Is your hospital using the cold cap? I used it back in 2012. Although I lost a lot, I still had a full head covering that I could pull back onto a ponytail. I started chemo again today and they are not allowing the use of cold cap due to covid. Appears some are allowing and others not.
It doesn't guarantee that you will not lose your hair but worth a try if it's offered. Its not the most pleasant experience and does extend your stay on the unit.
I had 3 sessions of EC, then 4 sessions of docetaxel, pertuzamab and trastuzumab in 3 weekly cycles. Last cycle was at the end of January. I would definitely recommend doing the cold cap.You need to do it from the first session of chemo.
I have got shoulder length hair and didn’t cut it at the start.
While I did lose hair from around 2 weeks after the first session and then throughout the whole time I have ended up with around 60 to 70 percent left.
I have 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 covers it.
It is also a lot thinner all over but at the end I have got 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 a lot of hair anyway, but then my husband would say you have still got some so keep going. My daughter who is a hairdresser said keep going and at the end we could weave hair extensions in if you have some hair left to attach it to.
So I kept going.
It actually started to grow back in during my last few cycles of docetaxel and is already starting to fill in the thinner areas!
It is not nice, especially the first 10 mins but I am so, so glad I carried on.
Some hospitals are not doing it because of Covid, but I think if it is offered to you it is worth giving it a try if the thought of losing your hair fills you with dread?
Thank you so much for this information. I need another operation and then I can focus on chemotherapy. The cold cup sounds an option and I can talk to my hairdresser. X thank you again
I’d highly recommend the cold cap, I’ve had 5 chemo sessions now and although my hair is thinner it’s definitely still there! I had my hair cut into a pixie style before the treatments started, I was expecting it to all fall out but I’m pleasantly surprised! No hair anywhere else so it must be working! xxx
