Hi. I am due to start TCHP next month and considering trying the cold cap. My hair is shoulder length and very fine. Is it worth trying? Should I have it cut short before starting ? Thank you
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Hi. I am due to start TCHP next month and considering trying the cold cap. My hair is shoulder length and very fine. Is it worth trying? Should I have it cut short before starting ? Thank you
Hi MummaP
Thanks for getting in touch with our online community. It’s good to see you are part of the breast cancer forum. There will certainly be others in the group who can give you some understanding of how the cold cap worked for them as well as whether they decided to have their hair cut short before starting chemotherapy.
Using a cold cap as a way of cooling your head may help some people to reduce or prevent hair loss. However, it is only effective with certain chemotherapy drugs. Sometimes even for those who are suitable to use the cold cap, it may still not work. It is impossible to tell whether it will work for an individual until they try it. It’s useful to note, that not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss. Some don't cause any hair loss at all, or only slight thinning. We would encourage you to discuss your individual situation further with the treatment team.
Paxman is the company which supplies most scalp cooling machines, and they have patient information with common questions asked. You may also find it helpful to look at the charity Cancer Hair Care as they have lots of information generally about using the cold cap.
With regards to cutting your hair short, there is no right or wrong answer. It is really is a personal choice.
I hope this helps you answer your questions.
Take care
Paula H, 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.
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