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I used to be identified with breast cancer in 2015, proper across the similar time the primary FDA-approved cold cap got here out. I’d heard concerning the potential hair-saving helmet on the information, and I crossed all my follicles that it might work for me as I ready to start out chemotherapy.
Sadly, I wasn’t a candidate for scalp cooling remedy. Again then, the cooling units have been solely permitted for early-stage breast most cancers and fewer potent forms of chemo. I used to be stage 3 and taking doxorubicin, often known as the “crimson satan.” So, yeah, fairly potent stuff.
Though I used to be disenchanted that I couldn’t attempt chilly capping to scale back hair loss throughout chemo, simply understanding it was on the market made me longing for developments in most cancers remedies. Hair loss could seem to be a small factor when speaking about illness, however it may be actually devastating. One current report cited as much as 14% of women received’t think about chemotherapy due to hair loss.
Chilly caps don’t work for everybody, and outcomes fluctuate from individual to individual relying on a variety of various factors. However new analysis exhibits utilizing chilly caps may also help some folks maintain quantity of hair throughout chemo — even folks getting the crimson satan: In a single study, 71.4% of individuals on doxorubicin noticed profitable hair retention. That’s a hair flip in the precise course.
If you happen to or somebody you recognize is excited by chilly caps for chemo-induced hair loss, right here’s what you might want to know.
What’s chilly capping?
Chilly capping includes carrying a helmet-like gadget to decrease the temperature of the scalp throughout chemotherapy. The chilly temperature decreases blood circulation, which may scale back the quantity of chemo that reaches the hair follicles and should scale back hair loss for some folks.
What are the forms of chilly caps?
Scalp cooling remedy consists of two forms of units:
- Automated: The insulated chilly cap is connected to a machine that circulates cooling liquid or gel contained in the cap. As soon as the gadget is connected, the cooling system will maintain the temperature the place it must be. Automated chilly caps are regulated by the FDA.
- Guide: The frozen gel caps are saved in a freezer or with dry ice. As a result of the gel will begin to heat as soon as it’s on the scalp, a brand new frozen cap should get replaced about each half-hour. Guide chilly caps usually are not regulated by the FDA.
How do chilly caps work?
Each forms of chilly caps work by decreasing the temperature of the scalp earlier than, throughout and after chemo.
Usually, the particular person administering the chemo will assist arrange the automated chilly cap machine and ensure the temperature is appropriate and that the cap is secured tightly round your head.
Individuals utilizing guide caps additionally want an outdoor pair of fingers to assist with the caps, though it doesn’t need to be a nurse — household or buddies may also help throughout remedy.
Who can use chilly caps?
Individuals with stable tumors (breast, colon, lung, gynecological) can use chilly caps to assist scale back hair loss throughout chemo.
Who shouldn’t use chilly caps?
Cooling caps are comparatively secure total, however some folks with sure well being circumstances shouldn’t use chilly caps.
For instance, folks with blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma shouldn’t use chilly caps as a result of the restricted blood circulation could cease the chemo from attending to the place it must go.
You additionally shouldn’t use chilly caps in case you:
- Have central nervous system most cancers
- Are getting chemo for a bone marrow transplant
- Had radiation to the pinnacle or may have radiation to the scalp
Chilly capping just isn’t advisable for individuals who have cold-agglutinin disease, cryoglobulinemia and post-traumatic cold dystrophy.
What are the negative effects of chilly caps?
Chilly caps stay as much as the title, so in case you’re delicate to chilly temperatures, it’s possible you’ll really feel uncomfortable through the classes. Different negative effects of chilly capping can embrace:
- Dry pores and skin
- Emotions of claustrophobia when carrying the cap
- Headache assaults
- Nausea
- Chilly thermal harm (burn) from guide caps
Do I would like a prescription for scalp cooling remedy?
Whether or not you want a prescription relies on which sort of chilly cap you wish to attempt. The automated techniques require a prescription, and the guide techniques don’t. All the time you’ll want to ask your healthcare supplier earlier than utilizing any kind of scalp cooling gadget.
Is chilly capping coated by insurance coverage?
Guide frozen caps usually are not coated by insurance coverage, however automated chilly caps are coated by Medicare and could also be coated by different insurance coverage.
If you happen to need assistance paying for the cooling remedy, nonprofit organizations similar to HairToStay and The Rapunzel Venture might be able to assist cowl the price of chilly capping.
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