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Cold head

Kevo
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I am having chemo for breast cancer and I am experiencing a really cold head. If I take the temperature of my forehead it's 36.5 but if I take the temperature of the top of my head it's come up 33 or doesn't read,  just says low. I have a headache all the time and the pain feels like brain freeze, like when eating ice-cream . I have had blood tests and infection has been ruled out . I am walking around with two hats on , even when i put a hot water bottle on my head it doesnt help. The only way I can sleep is with my head right under the duvet . This has been since my last round ( round 2 ,day 8 ) , at first I put it down to the cold cap , ( which isn't working) but it's still no better 8 days on. Any ideas because all I get told is they have never come across this before. 

  • Dear Kevo,

    Thank you for getting in touch with us, and welcome to our online community. My name is Annerose I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses here at the Macmillan Cancer Support line.

    I am sorry to read you are experiencing severe side effect form the cold cap treatment you have with your chemotherapy for breast cancer.

    It is not clear if you are still having the scalp cooling with your chemotherapy or if you have stopped it due to the side effects. But I am glad to see that the blood test came back clear for infection.  

    I understand how difficult it is to cope with this experience of pain and constant feeling of cold. You mentioned it feels like a ‘brain freeze’, as we understand this, it is caused by a sudden painful reaction from nerves and blood vessels to something very cold. I know you are already wearing ear clothing, hats and you use a hot water bottle, drinking warm fluids might also be helpful with this.

    Side effects from cold cap can include Chills, Headaches, Dizziness, Nausea, Numbness, Burning sensation and Sinus pain, especially if the person is already sensitive to cold. But also neck and shoulder discomfort, scalp pain, and forehead pain.

    I know you have already spoken to your team about this, but it might be a good idea to ask them again if the cold cap might have had some effect on the nerve endings. If so, it would take some time to recover from. A specific pain killer might be available to help with this if it is a type of nerve pain.

    You also said you have constant headaches, and nothing is touching this. Have you had a scan or an X-Ray of your head just to exclude any other reasons for this. You could ask your oncology team about this.

    I hope this has been helpful, but please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you need any further information or support.

     

    Best wishes and take care.

    Annerose (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist) 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Ref/ DT/AM

  • in reply to Annerose-Macmillan

    Thank you for your reply,  my team didn't really know the answer as to why I am in so much pain,  but I thought it might have been something to do with the cold cap. That has made up my mind now to give up with this. 

    Again thank you for helping me. 

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