Chemo and cold capping

Morning Kezza123, 

I have cold capped throughout my chemo. Do you have thick or fine hair? The chemo nurses will advise whether it’s going to be possible or not to cold cap. 

Mine has thinned out and I have got bald patches. I’ve been having chemo nearly 6 months now so quite a while. However, I am due to have cycle 7 next week and it’s holding on. 

I was advised not to wash my hair often so I am lucky if I do this once a week now. Sometimes it can get to two weeks. This was to prevent messing with it and pulling it out. If you get me. 

I think if it’s going to come out, it’ll come out and can’t be stopped. I have been using a comb with big gaps - I got it of my neighbour who’s a hairdresser - no idea what it’s called sorry lol but I do use a normal comb as well. 

Items to take with you - I would suggest a blanket possibly but they do give you one at the hospital if you want, magazine, puzzle books if you like them, snacks (lots of them - eat what you want!), maybe a book or kindle if you like reading, headphones. 
I find it does get noisy so can be difficult to concentrate. 
Wear comfy clothes and something easy to go the toilet in. 

Hope this helps, good luck x

Hi Kezza, 

The best advice re cold cap is to make sure it fits properly. Despite getting sized beforehand, the cap seemed a bit loose and my hair fell out before the 2nd chemo. Cold capping increases the time you spend in the hospital, I think I mightve been there nearly 4 hours and when I stopped cold cap I was away after less than 2. Good luck xx

Hi Kezza

I opted for the cold cap after talking to my oncologist and nurse. I went home and read all of the information I was given in my pre chemo pack. I then went onto the internet and read more information and read people's experiences and decided it wasn't beneficial either way. At my first chemo session, on EC, I sat next to a lovely lady who had the cold cap on and what I saw and talking to the lady, I was glad I opted out but that was my decision. My hair fell out after the 1st cycle so I figured if it was coming out it's coming out. If it works for you then I'm happy for you. 

I think it comes down to individual experience. It wasn't for me!

I wish you all the best x

Hi  Missy219 thanks for your reply

I have naturally thick and frizzy hair that I have to tame on a daily basis unless it’s tied back.
Thank you for all your advice especially not washing it too often, which I’d not thought about but makes perfect sense.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment. 
Take care.

Hi Annmw thanks for your advise.

Wow that time difference is huge between when wearing it and when not. They did tell me it would be longer but not that much longer.

Thank you and take care of yourself.

Hi Emlee616 thank you for sharing your experience with me.

I think maybe I need to research a little more into cold capping. I think maybe I was a little too overwhelmed when I was at my appointment to ask questions, probably because no one had told me chemo would even be a possibility I thought I was there to talk radiotherapy.

Thank you and take care.

Hi Kezza

You are more than welcome.

I can relate to feeling overwhelmed which is why I delved into the rabbit hole of Google and I think I wanted to see it in action and how others dealt with it. I was also of the mind that it was a foremost side affect and I just thought that if my hair was coming out, it was coming out and it was just postponing the inevitable. But that was my feeling. You may still decide it would be beneficial in your circumstance.

I wish you all the best x

Yes I forgot to mention the extra time. 
So if I had one chemo an hour long, the cap would be on half hour before, while I had treatment then one hour after. So 2 and half hours at least. 
If I had two chemos an hour long each, the cap would be half hour before, 2 hours for treatment then an hour and half after. So 4 hours at least. 

Everyone is different. Some find it beneficial, some don’t. 
I am pleased I have managed it but I am getting tired of it now. I will hopefully continue for my last 2 cycles though. 

If you need anything, just message. 
Good luck with it all xx

I cold capped and did not lose any hair. Easy decision for me. If you don’t try , you will probably lose your hair, so why not try it and see.  Easy to stop if you don’t like it. But you have to cold cap from the start. Cold capping did mean that I sometimes waited ages to start the chemo because there wasn’t enough machines but I said I was happy to wait and it paid off in not losing my hair. If you are cold capping you can’t use headphones because your ears are covered by the cap. Cold capping did mean I felt a little chilly but the blanket provided by the nurses was all I needed to warm up and this was January. I brought books and magazines but in practice didn’t use them much. I watched some TV on my iPad with the sound down low so as not to disturb those close to me. They said they could hear but it was ok with them.  The best advice from another patient was painting my nails. This was fun and passed the time well. Also had plenty of hot soup, sandwiches, cake etc. Bad for the waistline but very comforting. 

I was like that - if I don’t try, I’ll never know. I am pleased I cold capped. 

Did you find it hard to concentrate? I do - there is so much going on - not necessarily about me but the nurses are constantly on the go - bless them! 

The eating is so bad when I go for chemo. My waistline has defo expanded ha! Anything to comfort and pass time…