimise or prevent hair loss. From reading it seems that this doesn't always work and also sounds painful. I was wondering if any of you had personal experience of using or trying the cap - obviously the good and the bad. I think it's not so much losing my hair that is bothering me, but the thought that then it is so public and there is no hiding it then :( Thank you so much.Anyone tried Cold Therapy to prevent neuropathy in Taxol Chemo
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with Her2 positive BC in April. I have been having AC dose dense chemo for the past six weeks (3 x 2 weeks) and have my last one on Thursday. I've tolerated it well which I credit partly to walking every day, between 30-40km a week. I start Paclitaxel chemo 12 x weekly two weeks later and I have been reading about Taxol based chemos being very likely to cause neuropathy. I'm keen to do as much as I can to avoid this. Online there are some new studies showing cold gloves and booties reduce these effects. I can see that it is commonly discussed on the UK forums. Has anyone used cold therapy while having chemo? I know that there is much discussion and use of cold capping but I can't see anything on the forums about using it to prevent neuropathy. (I considered cold capping but was told by my oncologist it didn't work well with AC.) The gloves and ice packs that are recommended (Elastogel, Chillpain) all seem to be made and sold in the US and not here, and they cost so much after the exchange rate, taxes and postage. I was wondering if there were any local alternatives people knew about, or if they had made their own alternatives, frozen peas, ice trays or ice packs? Thanks