that thread has a few comments but I'm going to have another search and see if I can find someone from say 6 months ago to see if they're still advocating the cold cap with the benefit of hindsight.
I must admit I didn't bother at all, my husband wanted me to try it but he's always been fixated on my hair. I was worried if it all fell out whether it would grow back again and it has. I don't think I could have tolerated the cold on my head. And it was bad enough sitting in the chair for two or three hours without having to add extra time for the cold cap to take effect.
By the time I was actually in the chair with the drugs ready for the first dose it was nearly 4pm and I was slightly grateful the pressure was off to 'give it a go'.
I had a really nice wig that was so similar to my own hair a lot of people didn't notice. When I didn't wear that I have nice soft bobble hats and beanies. I went through chemo from August to December and didn't lose my hair until the last weekend of August. Hats were cool and I was quite trendy.
what did you get ? ER+ ? Her2+ ? one lump or two ?
edited; here's another one from about 5 months ago
I have only had one session so far so I can't comment on how well it worked, but I can say about the experience. Overall it was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. I was expecting it to be really painful, in which case I was quite prepared to yell get it off me. Vain maybe, wuss definitely! But it was ok. Not exactly comfortable and the straps are very tight but not painful. I was there for about 1 1/2 hours longer. What I didn't know, they put lots of conditioner in your hair before so when you leave your hair looks dreadful. Next time I'm taking in a beanie hat to leave hospital. Also when they take it off you have icicles in your hair!
I have been having weekly Taxol and was told the coldcap was not to be used for weekly treatments, I've seen others on the forum who have used it for this - I had already made up my mind not to do it anyway for the reasons Carolyn gave. I had my long hair cut short and it tatted shedding 2 days after chemo 3, this was horrendous so I had it cut really short. It appears to have stopped coming out (10 sessions in) so I am patchy not bald , I have a fab wig which I wear when I need to, otherwise wooly hats or nothing at home.
It has been weirdly liberating , I wouldn't have chosen to chop off my long hair but part of me feels like the old me has gone anyway and time for changes,rather than trying to hang onto remnanats of my old life.
I haven't regretted it at all , I did wonder if I would , but everyone is different and that is the most important thing for you , to get some feedback and make your own decision.
Good luck with whatever you decide and best wishes.
I tried the cold cap on my first chemo session and had to have it removed within minutes - the 1st 5-10 mins are the worst apparently but I couldn't tolerate it. My aunt used to apply them where she works and some people find them very easy & have no problems & it varies right down to the likes of me with a splitting headache almost immediately. It also meant I didn't have to sit around for a further 90 minutes post chemo to get the benefit. So now need to order some new hats/scarves - any excuse for some retail therapy.
But at least I tried it. Top tip is take a brush / comb & mirror if you try/use it.
Hi Carolyn thanks for your reply, my husband is the same and I think he's more concerned about my hair than I am. I spoke to the breast care nurse and she says she advises everyone to try the cold cap once b4 making a decision. I feel the same and not sure if I could tolerate the cold as well. My results were ER negative, HER2 negative with 1 lump and 2 nodes removed. How long b4 your hair started to grow again xxxx
Thanks Jo good luck to you too. my hair is shoulder length and very thick and strong so I do wonder if it will thin but not all come out - we shall see. Best wishes to you xxxx
Hi Gay I have heard that they put some sort of cream the your hair b4 the treatment. I think having read your reply I will give it a go. Many thanks. Hope continue to do well xxxx
I had waist length blond hair and used the cold cap all through my FEC-T (6 sessions in total). Lost a lot of hair even after having it cut to shoulder length.
My hair loss was mainly in the top of my hair so I ended up with bald patches. There was also some hair loss around the entire head. My hair was exceptionally thick though.
This still worked well for me as I was able to twist my hair up onto the top of my head and secure ir with a clip to cover most of the bald patches. This let me wear a sort of "half wig" secured with an alice band.
For me this was much more comfortable than a full wig.
It's very cold at the moment and I am used to long hair so I am happy with my half wig still.
Once I had stopped FEC my hair grew back very quickly. It was even growing on T. My hair is growing back very thickly and in the same blond colour.
Using the cold cap was unpleasant. My clinic asked me to bring in a conditioner and apply this before the cap. We did fuss around trying to find the best cap to wear. Took painkillers just before the cap went on, took extra clothes to wear and sipped a hot drink for the 10 minutes of pain at the start. Towel around the shoulders.
I also bought a warm, knitted headband to out over my ears and the forehead where the cap met the skin. Everyone in the clinic went out a bought one after that and I left mine for others to use at the end.
What I wasn't warned about and was a big feature for my hair loss was the chemo stopped all my bodies natural oils. My hair turned into a knotted mass of dry hair almost overnight. Hair oil right then would have been helpful. After a lifetime of oily skin it was a bit of a shock.
I also bought silk sleep caps with chin ties for at night.
Hi flopsyuk thanks for your advice. If I try the cold cap I will take extra warm clothing and a flask of coffee with me. The waiting to start treatment is so nerve racking and I think this is making it harder to make a decision - think it is worth trying first though. Hope your keeping well xxxx
