Cold Cap Alternatives?

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shaah2468
shaah2468 Member Posts: 72
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Does anyone know of any other method or way of preventing or lessening hair loss during chemo apart from the cold cap?  I had 3 attempts at wearing it yesterday before my treatment and all 3 times I pulled the cap off after 5 minutes.  It was becoming unbearable.  So I had the chemo without it.  Today I am very sorry I did not give it a longer go and am hoping to find other solutions.  Also does anyone know for sure that it will not work anymore if I try again before my next treatment?  I am very disappointed in myself.

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited December 2011

    Many of us that used the cold cap took ativan before.   I know I did for each infusion and they were fine.  I don't know how much hair you will lose after one chemo without the caps.  YOu may want to keep trying to use them as it can prevent further hair loss from other infusions. 

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  • shaah2468
    shaah2468 Member Posts: 72
    edited December 2011

    Thanks mdg.  When I asked at the hospital whether I could attempt the cold cap for my 2nd chemo I was told it was too late but I will ask again.  I am sure it can't hurt to do it at the next session.  I think I might email this Frank at Penguin I keep reading about and see what he thinks.

    I am at day 11 now and am expecting any day now for hairs to come out and have been crying all weekend.  I have some lovely head scarves and can even tie one to mimic the long braid I have down my back but I want to feel hair on my head when I touch it.

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  • luckyjnjmom
    luckyjnjmom Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2011

    Shaah,

     I'm not sure if it will still work for you - but it might. You should definitely ask your PCC rep. I can tell you that once I got through the first 5 mins it became more bearable. If you can find a way to distract yourself for 5 mins - it's may be manageable for you. Could be that you have a very sensitive scalp. Don't beat yourself up over this - just talk to your PCC rep and follow their advice. There's only so much any one of us can cope with at one time - give yourself a break. This too shall pass...

    Take care,

    Lucky

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  • TheLadyGrey
    TheLadyGrey Member Posts: 231
    edited December 2011

    Shaah, I second what lucky said, especially the part about not beating yourself up. We've all had so much thrown at us In a matter of weeks - it's not like you've had a couple of months to think through what it might be like to have a -30 degree sheet of plastic strapped to your head for hours on end. It just isn't something that comes up in every day life.



    I made it through the first few minutes of total shock - I was NOT ready- by telling myself that it had to get better because no one would be able to tolerate that for more than I few minutes if it was in their control. The second cap had me retching a bit.



    Please talk to your PCC rep - regardless of how much hair you have lost I believe there is benefit to using the caps to protect against further damage to the follicles. I'm wear one an hour a day straight out of the freezer - it can't hurt and at least I feel like I'm doing something.

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  • shaah2468
    shaah2468 Member Posts: 72
    edited December 2011

    Thank you ladies.  I will have one more go, but today, 14 days after my first chemo session, I started to shed.  I keep telling myself that my life means more than my hair but am bracing myself for lots of tears.

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  • TheLadyGrey
    TheLadyGrey Member Posts: 231
    edited December 2011

    It is a tearful time.  There are many things to grieve.  Your hair may be one of them.  

     We will be here for you.  

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  • shaah2468
    shaah2468 Member Posts: 72
    edited December 2011

    Well in the end I did not try the cold cap for my second chemo session.  My doctor advised against it because I was just getting over a bad head cold and cough.  Oh well, I am still shedding but day 4 after round 2 of chemo I still have hair covering my head.  Treated myself to lots of gorgeous new headscarves and saving up for a real hair wig.

    Trying some Talika products to try and save my eyebrows and eyelashes.  They were expensive but recommended by a patient at my hospital.

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