Exercising while cold capping

et1977

I was wondering if anyone had any insight into when you can start exercising if you've cold-capped? I finished 4 round of TC recently, and was told to try to avoid working out to the point of being drenched in sweat (my exercise of choice used to be spin classes), as the heat wasn't good for the follicles. Kind of felt like a deal with the devil, as I was so grateful to keep (most of) my hair.

I'm about a month out now and though I am still shedding, as I begin radiation, I'm hoping to begin working out more, even to the point of being drenched in sweat. I can't seem to find any info on when it's safe to begin working out like I used to, and don't want to "hurt" my fragile head of hair anymore than I need to.

Any tips or insight?

OnTarget

I did heavy exercise in the summer while cold capping. I started with a ton of hair, and while it thinned a bit and I got a few balding spots at my temples, I still have a full head of hair.

I think I was shedding a little extra from the sweating, but not enough to stop me.

I'd go for it.

rockymountaingirl

I went through chemo in the summer, and when I rode or worked with my horse, I wore a helmet, always. Helmet plus summer heat = major sweat. Probably that was not good for my hair follicles, and probably I lost a little more hair because of it. But for me, the benefit of being outdoors, doing something I love, and taking my mind off of cancer for a while hugely outweighed the risk that I might lose a little more hair. And in the end, I did keep most of my hair, despite the helmet. If you want to avoid further harm to your fragile hair follicles at all costs, I think you will have to wait until they have fully recovered from the trauma of chemotherapy. Watch for shedding to end, and normal hair growth to re-establish itself. But if you are willing to accept the risk that exercising to the point of being drenched in sweat might lead to a little more hair loss than you would otherwise experience, then I agree with OnTarget: go for it. You can be extra nice to your hair follicles the rest of the time.