@sisslotsss I have been thinking about you and wondered how you are doing and if you have started chemo yet. Did you get the information you were hoping for about cold caps? Did you decide to try this?
Hi, I did cold capping last year..4 rounds of T/C for stage one breast cancer. It was expensive & the out of pocket expense $1500 at my cancer center. I lost about 50% of my hair, mostly the top. I’m glad I did it but it was more time involved after chemo finished (2 hrs additional) uncomfortable to do but managed ok, I did have a lot of jaw pain due to the tight fit of helmet required for cold capping. I have TMJ so that may not be a problem for everyone. My last treatment was 8/23/23, hair didn’t start growing again until late October & now is at least 3-4 inches long. Most people can’t tell I had that much hair loss! Good luck to you!
I used paxman for ACT chemo. I did dose sense so just 8 rounds. It worked but I did still lose most of my hair. Cold capping is meant to preserve the follicles so it grows back sooner once it falls out. Although I lost a lot of hair, I could still comb it around and over so I never wore a wig. I worse hair pieces like ponytails and buns once chemo was finished and I could put tension on my hair again. I’m about 21 months post chemo and my hair is pretty much back to normal. I recommend scalp cooling to anyone who emotionally affected by hair loss during chemo.
I did not because my med-onc discouraged me from doing it and I did not do my own research and do it anyway. I have huge regrets regarding this and I would encourage anyone who is concerned about hair loss to do it, if at all possible. It was not the loss of my hair that was hard, it was the time it is taking to grow back that has been difficult. Seeing the answers provided by people who did it confirms for me that it is something I wish I had pursued! Good luck to you!
The nurses in oncology discouraged it so I didn't do it. I have no regrets for reasons stated above: expense, the extra time just when you are feeling so sick after chemo and discomfort while you are going through chemo. My hair was short to begin with and I didn't want to deal with bald spots. Shortly after the first infusion, my hair began falling out in clumps.
My boyfriend shaved my head and I wore turbans and scarves. I found my hair started growing back within weeks of losing it. I still wore a turban, because it was just peach fuzz, but it grew back very quickly. It was completely grown back within six months of losing it. I think maybe hair grows in at the same rate that it grows normally. My hair grows very quickly. This is probably not too helpful. It is different for everyone. I met
a woman who got a wig and looked fabulous. I thought she just didn't lose her hair. I met another woman who just went bald and said she walked into her workplace with no head covering, surprising everyone. She actually looked stunning.
I chose the turban I got through the American Cancer Society's catalog, "TLC" because I met a woman in the oncology waiting room who was wearing this turban. She was going through cancer treatment a second time before her hair had even grown in. She inspired me so much I wanted to remember her. The choice as to what to do about hair loss is as individual as each of us.
I did cold capping for my twelve weeks of Taxol. It worked. I lost about 20-25% of my hair, but no one could really notice except for me. The hair I lost grew back fuller than before, and now about two years after chemo, I probably have the nicest hair of my entire life. It also grew back with a curly wave. I would recommend it. However, it does elongate your treatment day, because I had to wear the cold cap about two hours after my treatment was over.
I think a lot depends on your hair thickness before you begin treatment. Some people are just blessed with thick hair from the start. I couldn't be bothered with pursuing this cold capping stuff, and actually my hair grew back beautifully. It was when I started the AI that it has thinned....very thin, like an older postmenopausal woman might experience. During chemo when it all fell out, I treated myself to a salon visit with a wig fitting because I was performing every week. Everyone loved the wigs...I never looked so good! I will not try to kid you though, of everything, losing my hair was the worst part. But as a nurse once wisely told me: there is a start to treatment and an end to treatment.
I'm now 82, I lost my hair during chemo at age 79. It grew back quickly, the best I'd ever had. I hated my wig., though I bought a nice one. It wasn't comfortable. I recommend a turban as most everything else was a waste of time.
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@sisslotsss I have been thinking about you and wondered how you are doing and if you have started chemo yet. Did you get the information you were hoping for about cold caps? Did you decide to try this?
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1 ReactionHi, I did cold capping last year..4 rounds of T/C for stage one breast cancer. It was expensive & the out of pocket expense $1500 at my cancer center. I lost about 50% of my hair, mostly the top. I’m glad I did it but it was more time involved after chemo finished (2 hrs additional) uncomfortable to do but managed ok, I did have a lot of jaw pain due to the tight fit of helmet required for cold capping. I have TMJ so that may not be a problem for everyone. My last treatment was 8/23/23, hair didn’t start growing again until late October & now is at least 3-4 inches long. Most people can’t tell I had that much hair loss! Good luck to you!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI used paxman for ACT chemo. I did dose sense so just 8 rounds. It worked but I did still lose most of my hair. Cold capping is meant to preserve the follicles so it grows back sooner once it falls out. Although I lost a lot of hair, I could still comb it around and over so I never wore a wig. I worse hair pieces like ponytails and buns once chemo was finished and I could put tension on my hair again. I’m about 21 months post chemo and my hair is pretty much back to normal. I recommend scalp cooling to anyone who emotionally affected by hair loss during chemo.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI did not because my med-onc discouraged me from doing it and I did not do my own research and do it anyway. I have huge regrets regarding this and I would encourage anyone who is concerned about hair loss to do it, if at all possible. It was not the loss of my hair that was hard, it was the time it is taking to grow back that has been difficult. Seeing the answers provided by people who did it confirms for me that it is something I wish I had pursued! Good luck to you!
The nurses in oncology discouraged it so I didn't do it. I have no regrets for reasons stated above: expense, the extra time just when you are feeling so sick after chemo and discomfort while you are going through chemo. My hair was short to begin with and I didn't want to deal with bald spots. Shortly after the first infusion, my hair began falling out in clumps.
My boyfriend shaved my head and I wore turbans and scarves. I found my hair started growing back within weeks of losing it. I still wore a turban, because it was just peach fuzz, but it grew back very quickly. It was completely grown back within six months of losing it. I think maybe hair grows in at the same rate that it grows normally. My hair grows very quickly. This is probably not too helpful. It is different for everyone. I met
a woman who got a wig and looked fabulous. I thought she just didn't lose her hair. I met another woman who just went bald and said she walked into her workplace with no head covering, surprising everyone. She actually looked stunning.
I chose the turban I got through the American Cancer Society's catalog, "TLC" because I met a woman in the oncology waiting room who was wearing this turban. She was going through cancer treatment a second time before her hair had even grown in. She inspired me so much I wanted to remember her. The choice as to what to do about hair loss is as individual as each of us.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI did cold capping for my twelve weeks of Taxol. It worked. I lost about 20-25% of my hair, but no one could really notice except for me. The hair I lost grew back fuller than before, and now about two years after chemo, I probably have the nicest hair of my entire life. It also grew back with a curly wave. I would recommend it. However, it does elongate your treatment day, because I had to wear the cold cap about two hours after my treatment was over.
I think a lot depends on your hair thickness before you begin treatment. Some people are just blessed with thick hair from the start. I couldn't be bothered with pursuing this cold capping stuff, and actually my hair grew back beautifully. It was when I started the AI that it has thinned....very thin, like an older postmenopausal woman might experience. During chemo when it all fell out, I treated myself to a salon visit with a wig fitting because I was performing every week. Everyone loved the wigs...I never looked so good! I will not try to kid you though, of everything, losing my hair was the worst part. But as a nurse once wisely told me: there is a start to treatment and an end to treatment.
I'm now 82, I lost my hair during chemo at age 79. It grew back quickly, the best I'd ever had. I hated my wig., though I bought a nice one. It wasn't comfortable. I recommend a turban as most everything else was a waste of time.
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Helpful -
Hug
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