Cold cap - undecided ?

Hi Beepeep

Am glad that it is working for you. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

It worked for me also and would recommend anyone giving it a go and if they don't like the sensation then they can quickly turn the machine off. 

I will pop a link to the website for Paxman which is the usual scalp cooling used in the UK.

Home - Paxman

For anyone else who is trying to make a decision this blog has more info.

(+) The Changing Faces of Cancer- Scalp cooling, Hair loss and Regrowth. - Macmillan Online Community

I wish you well with your next chemo and we are here if you need us.

Jane

Glad cold cap going well for you  I am hesitantly saying the same approaching my round x3 of chemo & immunotherapy on Wednesday. After 1st round I found at 5 days before round 2 hair was coming out A LOT it seemed. That continue for around 10 days and then seemed to stop. My hair definitely thinned and top of head/parting line became particularly thin (doesn’t help that at under 5ft everyone sees my from up above!) My hesitation at success came from the cap becoming disconnected for an hour whilst the Paclitaxel was being infused at round 2. However, I don’t seem to have lost much more on this round. I did visit a couple of the Wig providers who NHS recommended and I think I will get one, just in case. My daughter, sister and I were all surprised how good they looked. I have also used dry shampoo, specifically for dark hair as that has helped keep on top of it whilst only washing x2 a week and also it helps add body and the dark colouring covers the crown/parting general thinning pretty well. Hope my experience also helps those uncertain. I would also agree that it is painful for 10 - 20 minutes, after taking paracetamol 20mins before, but then goes to manageable feeling of nothing much (that’s partly why I didn’t really notice it had turned off the last time!)

Hi Rachelsi, yes I was sad when the machine turned off in round one for a similar time and it doesn’t have an alarm when it does so. 
Pleased to read that you have found a wig and my friend looked great in her’s and I do wonder myself to get prepared just in case and the thinnest part of mine hair is the crown / parting and as I am only meeting friends outside, I am mostly wearing a sun hat and have loads of hair on the sides at the moment . Just worry that the wig will be scratchy as I have sensitive skin anyway ( fair and freckly). 

Do you know the trick of blowing  your hair ( cool setting ) with your head upside down - it doubles the volume ! I only blow dry when seeing people in week 3. I did try to wash mine less but just can’t get out of the habit of everyday with a neal’s yard organic shampoo . The faith in nature unperfumed shampoo is recommended on the cold cap website I notice , and others too .( The faith in nature body lotion is good and economical) 
I love the smell of lavender and I have five shrubs coming into bloom which I wish I could pick for everyone on here ! 

Nearly lost my eyebrows though but ‘Bare Minerals’ make up do a pencil ( with brush) which is talc free as is their eyeshadow and powder foundation. Green People do an organic sun cream and fake tan and of course a full range of organic moisturisers. 

i have read that when we end up with a pixie haircut - we should style with bright coloured necklaces . I love necklaces so any excuse now to look out for as I have saved money on new dresses this summer as not doing much ! 

Hi. Great advice on products to try - thank you Beepeep! I have been using Simple shampoo & conditioner, but noticed still lots of “ingredients”, including “paraffinim liquidum” which I think is no-no?! I will try your recommendations. I did buy a new eyebrow filleriner, but I think my teenage daughter has acquired it and I noticed my brows are looking more patchy than normal, so I will defi Itely have a look at Bare Minerals one  Just sat in chemo chair now, but they didn’t do all the blood tests required, so I am having to wait an extra hour or so to get them back to be able to have immunotherapy that has to come before the paclitaxel and carboplatin, so hoping the paracetamol I took for start of cooling hasn’t worn off before they plug me in  I still have most eyelashes at moment, but legs are noticeably smoother, so that is a bonus I will take as a win! 

I lost some eyelashes around the time of 3rd chemo, but have noticed one or two have now grown back. I’m 3 weeks post last chemo today, and think I will be examining my head a little more in the next couple of weeks!

Yes I think there are a few ingredients in make up we should definitely be avoiding. Talc was the first ingredient in powder eyeshadows I was browsing in boots ( linked to cancer as I am sure you know ). I have had to ditch Clinique double face powder which I love and the bare minerals do a foundation in many many colours but will try a little concealer on a few areas for a lighter less made up finish . 
yes I always had to wait for something in the chemo ward and hope the day passes quickly. I was there yesterday and the cannula worked first time but I had drink six glasses of water between 3 and 7 am and put a hot water bottle on hand for the forty minute journey to hospital ! 
best wishes 

Well done on getting cannula sorted first time yesterday, admire your efforts!

Thank you Waidh , made a huge difference and I cried with relief but couldn’t face another glass of water for hours ! Feel more cheerful yesterday too as my chemo ward experience hasn’t felt very caring on the whole but my hospital ‘requires improvement ‘ so I imagine resources are stretched . I hope others are feeling more welcomed . 
Good luck all . 

You did very well with the drinking and prep. I worry about drinking loads as I am already having to go loo often, which is a pain having to disconnect from cooling machine.  Ow I look forward to over active bladder and having to rely on incontinence pads and regular antibiotics for uti until it settles just before next chemo! But, I was very lucky to have a quick and painless cannula fit yesterday, without arm warmer either, so I will take all the wins, however small! . I had to have a blood test first thing one morning and forgot to drink enough, that was a flaff! Hoping my veins stay good for next (and hoping last chemos), but then it will be 2yrs of immunotherapy every 6 weeks. Wondering how veins will fair on that?! Hope you feeling ok now? My oncologist gave me three days of lower does steroids to try to help with the aches and pains from day 3 - 7, so we will see how they go.