I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, right around the same time the first FDA-approved cold cap came out. I’d heard about the potential hair-saving helmet on the news, and I crossed all my follicles that it could work for me as I prepared to start chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a candidate for scalp cooling therapy. Back then, the cooling devices were only approved for early-stage breast cancer and less potent types of chemo. I was stage 3 and taking doxorubicin, also known as the “red devil.” So, yeah, pretty potent stuff.
Although I was disappointed that I couldn’t try cold capping to reduce hair loss during chemo, just knowing it was out there made me hopeful for advancements in cancer treatments. Hair loss may seem like a small thing when talking about disease, but it can be really devastating. One recent report cited up to 14% of women won’t consider chemotherapy because of hair loss.
Cold caps don’t work for everyone, and results vary from person to person depending on a lot of different factors. But new research shows using cold caps can help some people keep a good amount of hair during chemo — even people getting the red devil: In one study, 71.4% of people on doxorubicin saw successful hair retention. That’s a hair flip in the right direction.
If you or someone you know is interested in cold caps for chemo-induced hair loss, here’s what you need to know.
Cold capping involves wearing a helmet-like device to lower the temperature of the scalp during chemotherapy. The cold temperature decreases blood flow, which can reduce the amount of chemo that reaches the hair follicles and may reduce hair loss for some people.
Scalp cooling therapy includes two types of devices:
Both types of cold caps work by reducing the temperature of the scalp before, during and after chemo.
Typically, the person administering the chemo will help set up the automated cold cap machine and make sure the temperature is correct and that the cap is secured tightly around your head.
People using manual caps also need an outside pair of hands to help with the caps, although it doesn’t have to be a nurse — family or friends can help during treatment.
People with solid tumors (breast, colon, lung, gynecological) can use cold caps to help reduce hair loss during chemo.
Cooling caps are relatively safe overall, but some people with certain health conditions shouldn’t use cold caps.
For example, people with blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma shouldn’t use cold caps because the restricted blood flow may stop the chemo from getting to where it needs to go.
You also shouldn’t use cold caps if you:
Cold capping is not recommended for people who have cold-agglutinin disease, cryoglobulinemia and post-traumatic cold dystrophy.
Cold caps live up to the name, so if you’re sensitive to cold temperatures, you may feel uncomfortable during the sessions. Other side effects of cold capping can include:
Automated cold caps are covered by Medicare and may be covered by other insurance plans.
Manual frozen caps are not covered by insurance.
If you need help paying for the cooling therapy, nonprofit organizations such as HairToStay and The Rapunzel Project may be able to help cover the cost of cold capping.
This article was originally published on healthywomen.org.
For millions of people living with obesity, the class of weight-loss medications known as GLP-1… Read More
The true mark of an epic Halloween movie is one that you can't help but… Read More
While you may be in the midst of celebrating fall weddings, it’s time to start… Read More
Even if you’ve had them yourself, it’s hard to know what to expect when your… Read More
From A-list celebrities to the people in our own lives, breast cancer can can truly… Read More
Back when my daughters were babies, my Pinterest boards were full of minimalism porn: white… Read More