I used to be identified with breast most cancers in 2015, proper across the similar time the primary FDA-approved chilly cap got here out. I’d heard in regards to the potential hair-saving helmet on the information, and I crossed all my follicles that it may work for me as I ready to begin chemotherapy.
Sadly, I wasn’t a candidate for scalp cooling remedy. Again then, the cooling units have been solely authorized for early-stage breast most cancers and fewer potent varieties of chemo. I used to be stage 3 and taking doxorubicin, also called the “purple satan.” So, yeah, fairly potent stuff.
Though I used to be upset that I couldn’t attempt chilly capping to cut back hair loss throughout chemo, simply understanding it was on the market made me longing for developments in most cancers therapies. Hair loss could appear to be a small factor when speaking about illness, however it may be actually devastating. One current report cited as much as 14% of ladies 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 quite a lot of various factors. However new analysis exhibits utilizing chilly caps might help some individuals preserve a great quantity of hair throughout chemo — even individuals getting the purple satan: In a single examine, 71.4% of individuals on doxorubicin noticed profitable hair retention. That’s a hair flip in the best path.
If you happen to or somebody you recognize is excited by chilly caps for chemo-induced hair loss, right here’s what you should know.
What’s chilly capping?
Chilly capping includes sporting a helmet-like machine to decrease the temperature of the scalp throughout chemotherapy. The chilly temperature decreases blood movement, which may scale back the quantity of chemo that reaches the hair follicles and should scale back hair loss for some individuals.
What are the varieties of chilly caps?
Scalp cooling remedy contains two varieties of units:
- Automated: The insulated chilly cap is attached to a machine that circulates cooling liquid or gel contained in the cap. As soon as the machine is attached, the cooling system will preserve the temperature the place it must be. Automated chilly caps are regulated by the FDA.
- Handbook: 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 must get replaced about each half-hour. Handbook chilly caps usually are not regulated by the FDA.
How do chilly caps work?
Each varieties of chilly caps work by lowering 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 must be a nurse — household or associates might help throughout therapy.
Who can use chilly caps?
Individuals with strong 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 protected total, however some individuals with sure well being circumstances shouldn’t use chilly caps.
For instance, individuals with blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma shouldn’t use chilly caps as a result of the restricted blood movement could cease the chemo from attending to the place it must go.
You additionally shouldn’t use chilly caps if you happen to:
- Have central nervous system most cancers
- Are getting chemo for a bone marrow transplant
- Had radiation to the top or may have radiation to the scalp
Chilly capping shouldn’t be beneficial for individuals who have cold-agglutinin illness, cryoglobulinemia and post-traumatic chilly dystrophy.
What are the unintended effects of chilly caps?
Chilly caps dwell as much as the identify, so if you happen to’re delicate to chilly temperatures, you could really feel uncomfortable through the classes. Different unintended effects of chilly capping can embrace:
- Dry pores and skin
- Emotions of claustrophobia when sporting the cap
- Headache assaults
- Nausea
- Chilly thermal harm (burn) from guide caps
Do I want 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 programs require a prescription, and the guide programs don’t. At all times make sure you ask your healthcare supplier earlier than utilizing any sort of scalp cooling machine.
Is chilly capping coated by insurance coverage?
Handbook 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 policy.
If you happen to need assistance paying for the cooling remedy, nonprofit organizations comparable to HairToStay and The Rapunzel Challenge might be able to assist cowl the price of chilly capping.
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