Breast cancer
posted by Superwhy
01 March 2013

Cold cap

Last reply: 07 March 2013 20:23

Has anyone done there chemo with this on. Was thinking of giving it a try. It's available in tallaght hospital but not Vincent's but jw says she does it in tallaght.

8 comments

Comments

commented by Neadi
01 March 2013

01 March 2013 16:32

Hi there!

I wanted to try the cold cap, but because of the type of chemo I was on (TAC) I was told the cold cap just wouldn't work for me. But before I found that out I did ask around.

The cold cap has mixed reviews- some people raved about it as they kept most of their hair, but they had to cut theirchair up quite short or had very fine hair to start with. It seems the thicker your hair, the less successful you'll be at keeping all of it.

Some people didn't like that it added extra time on to their chemo day, which I warn you is long enough already. You have to put the cap on for a time before and after chemo is administered. And after that you have to be really careful with your hair- products and styling apparently are no nos.

I sometimes wish I could have gone for it, but we have the same onc, and believe me if she didn't think it was a good idea for you she would have said so!!

What chemo are you on and when are you starting!?

Good luck with what you decide

Xx

commented by Superwhy
01 March 2013

01 March 2013 18:22

Am in Vincent's but my sister worked in tallaght and mention it to jw. She did say my hair was a but thick but it i got the hairdresser to thin it out it could work.. Yes i know it's add to an already long day. Can figure if it worth the extra pain but if I could would like to keep my hair. Can't find anyone who has done it though.

commented by Neadi
01 March 2013

01 March 2013 18:47

Hopefully you'll find someone here. It's not a widespread practice here. Have you gone on to the British breast cancer forum?? They use it a lot over there and my sister in law directed me to it. You can look up cold cap on the topics and it's quite informative.

commented by WicklowLady
01 March 2013

01 March 2013 23:27

JW told me my hair was too thick for it to work but to be honest I think there I enough to deal with than that on top of everything else. If its doesn't work 100% then it could end up patchy. You know hen ours in the middle of chemo I was glad I didn't have on be washing and blow drying my hair don't hunk I'd have the energy. I'm just 8 weeks out of chemo and I've got a good growth I hair

commented by NAS27
06 March 2013

06 March 2013 19:05

I think you should go for it ! they will tell you if its suitable for you or not ...
Why not give it a go...finished chemo myself a few weeks ago ... 2 weeks through my radiotherapy and I have just a light covering of hair. To my delight eyebrows and eyelashes are growing back ..yipeee

Best of luck
let us know how you get on
Sandra

commented by dankev
06 March 2013

06 March 2013 21:26

I was all set to do cold cap , a gal I played golf with had done it two years before and she had the most beautiful head of hair ! My oncologist was dead against it ! My sister was in a taxi bringing me the requisite hair products and the last minute I changed my mind ! Decisions are so hard when you given options ! At the end of the day I thought hair was a small price to pay to give me every chance . The worry is the cold cap will stop the chemo going to your head ! If it stops the hair falling out , I didn't want any rogue cancer cell having a chance.

commented by Superwhy
07 March 2013

07 March 2013 20:13

Well it looks like I am going to be the guinea pig. Going to give it a try starting on Monday.. I hope I can deal with the cold. My doctor had no problems recommending me for it. Have to get my hair thin out now as it quiet thick. It might not work but I want to give it a try.

commented by WicklowLady
07 March 2013

07 March 2013 20:23

Fair Play best of luck . Let us know how you get on

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