Frozen cap & brain mets?

It does seem kind of silly, but my onc was against any of the frozen products, for that reason, and I didn't argue.  I do know that CalGal used the frozen cap and then got brain mets, but it's probably not related since she was triple negative and we seem to be prone to brain mets (I have them, too.)  I think the use of these is a lot more common in Europe.  There's a lot on the web, I looked into it pretty seriously for a bit.

Dear Kayleigh, I do understand that anything British is sort of a joke as far as the US is concerned, but the use of cold cap treatment for breast cancer people and some other cancer patients is fully supported here.  I can't remember which cancer, but there is one where it isn't used (might be brain cancer).   I haven't seen many guys using it but as it is quite trendy to have a shaved head as a guy, maybe they don't mind so much losing their hair.  The nurses tell me that some guys  are very kean to us the caps if their family tends to go vald young,  but I haven't me these folk.  I asked last week during my tx how many women ask for the caps, and they said about 80% want them.  The ones that don't have some thing about feeling claustrophobic or that it will hurt, (which it doesn't
). 

 I am at the best cancer specialist hospital in Britain  (The Royal Marsden, London) and the cold caps are used there and in most other UK hospitals.

I can't really get into an argument over the use of the caps because as a Brit, it ends up with a lot of nasty bickering etc unpleasant PMs etc, but as far as I am concerned, the entire point is that the cap freezes the scalp, so the chemo is reduced in the hair follicles and thus less of them die.  In my case, I am half way through FEC  (or CEF as I think it is known in the USA) - and though my hair as certainly thinned a lot, I am in the happy position of having a good amount of hair other than a bald bit at the back; I just wear a pretty cashmere beret if I am out.

 I can't be bothered to argue with doctors - cold cap treatment is ubiquitous across Europe but of course, wouldn't make much money for insurance companies, doctors etc as it is a simple but reasonably effective thing to do.  It isn't a treatment really, it is a simple tool.  If I had any worries whatsoever that I would get brain mets because of this, then it is just possible I might not do it!!!

The nurses tell me the results seem to be variable but they are more than happy to help anyone at all as they wouldn't want to be bald themselves so why wouldn't they help - it is part of the job. 

 I recommend doing this - it really is great to hold onto a reasonable amount of your hair and if you get brain mets feel free to sue me!  It is just the scalp and it isn't frozen rigid.  It doesn't freeze your brain.  Cold caps are detailed in the literature at our hospitals and also on websites such as Macmillan Cancer Care.  You'll have seen the cold cap threads on this site I expect - a lot of people do get good results.  Mine would have been better I think if I had my hair trimmed to a pixie cut or similar - I didn't and thus I think my hair was too thick at the back for the scalp to get cold enough, hence the bald bit.  Your hair looks like mine style and length wise, so I have to say - bite the blasted bullet and trim it (or possible get it thinned?).  In any event, don't pin it up under the cold cap - just leave it hanging down.

 If I can help you in any way do feel free to PM in this regard.

My sense of frustration on this topic is that given the enormous amount of money you pay to the insurance companies, doctors, hospitals etc, it seems to me you have the right to better advice and help in this regard than you actually get your side of the pond.  Grrrr girls!

good luck anyway-

Hello Kerry - I haven't used ice mits as nails don't get toop bad on FEC, but I might ask at the hospital as sometimes the neuropathy can get quite severe, mainly in my feet.  It doesn't last for long and doesn't come on for about a week after treatment.  Worth doing though, I reckon.  In a way, maybe we should just do these things as a standard, because the less the things we have to cope with, the more energy and mentality we have to cope with the rest.

I will show your post to our chemo dept - the neuropathy results are impressive.  What I like is the simplicity of "the tool" - not complezx science is it? !!  Low cost too.

take good care all -xxxxxxx

Sorry - don't follow your logic?

The chemo drugs are infused at room temperature.  IU don't see any connection between that and the idea of cold caps, cold mits etc.

 heat applied along with chemo appears to increase the efficacy and thus enables doctors to decrease the dosages given to patients undergoing treatment.