Cold cap

I had cold caps for 6 chemo sessions . It's just a rubber cap and then they hook it up to.a machine which makes it cold. The first 15 mins are a bit difficult due to the cold but then you get used to it and its not too bad. So it's just a case of trying to distract yourself for the first 15mins  they used to give me a blanket and hot packs to hold.

I kept about 50 pc of my hair so it's worth trying .

Xx

Hi Member! I finished chemo at the end of April; I decided against Cold cap, Mainly because it involved a further hour or two in the treatment room. Also one isn’t “allowed “ to colour one’s hair during chemo; so I imagined wirey grey, thin hair which would necessitate a wig anyway! However, now that it’s all over, my hair is taking (what seems like) an age to come back! So I would recommend cold cap after seeing a lady in my radiotherapy waiting room who had recently finished chemo and had, what appears to be a full head of hair, she had lost some hair during chemo but she had cold cap. Which seems to helps with the growing back process so I wish I had had it now, HEY; should’ve would’ve could’ve! Give it a go, it may not be fantastic during chemo if, but it will help afterwards 

Hi I am also due to have chemo very shortly and I wasn’t going to bother using the cold cap but you have changed my mind nor thank you both Mazz and Bobbinoo.

i would also like to say that this forum has been a life saver throughout my journey with Breast Cancer!

I am due to start chemo in two weeks also! 6/8 rounds depending on how I cope. I asked about the cold cap as was keen to try it. My Oncologist didn’t talk it up. She said it’s to be worn and hour before treatment and the same after and it won’t stop you loosing your hair completely. She suggested it can be trickier as your hair can go patchy.  I came away thinking it was more hassle than it’s worth! I would love to hear other peoples experiences as I was initially really keen to try and keep my hair. Also what about my eyebrows and eyelashes?? I am so nervous but for me having the chemo is a relief as it now means my body is cancer free and the chemo/radio will mop up any rogue cells that are left. I have hormone positive, stage 3, 4 lymph node. The worst was a scare It had spread to my liver but it hadn’t thankfully. Lots of waiting for scan results was torture. Xxx

I’m not sure about the eye brows/lashes with cold cap. The lady I was talking to did mention that her lashes were coming out so I guess it doesn’t totally save them if at all. I think any follicles have to be really cold for them not to shed the hair and I’m guessing the eyes won’t be cold enough. I kept my lashes and brows during treatment, they seemed to shed more afterwards. Anyway, it’s all only temporary. Best of luck x

Hi All

here are my experiences of using cold cap through 4 months EC and paclitaxel, in case helpful.

First, I’d say the cap didn’t work very well for me.  It did slow down hair loss but by the final month I had lost 75-80% of my hair and resorted to wearing a wig.  The remaining hair was very dry and wispy so I cut it short. However, I persevered with the cap and I think it helped with regrowth.  Three months after the end of chemo I had a full head of hair and, though it wasn’t my chosen style, I didn’t look like a cancer patient.  I’m now nearly 6 months on and have had two haircuts, and coloured my hair once.  My previously straight hair is mad though!   Curly all over and downright frizzy in places, presumably the famous “chemo curls”.

Wearing the cap was mostly fine. Once I’d got past the first freezing 10 minutes I got used to it.  For my last couple of sessions I did struggle to keep the rest of me warm though, and wonder if that’s because by then I had so little hair between me and the cold cap.

As for eyelashes and eyebrows, like many women I found these were last to go, and only lost them during the last month of chemo.  They were back within a couple of months of finishing.  I would recommend the Look Good Feel Better website, because this charity offers free online make-up workshops for women going through cancer, including tips on drawing on eyebrows etc.  They work with cancerhaircare.co.uk who offer similar workshops on hair loss, wigs etc.  I found all the workshops really helpful, and they were also a good way to “meet” other women experiencing the same issues.

best wishes to all xxx

I would definitely advice you to have your eyebrows microbladed before you start. You will loose your eyebrows and it makes such a difference.  Not a lot you can do about eyelashes I lost them towards the end of the six sessions but they have grown back..

Just a point about the cold cap. I had quite a lot of hair loss after the second session but not much otherwise.  I think that's quite common so don't let it put you off.  I think I short bob is the best style to adopt so if you do get small patches of baldness the long peices cover it up. 

It’s working well for me- I’m four sessions down and have a shed about three weeks after each. My hair was thick tk begin with and ia now thin but I don’t need a wig. Suspect I may need a headband by the end but possibly not. The first ten mins are unpleasant but not awful and then you don’t really notice it. The only bad part has been the shedding as it is horrible just seeing it all over the house, your clothes etc but it slows each time. It won’t save your brows or lashes sadly but mine are holding out so far…I think they go towards the end. X

I tried the cold cap  at my first session in December but then ditched it and have never regretted doing so . I lost about 70 percent of my hair a couple of weeks later and all it did was give me immense sinus pain and headaches  .  I finished treatment in April and my hair is now about an inch long and growing fast . 

You might not need a head band - many find hair can even begin growing with paclitaxel xx