Life After Cold Caps: a place for ex-cold-cappers to share

1…910121415…17

Comments

  • berlin42000
    berlin42000 Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    So I am confused.....all these posts about losing all hair, and shedding and thinning hair so bad is all WITH the use of the cold cap?????

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    I just got an instant message from a breast cancer oncologist friend in Japan. He's been fascinated by the tales of cold capping. He saw my cold capping pictures on Instagram, I sent him story links on cold capping and I put him in touch with the company and he said today that his hospital is buying them for their patients!!! He's very excited and had told me months ago before I started taxol how upset his patients we're about hair loss and how he wished there was something he could do. Cold caps rule

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jc254
    jc254 Member Posts: 439
    edited June 2015

    Berlin, the caps are very cold on your head so most women take some kind of pain reliever before chemo starts. It's only the first 10 minutes of cold capping where it's somewhat painful, after that your scalp gets numb and it's not so bad. Shedding is normal when using cold caps. Your hair will thin but it shouldn't be falling out in clumps and you shouldn't have bald spots. I'm guessing you bought ElastoGel caps. I didn't use that brand but I'm pretty sure you need more than two. You should jump over to the other cold cap thread "cold cap users past and present". There are women posting who used ElastoGels who can help.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jc254
    jc254 Member Posts: 439
    edited June 2015

    Suladog, that is awesome news about your friend in Japan!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2015

    That's awesome suladog!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • berlin42000
    berlin42000 Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    thanks!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2015

    Suladog - that is awesome!!! Now, if we could only get the US to start paying for our caps!! Way to go. COLD CAPPING ROCKS! Even though we all go through a time where we feel its either not working or we want to give up, so glad we all stuck it out. Thanks for sharing your story. -Kim

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    Goldenpaws,

    Yes! My Writers Guild insurance paid about 60% of my peguin cold cap bill.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennjdance
    Jennjdance Member Posts: 130
    edited June 2015

    I've posted this several times, but I got 100% reimbursement on my cold caps. You can contact Patsy Graham for details. Patsy@ccaps.org.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 489
    edited June 2015

    I had my first hair coloring since before cold caps. I'm five months PFC and I was so tired of trying to cover those grays with Colormark or Fanciful. The hair stylist used non ammonia/non peroxide hair coloring and it came out looking great!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hope49
    hope49 Member Posts: 370
    edited June 2015

    Awesome, Leslienva! That first color is such a great feeling :)


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2015

    Hey Leslie - glad your hair color came out nice. Isn't it a GREAT feeling of looking kind of normal again!!? lol I had my hair colored about 4 weeks ago. Not permanent so its fading fast. I'm going again next Tuesday. Salon said it will fade out by week 5. Can't wait until I can FINALLY get a real dye job and highlights. Getting closer :) YAY! Enjoy the weekend ladies. -Kim

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 489
    edited June 2015

    i'm off to Aruba tomorrow--my first vacation since starting chemo--and I'm so glad my hair looks normal again. It would probably just be about an inch or so long if I didn't use cold caps. Have a great weekend everyone!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2015

    Leslie - have a great trip. You so deserve it.... kick back, relax and enjoy and oh have a drink for us!! Safe travels. -Kim


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    here I am nearly 2 mo PFC

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2015

    Suladog, you are so adorable! So happy for you!



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wpmoon
    wpmoon Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2015

    just took off my last cap! Figured it's now time to make my way over to this board.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    Dancetrancer,

    Thanks so much I hate to have my picture taken but Alan did it so fast, just do glad to have hair!

    Wpmoon,

    Congratulations!! You made it through

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited June 2015

    suladog. That is one hell of a salad.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    Gatomal,

    that is just spinach! Of course it cooks down, though I'm being strangled by all the purslane I've managed to grow unwittingly

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pch
    pch Member Posts: 218
    edited June 2015

    Suladog, you greens goddess (CSA?). It's that time of year. You look great!

    Wpmoon, congratulations! Best feeling. You made it.

    Leslie, have a fantastic time. And tip one for everyone!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wpmoon
    wpmoon Member Posts: 270
    edited June 2015

    Mailed back the cold caps yesterday - such a great feeling to get those things out of the house! Had a pretty big shed today, but seeing a lot of new hair growth, so trying not to get discouraged.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited June 2015

    Wpmoon, I'm still shedding, one month PFC. It has to stop eventually! :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    Pch,

    the spinach is out of my own garden, I have 7 huge raised growing beds plus fruit trees, loving it!

    wpmoon,

    congrats on getting those chilly buggers our of the house!

    Leslie,

    Have a blast in Aruba! A trip is always great therapy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angiel
    Angiel Member Posts: 223
    edited June 2015

    Hi Ladies. I'm a bit premature to this board but I had my 2nd to last chemo today & my last one will be next Friday. Can't wait! I've followed all your journeys & learned so much from your posts - on this board as well as the other PCC board. I sincerely thank all of those who've posted frequently, answered questions and have taken the time to post tips, helpful info, etc. My journey in the PCC was made so much better due to you women :). I calculated today that by this time next week, I will have worn the PCC for a total of 95 hours! I hope that can inspire others with long chemo regimens to give the Caps a try.

    BB, how much are you still shedding? I was hoping that by a month out, shedding would be minimal.

    Any advice as to when I could blow dry on warm using a round brush? I've been dreaming about that day....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BBwithBC45
    BBwithBC45 Member Posts: 727
    edited June 2015

    Angiel, yesterday I washed my hair and it seemed to me that the amount I shed was more than usual. I didn't count them yesterday, but I think it was between 150-200, comparing to another day when I did count them and it was about 120. On the days I don't wash it is much less. I was hoping too, that a month PFC it would be getting better. I don't have any bald spots or anything like that, but I would prefer if the shedding stopped already or I'll end up with very thin hair.

    I still wash just twice a week in cold water, still no hot-styling. If I recall correctly, we are supposed to baby our hair for 3-4 months PFC and I will follow this. I'm not dreaming of warm blow drying yet, in fact I hate washing my hair nowadays.

    BB


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Scarlett152
    Scarlett152 Member Posts: 175
    edited June 2015

    Hi all, I am a few days post 3rd TC and last one on 7/9. Shedding is very light. Haven't had a big shed since day 20-30 post first TC. How soon after finishing chemo did anyone use Color wow or other brush in color to cover grey? Anyone use the Rita Hazan spray. I used that before DX for touch ups between coloring and really like it, but worried about the propellants. Thx!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pch
    pch Member Posts: 218
    edited June 2015

    Scarlett152, I used Color Wow before I finished chemo (taxol/carbo) and it was no problem. I didn't notice any more shedding that was already going on, which was very light toward the end.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2015

    Angie, regarding color and blow drying, I was 8 weeks PFC when I had my hair dyed using non-permanent color. It covered my roots enough to get by for a few weeks but did eventually fade. I had her rinse it but not comb out. Did it when I got home. I had my hair colored again at 13 weeks PFC using Redken Shades. Turned out excellent and I'm even blowing dry with a round brush!!! Not nearly as much hair to dry as I used to have but at least I still have hair, right? I'm still also using a little Toppik on my part to make it look fuller. Shedding is very minimal.... a few strands per day. Hang in there. It goes by quickly. Soon we'll all have our thick hair back again. ♡Kim

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angiel
    Angiel Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2015

    Thanks Kim! Glad to hear you are blow drying and using a round brush these days! Funny how I used to absolutely hate blow drying my hair. I don't think I will ever complain again. As for color, I guess it will be fall until I try color...bummer.

    Anyone try extensions? I have a big event coming up in 7 weeks & I was thinking about getting some clip-in pieces to make my hair fuller and maybe even a topper piece to give my hair some volume on top. Obviously, I wouldn't be using them on a daily basis but thinking they might be good for a special occasion.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories