Hi
I had my 2nd round of chemo & immunotherapy for stage 4 womb cancer yesterday. I used cold cap on 1st round, which seemed to have helped as I still have most of my hair, although started thinning quite a bit from weekend just gone. I used cold cap today, but after going too loo and having to be plugged back in after carboplatin it stopped cooling as not reconnected fully. As I was a bit knocked out and kind of zoned out on head pressure I didn’t click for a while and didn’t get it working again for nearly an hour (had paclitaxel for that hour) Keep cold cap on for another hour at least.
So question is, was this a complete fail or might it still do some good? I am going to get Wig/head covering sorted ASAP in preparation for further thinning and now more likely all going. I am just thinking that as reports tell me cold cap helps with re growth, less damage to follicles and less likely to have permanent hair loss, I might still continue if all hair goes. Any thoughts or experiences on any of this?
Also, I read elsewhere paclitaxel should be given before the carboplatin (this was case for me on 1st round). Anyone have any advice on this before I speak with CNS/consultant?
Sorry for another long post!
Thanks Waidh. Yes, I will definitely speak with team about order and hadn’t thought about Paxman 
Hi Rachelski
I did scalp cooling during my chemo in 2022.
I had some shedding with each cycle but also some regrowth. This is to be expected and does not mean it isn't working.
I am sorry to hear that you got disconnected. I can understand why you are worried but I would personally recommend continuing. Although you were disconnected for up to an hour- you still had the cap on and it does take a while for everything to cool down and defrost. I remember having to keep mine on for a while after it was disconnected to enable my hair to defrost so it could safely be removed. I remember it taking some time to start warming up. You also continued to cool after you realised.
No one can no for sure and I remember being told that scalp cooling can be individual and works better for some people and with some chemo cycles. If the worst happens and you do shed some more hair then hopefully it was on long enough to continue to protect your hair follicles and I believe that for me this did help with regrowth. If your scalp did retain enough of the coldness for that hour then it may be that any extra loss was minimised.
I think being prepared with wigs/scarves/hats is also a good plan and I did before my chemo started- then they were there if needed.
With regard to the order of chemo drugs, I had paclitaxel first and then the carboplatin. I was told that this was to help both drugs be more efficient. However there may have been changes that I do not know about and talking to your consultant is the best plan.
This link may be of interest
This link is to the Paxman company
Hope this helps
Jane
I do think its worth continuing. Its such a short time out of the whole day and I remember how long it took once the machine was off to start to warm up. Other than being uncomfortable, you haven't anything to lose. If you do lose a bit more hair a theatre cap can make things more comfortable.
Thinking back to mine the carboplatin was done over an hour and the paclitaxel took around 3 hours. So at most you only missed the cooling cap being at its coldest for around a third of the dose you were on.
I would imagine the riding hats do help a bit.
Its the first few minutes that are tough but then it gets easier- I used to watch the clock and knew by around 15/20 minutes I would start to go numb.
Good Luck
Hi Rackelsi
I just had a look at the blog again and there is someone on there who did not scalp cool for the first 2 sessions and then began. She did lose some hair but still kept some. So although it was not ideal that the machine was not on for the hour- it does not mean that your hair will definitely go. Fingers crossed for you. I know how important it is.
Jane
Thanks Jane x That is encouraging 
It is important to help feel “normal” and to look well, as I do! I am more concerned that the treatment is doing its thing, of course, but my may concern was for my children & partner as I think seeing me looking like a cancer patient and losing my hair will be very upsetting for them. It was what made my daughter cry first when I got initial diagnosis as she has always done my hair since she was a little girl and we have pretty much identical hair.
