Chemotherapy Scalp Cooling

davjan

Hello everyone - not exactly money saving thread, more a hair saving thread.......
I've started chemotherapy today, using the scalp cooling system to try and keep my hair. I know there are no guarantees, so wonder if anyone has experience of this, and what they did or used successfully to help minimise or stop the hair loss? The hospital have been very helpful, but I'm just wondering if there's something else that's been recommended that my hospital hasn't heard of?
Please, please, don't answer if it didn't work for you, or someone you know. I'm trying to be really positive for the sake of my family, and really couldn't cope with any negativity or scare stories.
Sorry if I'm sounding like a wimp - oh, ok then, I am..........Thank you all so much for your help

belfastgirl23

No knowledge or advice, just to say lots of luck and hope the treatment goes well and your scalp cooling is successful.

Errata

Good luck and very best wishes for your future. You could try having a chat on the phone with Macmillan about any new developments, it's a freephone number.

meritaten

to be positive - this HAS worked for many people - and NOT all chemotherapy treatments result in hair loss! I used to work for a cancer charity and know a little about this.
stay positive hun. and follow the advice given.

moodydonkey

Best of luck honey, my dad is halfway through his chemo and hasn't suffered any hair loss but I think he is on quite a low dose. He is suffering from fatigue very badly tho so please don't plan too much stuff to do and make sure you get as much rest as possible.

Very best wishes x

jaybee

Glad to know that you are seeming so positive - even if it is on the surface. Rather like the swan looking serene on the surface but paddling like mad underneath!

Two friends have had the cold cap with chemo. One gave up because it was too cold but the other persevered and she didn't loose her hair. It did thin a bit (not very noticeable to anyone other than herself).

Wishing you every success with your treatment. Will you let us know how you're getting on?

mountainofdebt

Without wishing to sound crass, but take my philosophy on life - what have you got to lose?

Good luck whatever you choose.
X

choccymoose

My dad started his second round of Chemo yesterday. He still has his thick head of hair, though as others have said not all Chemo has this effect. Also has the fatigue but is fine if he takes it easy. One thing we have noticed though is that dad even in the coldest weather only used to wear shirts. Now though he is feeling the cold in his bones and we have brought him a heated blanket thing that he wears for the warmth to penetrate his skin before he go's to bed. Which helps a lot.

Best wishes

Choccy

GlasweJen

My friend had a cool hat, apparently hydration is important also she only washed her hair every other day instead of every day like before. She did have some loss but it wasn't noticeable - she pointed it out to me and I still didn't notice.

Good luck with your treatment and you cool cap OP

MissShoes

My friend uses the cool cap and also takes these vitamins/supplements which she says have dramatically reduced hair loss (this is her 2nd chemo for her second lot of cancer, the first time round she didn't take them and lost all her hair):

selenium
biotin
iron
b12
l-lysine

worth a try?

Hope it all goes as well as it can xx

bluenoseam

I heard that it works with some and not with others, it was certainly one of the services offered in the hospital i was treated with - it was much different for me as a male where it's not as taboo to lose your hair, must be one of the most devastating experiences for any woman, but if it does slightly ease this, i went to Radiotherapy daily with a woman who for 4 weeks i thought nothing of it until the day she decided to scratch her head removing her wig in the process! It looked honest to god like her natural hair, i just couldn't believe i'd sat & spoken to her for 4 weeks without noticing, definately fooled me so they can definately do great things with wigs these days.

good luck!