Cold Caps Help!

Moderators- I have great respect for the work you do and really appreciate this website.  But I feel compelled to point out that BreastCancer. org's site contains some inaccuracies about cold caps. 

The caps work much better with taxanes than with anthracycline (your information is backwards).  Also, some treatment centers have special freezers to chill the caps (but not many). Most women who use cold caps transport them to the treatment center in coolers filled with dry ice. The caps are kept in your home freezer between treatments. Finally, the Dignicap is not yet available to the public in the United States. Plans to begin a clinical trial of the Dignicap were just recently announced. If that trial is successful and the Dignicap system gets FDA approval, it will most likely make Penguin Cold Caps obsolete.  

For anyone reading this who is considering cold caps- the caps work well for those who receive TC chemotherapy.  For those receiving ACT, the results are not as good, although some have had success. 

Bugs, please join us on the cold cap users thread as the mods suggested.  We'll be glad to answer any questions and help you through it if you decide to use the caps.

Bugs - First, I'm sorry that you are even on this site.  No one should be here  I just started the cold caps on September 12th.  I followed the protocols as closely as I could. I am on Taxotere/Cytoxan.   My husband and sister "capped" me and were a great team.  Its expensive and takes a lot of prep and energy on chemo day but it's not really that bothersome after the first 3-4 minutes of cold.  I had more discomfort trying to freeze my fingers and toes to ward off neuropathy.  The downside is that you can't color, style, blowdry or cut your hair or even wash it as often, so you feel like you look terrible most of the time.  And you don't want to TELL people why but then you DO want to tell people so they don't question why your hair looks so blah.  Anyway, I am at Day 16.  I have long straight, fine hair.  I've had some shedding, which  bums me out but not too much. I think its worth the money and effort to keep my hair but it may not be for everyone.  I'd be happy to share more as it goes.  Especially if I am successful.  I have my next chemo on October 3rd.  I understand that if you have most or your hair by Day 21, its working, so I will post then and let you know if that helps your decision. 

mfm48 - You are a few days ahead of me.  My next treatment is Oct. 8th.

mc - good luck on Tuesday . My second round went better than my first. Now I'm just dealing with the medication merry go round - since I took percocet, now have to take Mirasal. Can't forget the Claritin, and oops, did I take the Ibuprofen? I honestly can't remember so now I have to wait. Craziness. I know I should write it all down. HAIR - definitely shedding, but my husband says he can't notice anything. I am barely touching it. Trying to wash it once a week and just hope no one is too grossed out. I did not know about the caps when I had my roots colored 2 weeks and 2 days before my first chemo treatment so I know that is against me. I'm at Day 24 and expect a lot of shedding until the next treatment, but as long as I have no bald patches or clumps, I feel good. Please keep me posted on your progress. Best of luck!