Hair loss with the Cold Cap

Hi Bex, I did the cold cap with varying success. I lost a lot of hair from the crown of my head but not around the sides, fringe or back of head. I found the medium cap too large so had to use the small cap, it may have just been that it was ever so slightly too small so it raised up resulting in it not touching the crown of my head. So cut a long story short, it was successful where it actually touched my head! Hope that makes sense.

I started losing hair about 2.5 weeks after my first session and it lessened as the chemo sessions continued. Its been about 3.5 months since I finished chemo and I have about 1.5inches of hair regrowth where it fell out. Its baby soft hair!

I also wore a head cap to bed to catch any falling hairs, it helps mentally not seeing hair all over your pillow every morning. I also used Simple Gentle Care shampoo and conditioner, which I'm still using now, I've still got bottles left and seeing as my regrown hair is so soft, it'll at least treat it a little kinder. Also only wash my hair every third day, its a bit grotty by day 2 but it's not like I'm going out right now!

Hope that helps.

Jem x

Hi

Afraid that I don't have any experience etc to share with you but I also started last Wednesday and used the cold cap. I am being realistic and expecting at the very least a reasonable amount of hair loss from what I have read. My understanding is that the loss usually starts around 2 weeks after the first treatment - a lovely Christmas present in our case!! Hope that you do have some success with the cap and will be interested to hear how it goes.

Hi Bex

Im currently half way through chemo, just completed 4 EC, and about to move onto  4 lots of Taxol. And I would say my cold capping has worked so far. I have only lost about 5-10%, I have no bald patches apart from areas the cap does not reach, areas like the baby hairs by my ears. Friends have all commented they can’t see any difference in my hair, but I know it’s a bit thinner. Plus I still have eyelashes, eyebrows, and still have to shave my legs!

I don’t speak to my oncologist regularly, but I do speak to a consultant pharmacist regularly, and she said in her experience, if you don’t lose by the second treatment, it usually is a positive sign, but she would never say anything is definite. As mentioned, I am about to change to taxol, so that maybe different.

I am not really doing anything different with my hair routine, apart from just being a bit more aware, it’s delicate, so trying not to pull it too much when brushing or putting in a ponytail.

Good luck, I really hope it works for you xx

Hi Jem, thanks for your response. Pleased to hear that you have finished treatment and have some re growth! I’m being super careful not to over wash my hair, but I completely empathise with you..mine is awful after a day of not washing! Will definitely invest in the shampoo you recommended xxx

Hi Patsy, I hope you are doing ok and not suffering too much after your first session. I was pretty rough for the first couple of days but I feel absolutely fine now. Waiting for the  unknown is the worst feeling ever. I’ve read loads of ladies journeys and it seems the side effects are fairly unique in each case. I suppose only time will tell if the cap is successful, wishing you all the luck in the world. We’ve totally got this!!  Xxxx

Hi kelstar, your post is really encouraging! Sounds like you have had some massive success so far...hope this continues for you once you start Taxol. My second session is booked for the 30th Dec so I suppose it’s just another waiting game and see what the new year brings. I have a wig and false lashes on standby...all the best wishes with the rest of your treatment..sounds like you are already smashing it xxxxx

Hi Thank you so much for posting this gives me hope. This is the chemo regime that I am going to have. I know experience can vary according to person. Just wondered is it better to cut your hair shorter when going for tx? Does it help. Is your hair short. 

Thanks xxx

Hi

Glad that you are feeling ok now. I have also had a pretty easy ride so far. A bit of tiredness here and there and some mild nausea for the first couple of days. The nausea didn't really trouble me and was well controlled by the anti-sickness meds.I did take one of the 'back up' tablets a couple of times when I thought nausea was starting but next time I will try a mint or a small amount of food instead. My nurse asked at the treatment if I had suffered from travel sickness or morning sickness (yes to both!!) and said that I was likely to have some nausea.  But she has also told me to eat more on the morning of treatment next time - and they will also feed me - and she believes I may have even less nausea. Fingers crossed! 

I feel normal now and have been getting on with regular day to day stuff for the last few days and walking twice a day. You are right that everyone's experience of side effects is different. I am also realistic enough to know that other and potentially more troubling side effects may pop up and bite me at any time over the next few weeks/months. But I am pleased to have a good start. Everything is so unknown and terrifying at the beginning and I think I would struggle big time going back again if I had been completely floored in the first week!!

Good luck with the rest of your treatments. Which drugs are you having and how many cycles do you have?

Patsy x

PS Have you checked out the December chemo thread on here? - several ladies at different stages of chemo posting about their experiences, both good and bad, and cheering each other along.

Bex Hope everything goes well for 30th for you, and you have minimum side effects, and your hair survives! I bought 3 fun wigs, but I never got around to picking an NHS wig, and hopefully I won’t need one. I also got magnetic eyelashes and eyebrow transfers. I bought bed caps and scarfs and not used any of it so far. Eyebrows, Eyelashes 95% in tact, and still have to shave my legs! Although everything from the neck down has thinned quite a bit. I plan to donate all my stuff if it remains unused. And to give you a bit of positivity about chemo, so far, I had minimum side effects, and no problems. Tiredness has been my worse side effect and continued issue, I have to have afternoon naps, so no big deal. I do get nausea, acid indigestion, the odd tummy ache. But all are manageable and don’t last long, and controlled by my meds. I continued to work part time from home. I am extremely lucky as I know a lot of poor ladies and gents suffer. Xx

Hi Croissant

i didn’t cut my hair. It’s comes down to just below my shoulders. I wouldn’t say my hair was naturally thick, but it’s plentiful.  Good luck and I hope your cold capping works for you xxx