Chemo & cold cap tips

Hi Dee1971

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. No need to apologise for all the questions having cancer can be a mid field when you are first diagnosed.

Bring something to read with you as the chemo session can be long, particularly your first one. Drink plenty of water and just eat whatever you normally eat. Depending how long you are going to be in the chemo unit for you might be offered something to eat and drink. While I don’t know about the cold cap and going to the loo you can go to the loo while having chemo.  The anti-sickness do work but if you find for some reason that they are not working for you contact your chemo nurse and they will change them.  If you haven’t already you will be given a contact number to use if you need advice from your chemo nurses.

Wishing you the best of luck with your chemo.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Yes ,you can still go the loo when you are using the cold cap ,the nurse just unattached me from the machine, nothing was too much trouble for them  ,and boy did I have to keep using the loo they said it's due to all the units going in the drip  ,

I had to request the cap as not many use it due to what they said was some consultants are not in favour of them,but I got mine,its 2 caps that go on ,one fits tight to the head  after they sprayed warm water on my hair and massaged my own conditioner in, a towel was put round my shoulders, I too a cloth headband as advised to put along the hair line to prevent pain with cold, I took pain relief 15 mins prior,like I was told its the first 20 mins is the worst, but then you don't feel it,it goes on 30 mins before and mine was left on another hour after chemo  ,take a hat with you for after as you will feel cold ,I am going to preserve and use it, but it was only my first chemo, hope this helps x

Hi, I can’t help with the cold cap,  but my chemo treatments were 7-8 hours long, so I recommend taking a Verirrung of things to do. If you have a cannula in your hand then it's good to wear leggings as you go to the loo a lot and that is difficult one handed with a drip.  You might want to take a look at my blog, there is one about hints and tips for chemo.  Good luck

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/one-life-live-it

Dee, I’m sorry you are having to join us on here but you are in good company. Click on my name for my background. I used the cold cap during my 10 chemo sessions and friends and family say they can hardly notice a difference. A lot of hair did come out but I must have been very hairy to start with! Like the great advice you have been given, I used Simple Conditioner that the nurses kindly applied to my scalp before fitting the cold cap. As said, they can disconnect it so you can go to the toilet and you can wheel your drip through with you. A faff on but doable! It is hard as it had a chin strap therefore trying to have your lunch with a mask on and chin strap is a challenge but I like my food so I managed!!

I bought a thin Alice hair band to protect my forehead from the cold (it burnt it the first time but nothing too bad at all) and a warm throw though you may be ok if warmer (I went through chemo over winter). It may be welcome cold if a hot day! Well almost! Take something to watch/read to take your mind of things. I found I ended up talking to other ladies near to me as I couldn’t take anybody along. Maybe a little sweet to suck as sometimes the chemo drugs can give you some weird tastes! 
After a chemo session I left my hair and didn’t wash it for the first few days (just left the conditioner in). I then washed it gently in the bath with Simple shampoo and conditioner then let it dry naturally. I then used a wide tooth comb rather than a brush. As I said, a lot of hair came out (don’t be distressed). I got used to this after a while. I used a silk elasticated hair tie to keep hair from the family’s tea when I was leaning over the pots and pans! I didn’t colour it etc. As I said, this seemed to work for me but not everybody. It’s cold when it’s first put on but you become acclimatised after about 10-15 mins (bear with it).
Note down any symptoms (if any) you get from the chemo. I was given a log book that my treatment was written in by the nurses and I could journal my side effects. It was very handy as I wrote it as a diary with dates so could feedback to consultant (for adjustments to chemo amounts). 
As said, if you get side effects please mention these as there is usually a medication or something can be tweaked to make things more comfortable for you. 
Let us know how you get on if you feel you can. Any more questions, just ask away. 
Warm hugs,

Bekky

xx