Cold cap

I think this is a personal decision, ,though my oncologist said I would lose most if not all of my hair on the EC-T regime anyway.

I have always had very long hair so thought it would be more traumatic losing it, but it wasn't in the end. I cut it off then shaved it ahead of chemo and it felt quite liberating and empowering - something I actually had control of.

I'm mid-40s and was pleased that my hair has gown back the same colour as it was before.

You won't be able to dye your hair during chemo, you skin and scalp will be too sensitive. I've never dyed my hair so didn't pay too much attention, but I seem to remember reading that you shouldn't dye it again for a good 6 months after it has started growing back as it could damage the new hair.

The cold cap also means you are a lot longer in hospital.

I think grey roots and brown ends will probably end up not troubling you too much once you're going through chemo, you may end up embracing your grey!

Good luck with chemo. It feels like forever at the time but you will get through it.

Definitely personal choice.  My hair was my comfort blanket, I'd been for a wig fitting before I started chemo and to be honest that was more traumatic for me. They had nothing that was even close to my colour and even though I was fully aware that hair loss is a common side effect of chemo, I wasn't ready to associate that part of it with me. 

I tried the cold cap during my first chemo but had to ask them to take it off after about 25 minutes because I found it unbearable. But that won't necessarily happen to you. 

In the end my hair started coming out just shy of 2 weeks after my first chemo session.  I had it cut to a bob to see if I could get away with it, but 2 things won over - the distress of seeing my long hair coming out in clumps and the fact of constantly having to clean it up from everywhere. By 2 weeks and a day after my first chemo I'd had enough and decided I wanted to get rid of my hair at a time of my choosing, so my family gathered round and we shaved it off. I even made a little commemorative video. It was really nerve wracking to start but once I'd done it was strangely liberating. 

Whatever you decide to do there are no rights or wrongs, just what you feel comfortable with. I thought it would be awful losing my comfort blanket but having taken control am learning to embrace it. I wish you all the best xx

Ooh I'm in the very same boat as you, iv let my roots grow the last few weeks cos I know what's coming but now it's getting closer I'm thinking ooh I don't know!

Hi, I had the cold cap and as a result, did manage to keep enough hair that the consultant asked if I was wearing a wig or was it my own hair. I have thick coarse hair and I think that helps protect against the cold. I also did not wash my hair more than I could help and never in under a week. I used a wide-tooth comb and washed my hair with Waterman's hair growth shampoo and conditioner, recommended to me by a fellow chemo patient. It did mean I was in for longer but I was lucky because my daughter kept me company and the nurses were all very encouraging. I am glad I did it. My hair was coloured a blond shade and my new hair grew in grey/white so I was lucky it blended reasonably well. I think I would have looked pretty awful without hair but do think it actually suits many people to brave the elements, especially those with good clear skins and I do like a lot of the scarves that many seem so good at wearing. Good luck with whatever you choose xx

Im in my nid 40s and have alwys had very long curly hair. I found that I was aksing more questions about hair loss than anything else, My Oncologit tod me it was highly likely I would lose my hair within 4 weeks of starting the FECT treatment and that a cold cap might help only save some of it. I spoke to my children about how they felt about me being bald an decided that I would not cold cap. The week before my first chemo I had a halway haircut in preparation. After my first cnemo my scalp became very sensitive and felt like I had tingly sunburn, After my 2nd chemo I let my children shave my head and it wasnt sad or traaumatic but really funny. After the 2nd chemo all my hair came out in the shower over the next 2 days. At first I made sure no-one outside the house saw me without a turban on, but now I really dont care. I cover up if its sunny to protect my scalp, but have come to realise that everyone I care about knows I have no hair so why cover up? 

What I had not fully realised is that hair loss means hairloss everywhere, and there are surprising bonuses to that .... no underarm hair, bikini line sorted, smooth legs and no pesky stray moustache hairs to deal with!

I have been colouring my hair for years so am actually quite intrigued to see how my haor grows back, I dont know what colour it will be , but probably grey, and it may not be curly any more. Im quite looking forward to trying completely new hairstyles as my hair grows back. 

Hi,I am near the end of my chemo.I had EC four times and them onto weekly pacitaxel. I did the cold cap throughout and although I had bald patches ,I have now a lot of regrowth, even before I finish my chemo.It’s such a lovely feeling to have new growth on your head rather than bald patches. 

Although, the colour is a mixture of brown grey and white, I am delighted I persevered.I would wear a wig if I go out to meet friends but otherwise I wear a hat when I go out.

it is a personal choice , but for me it was a  one good outcome in an otherwise difficult time

Hi

can I just ask what type of hair you had? It seems that it works better for those with thicker hair to start with?

Hello Scoobysue55. I'm trying the Paxman scalp cooling cap and the booklet I was given about the process states that success will depend on all sorts of factors, including type of cancer, type of chemo, age, general health, condition/type of hair etc. I've just had one session so far and my hair has started to fall out in the last week (2 weeks after the chemo). It's 'shedding' rather than coming out in clumps though so overall it has got a lot thinner but as it was thick and short to begin with it isn't as noticeable as it would be if my hair had been thin before cold capping. 

I'm having my second chemo session this week so it will be interesting to see if my hair continues to fall out at the same rate or not - it's recommended that you continue with the cold cap even if there is some hair loss. If it gets to the point where it's looking awful then I've got no problems with shaving it off but thought I'd give the cool cap a try to see if it works or not (it worked quite well for someone I know), and I'm not too bothered about having different coloured roots as it went like that during lockdown anyway. I've got purple hair with white/grey roots and have a supply of hats if needed!

I found the first 10-15 minutes unpleasant as it's very cold but once I got used to it it was doable. Take a headband to stop the cap touching your forehead and drink something hot when it is first put on. Good luck with your treatment and whatever you decide to do with regards to cool capping. As others have said, it's personal choice so go with what you feel is right for you x

Hi scoobysue55,

I have straight hair.not very thick, if that helps.Just to say you will get shedding, I think I lost 60%of my hair but that fact I kept the rest just kept me going and now it is growing back fast.

At one point,the nurses said I should stop as I had a big bald patch on top of my head but a senior nurse came and said to continue but with some gauze to protect the skin. I did as she advised and after 3 weeks my baby hair started to come through.So glad I carried on.

My top tips are as follows:- wear a hair band to keep the forehead warm. I also brought some individual ear muffs for my ears which just cover my ears , from amazon which are great.After first 10 minutes , the cold cap becomes bearable.I listened to music for the first 10 Minutes…

good luck guys x

Hi,

I had the cold cap for all my 8 lots of chemo, i use to listen to music on my ipad for first 15 mins of cold cap starting as its a bit uncomfortable. My hair was coloured and very thick to start with but I managed to keep my hair and did not need a wig. I washed my hair only once a week and never used a hairdryer or straighteners until 12 months after treatment. I still have an odd one or two sore spots on my head from cap, but it was definitley  worth seeing it through with the cap. Two years later my hair is mow curly all grey and I love it.

All the best to you.

x