Paxman Cold Cap

I have used the cold cap too.  Had five cycles of FEC and managed to keep a lot of my hair.  It has gone thin yes and a small area on the crown which is very thin but have used hair building fibres to hide it which has been very successful.  When I first started treatment there were only a few people on the ward that were having cold cap but several since have spoken to me and wished they had tried it.  Had some advice from the Forum about taking paracetamol which took the extreme ‘ice cream headache' slightly away. I would certainly say try it if you want to keep your hair.

I hope you make a good recovery and send you good wishes for the future.

Hetty

Hi I had my first EC 3 wk ago and used the cold cap, noticed yesterday strands of hair coming out not alot to worry me yet. The person I got my wig from said it's normally around 21 days later it starts. I have psoriasis and the first thing they said was the treatment will clear it up. Well it has cleared it up from my body but not from my head so fingers crossed the cold cap is stopping it from going from my head. Got my second chemo tomorrow and will be wearing the cold cap again. Did you also lose strands of hair?

Hi Olivia

Thank you so much for your post, I had been thinking about not bothering given all the negative posts but think I will try it and see when I start chemo next Wednesday.

Did you find it painful for the duration?

Also do you do anticipate else to care for your hair or just treat it as normal? 

Thanks

Terri

X

Hi Olivia 

I am a 50 lady from Hampshire and I have also been diagnosed with grade2 HER2 + which is ER +. I'm waiting to hear from the oncologist about starting chemo and herceptin. I really nervous and have been told awful things about the cold cap. So it is good to hear something positive about it. I'm am also going to be having operation after chemo then radiotherapy plus hormone treatment. 

Jane 

Hi Olivia

What a positive post! I'm so glad it's working for you.

I can also say I've had fantastic success so far. I'm day 14 post round 3 of EC and have kept all my hair so far. 

Odd strands come out when I brush it and I can also pull odd strands out but overall I'm so pleased with the results. Just hoping it hangs in there for final cycle.

Terri, it's not particularly pleasant and like most people  say, the first 15 mins are the worst. I take paracetamol about 45 mins before. I can understand why some people can't tolerate it.

With regards to looking after my hair, I have been washing the conditioner off in lukewarm water as soon as I get back from chemo and tend to wash my hair about twice a week.  I don't put any products on it but I do use a hairdryer. I know many women would say you shouldn't do that but I have it on cool setting and hold it quite far away from my head (honest)!  I also bought the Paxman conditioner but only actually use that when the cold cap is on. Quite probably no different to normal conditioner only 3 times the price, but who knows. I hope if you decide to try it that it works for you.

I would post a pic but have no idea how to do that! X

Hi Donna! 

I hope your first week hasn't been too bad, my first cycle was the worst.

Yes I started noticing stay hairs from week 3, but the paxman website said it will shed so not to stress too much. On my second cycle it shed more in the first week, but I realised my cap was on wonky so the hair just next to my left ear had all come out! Only a tiny bit in front of my ear but it's bald, in a way this reassured me that it was working on the rest! 

From them I've had stray hairs each day but nothing worrying, I'm due to start tax this month so I'm hoping my hair will cope as well with that one, I've read EC is the hair killer so I'm hoping if I can get through the EC, it can manage the tax fingers crossed! 

Good luck with your cold capping & treatment! X

Hi Hetty! 

Great to hear you've also had a positive experience! It's tough but worth the chance! I'm just grateful that my hospital (Christies) offers the opportunity for us to try it. 

I wish you all the best of luck with your treatment xx

Hi Terri! 

I'm so glad my post has encouraged you to give it a go! Like I said, I went in convinced it wasn't going to work, but there is a chance so it's worth a shot! I'm so glad I did. 

Beforehand...so before you put the cap on wet your hair, the wetter the better I think & smooth over conditioner. Make sure the cap fits TIGHT! I wear a mixture, medium cap & small cover which fits better for me. Check there isn't a bubble in the top of the cap. When it first first goes on it's quite an overwhelming feeling, it's very very cold, but after 10/15 mins it eases is bareable. 

Haircare...Same as fluff99 afterwards a rinse of the conditioner with Luke warm water. I leave it to air dry and really touch it for a few days. 

When I wash I smear shampoo all over, but don't scrub at all, leave for 5 mins then rince. Loads of conditioner, brush it through and rinse. 

Towel try carefully and brush through again, I think an important point is not to let it get matted, I hold the top & brush the lengths so not to yank the roots. 

Like fluff99 I also use my hair dryer! On low heat. I also curl it being careful not to pull the root. 

Dry shampoo is my best pal!!! I wash twice a week but dry shampoo sorts out the days inbetween, I would recommend battise. I'm blonde so the normal one is fine for me, I know they do a special dark one for brunettes too. 

The thing is, if it's going to fall out..it's going to fall out, no babying will save it. Mine might not survive the tax, and if it doesn't at least I know I tried  I haven't bought a wig so I'd better! 

All the best of luck with your treatment & cold capping, chemo isn't anywhere near as bad as I expected, I hope it's the same for you! X 

Hi fluff99!

So pleased it's worked for you too!!! You sound the same as me, careful with washing but still blow drying, I can't see how it's going to hurt with a bit of air blowing on it! 

Id also love to send a pic but have no idea! I feel it's a little bit thinner than it was, but not noticeable to anyone but me. I cut my long blonde hair to a blunt long bob which has been more manageable, I actually wish I'd cut it ages ago it's so much easier & instantly looked thicker than before. 

How are your brows and lashes coping? Both have thinned slightly so far, but I had my brows microbladed before hand which is amazing! Even if/when they go I'm confident they will look fine, one less worry. For those who haven't microbladed and are looking for a good pencil, I'd highly recommend benefit products, I have a kit called brow zing, and an excellent pencil called goof proof..easy to use and stay on really well. The girls in benefit are usually nice & will give pointers xx

Hi Olivia

Yes I agree. I think if it's going to fall out then it will no matter how much you baby it. Mine may still go as still another round but I'm hoping as it's done so well it will hang on in there. We've kept my diagnosis fairly private so no one who doesn't know wouldn't know if you get me! I had shoulder length hair and had it cut into chin length bob too. 

Brows and lashes ok so far. Thinned slightly but not noticeable really. I left it too late to do anything with my brows before treatment. I've used revitalash on my eyelashes and they've stayed in. No idea if that's the product or just good luck. Probably just luck as like the hair, if it's gonna go it's gonna go! 

I attended the Look Good Feel Better workshop and that was really helpful. I would definitely recommend it. Plus you get a huge goodie bag to take home full of fab products. 

Hope the hair continues to behave. Good luck xx