Me - cold cap question

Hi, don’t think length of hair will make a difference although you might get a better fit if it’s shorter it needs to be close to the scalp to work.

I had mine cut into a sort of pixie cut, think I just wanted to take back some control.  On the day the nurse completely wet my hair and then fitted the cap.  Needs to be wet so it can freeze.  I didn’t experience any pain or major discomfort just annoying really.  Also took a paracetamol first just in case.  The main bug bear was the time before and after treatment.  Had to keep it on for 30 mins after treatment, it then took another 15 mins before they could remove it.  Must admit had a bit of a chuckle at the thought of them taking it off with all my hair attached. 

Anyway, unfortunately it didn’t work for me hair started to come out just before 2nd cycle so I sacked the cap bought a wig and got my son to shave it off.  

Dont be put off by the last bit it does work for some and can stop total hair loss.  Mine never fully came out just quite a few bald patches, maybe I should have persevered but got impatient.

Good luck with the chemo and hair.  Do you know which treatment you will be getting? I have had 3EC and just  finished 3 Docetaxel.

any questions just ask

kathryn

Hiya first off just wanna say good luck with starting chemo I know it can be nerve wracking because you just don’t know what to expect or how you’ll react. I’ve just finished my fourth cycle of chemo so i did 12 sessions of chemo where I wore the cold cap for all of them. I also have longer hair which reaches to like the mid back (bra fastener area) and I was advised once to cut it shorter but I didn’t. I don’t think the length of the hair matters because the cap it aimed to cool the scalp and not the length of your hair. I usually just part my pair down the middle into loose pigtail plaits and it’s perfectly fine. I haven’t noticed any significant hair loss to what I had prior to chemotherapy so I would say leave it the same length for sure . 

Hi Kurtsy

Welcome to the forum and sorry that you have to go through this.

Wishing you the best of luck for your treatments.

Best wishes

Daisy

Hi!

I had shoulder length hair and didn’t cut it at the start of chemo, and used the cold cap.

While I did lose a lot of hair from around 2 weeks after the first session and then throughout the whole time I ended up with around 60 percent left.  So a lot thinner but not bald.

I got a couple of baldish areas, where the cap didn’t quite cover eg just above the ears and at the bottom of hair at the neck but the hair length from above covered it, in the end I had enough hair to feel confident enough not to wear a hat to cover it.

I bought a wig for just in case, but it is still in the box unworn!

Each session I thought, well that wasn’t worth it because I have lost hair anyway, but then my husband and daughter would say you have still got some so keep going.  So I kept going.

It actually started to grow back in during my last few cycles of docetaxel and started to fill in the thinner areas!

It is not very pleasant sitting with the cap on, especially the first 10 mins but I am so, so glad I carried on.

My hair is a little crazy just now as it has a lot of 3cm lengths jutting out all over in between my longer lengths but I don’t care as I haven’t had to look in the mirror and see my head bald.  Gosh I would have been the double of my brother LOL!

It is also growing in really thick but looks curly too?!?  Anyway if I go out I put it in a ponytail for now until it grows nicer.

I have recently bought a hair grip with pony tail attached which will make my hair look thicker!

Give it a try and if you can’t stand it you can stop!

Good luck on your journey! My last chemo was 21st January and it reduced a 6cm lump to no trace! Hard but so worth it x

Thank you

Thanks Daisy

Hi, I’m starting chemo next week and can’t decide about the cold cap too. I don’t want to use it and get my hopes up if it’s all going to fall out anyway. Have you decided what to do yet kurtsy?

No not yet. Have got my 'chemo ' talk on Friday so will find out more then. I think it increases the length of each visit quite considerably so like you I'm thinking if it's going to fall out anyway I might not bother....Good luck to you x