Cold cap

Hi Smaa,

I used it for EC and Pac and it was very successful, I kept around 75% of my hair.  It looked fine even at the end of treatment, but six weeks later with a little regrowth to cover the thin bits you couldn’t tell I’d lost any at all. It isn’t guaranteed, but it does work well for around 60% of people I think based on the stats.

I didn’t find using it too bad at all, cold for the first 20 mins or so but then you stop noticing it.  It does add time to the sessions, but not as much as you think as a lot of the time it’s on before and after you’d be waiting for pre-meds, post chemo flushes and take home meds to arrive and the like. Not sure what you mean by side effects?  I didn’t have any and haven’t heard of anyone else having side effects from the cold cap?

But if you don’t want to use it, that’s fine too.  You need to find the best way forward for you and we all care and worry about different things.  Good luck with the chemo.

I read that cold caps give sensitive scalp,nausea,headaches. 
with chemo having so many side effects I just didn’t want to add. 
the lady who booked me in for chemo told me wearing a cold cap I’d be there for 3/4 hours as apposed to 1/2 hours without one one. 
super happy your experience was so good with it

Many people do get a sensitive scalp, but that’s from the chemo rather than the cap.  People who don’t use the cap have similarly sensitive scalp and hair follicles, although I guess once you lose it all that would stop.  I have heard that some people get headaches from the cold and tightness, although I never did, but that would only be at the time you’re using it.  Never heard of nausea from it at all.  But yes, it does add time so if that’s not something you want then there is absolutely no pressure to use it!

Hi S4maa
I have or had very fine ash blonde / grey straight hair, cut into a short pixie. Reading the Paxman literature, it looked like cold capping would be a bit of a long shot with my hair type, especially starting with EC. I cold capped the first time. My hair started shedding on day 16 and by the time I got to the second treatment I had lost 80% of the hair on top of my hair, less so on the back and sides. The monk look was not good. I have clippered what is left very short which is making the ongoing fall out less traumatic. I didn’t bother cold capping for round 2. The nurse on the second appointment said in her experience the courser your hair strands the better your chances with cold capping, that it works best on Afro-Caribbean hair, and it holds better through taxanes than EC. This is consistent with the Paxman literature. So probably there was never any point me trying. Not aware of side effects other than the first uncomfortable 15 minutes and the time it adds to your appointment (90minutes on the end for EC, 60 for Paclitaxel). The scalp discomfort is possibly the hair that’s coming out pulling. I have to say clipoering it very short has stopped that. 

Hi Coddfish, 

thank you for replying. 
my hair is European but fine, i wanted to keep my hair until summer holidays,(didn’t want looks/questions at school gates as kept my health private bar my family).  sounds unlikely now.

Thank you, I don’t want the monk look either, so best to get rid I think

my missing boobs can be hidden but the hair, it’s tough.

Hi S4maa

I have fine hair and I used the cold cap through EC and paclitaxel.  It didn’t work great for me - I lost over 75% of my hair.  However, the hair loss was much slower than if I hadn’t used the cap, so I didn’t need to wear a wig until 10-12 weeks after I started chemo.  Also, regrowth was pretty quick which may have been down to the cold cap.  

I didn’t get any side effects from using the cap, and only found it uncomfortable for the first ten minutes or so.  Best of luck x

Hi

I will be having my 5th chemo next week. The first 3 were EC. I have cold capped and my hair is very fine. There has been a lot of hair loss, especially on the crown. The hair shedding has been significantly less since I changed from EC though. While it is probably obvious there is an issue I still feel comfortable enough to go out without covering my head. I’m hoping that having come so far my hair survives the rest of the treatment.  I have persevered with the cold cap in the hope that it helps with the regrowth. 
I find the discomfort of the cold cap bearable. The first 15 mins are the worst. As soon as the cap goes on I try to distract myself with my I pad. I was advised to take paracetamol an hour before hand. 
I just felt the cold cap was worth a try, nothing to lose but hair ! 

Hi 

I have had 2 x EC so far, started on 11th May. I used the cold cap both times. It is bearable. The first time it really hurt my forehead where it touched my skin but the 2nd time I took cotton cosmetics pads and put them on my forehead up to my hairline. I also took a codine before I put it on. It can give you a headache but not much more. I haven’t lost any hair yet. It is also meant to good for the regrowth. 
I have it on for 1/2hr before treatment and 1.5hrs after. The first half hours you would be there anyway. Checks and then anti-sickness meds take 15mins on the drip before you start treatment.

I felt I had nothing to lose by trying it. I’m sure it is will prolong the hair loss.

Best wishes x 

Hi

I have had 3 x EC and will be having the last of my 3 Docetaxel on Tuesday. I have kept 90% of my hair and so glad I did cold cap. Yes it's uncomfortable for the first 10 minutes but it was worth it to keep my hair. All i have needed is a tiny bit of Toppix to cover a slightly larger than normal parting on my crown. I realise I have been extremely lucky.

I  also didn't have any side effects from the cap but do take a paracetamol half an hour before. As to the time, as someone else said you are usually waiting for pre-meds, prescriptions etc so it doesn't make that much difference and to be honest I would of stayed all day to keep my hair 

Hi lisa

hlw have you been finding the docetaxal? I’ve got my first on Wednesday. I found EC quite tough.

hope all is well and pleased you’re st the last one nearly xx