Alopecia/hair loss as a result of Scalp Cooling Caps For Chemotherapy is a common problem among cancer patients treated under chemotherapy. Cancer patients have nightmares of hair loss as a major side effect of cancer treatment/systemic cytotoxic treatment. Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit agrees that patients’ emotional needs to attain and maintain an appealing personality are against the part of treatment for cancer cure. He said ‘HAIR IS DIGNITY FOR PERSONALITY’ and suggests Scalp Cooling Caps For Chemotherapy as the miracle arm for the reduction in hair loss due to cancer treatment.
WHAT IS SCALP COOLING CAPS FOR CHEMOTHERAPY
Systemic cytotoxic treatment commonly leads to alopecia (hair loss). Alopecia can be prevented by this therapy.
Cooling cap (Scalp hypothermia) to reduce hair loss:
Scalp hypothermia is a method of preventing or reducing hair loss by cooling the scalp using ice packs or cooling caps (cold caps) for a period of time before, during, and after each chemotherapy (chemo) treatment.
artificial rubber) to keep it Newer versions of these devices use a computer-controlled two-piece cooling cap system that circulates a cooled liquid through a cap that a person wears during each chemotherapy treatment. The cooling cap is covered by a second cap made of neoprene (an in place and prevents the cold from escaping.
How is it achieved?
Cold caps and scalp cooling devices lower the number of chemotherapy drugs that reach the hair follicles by constricting the blood vessels beneath the scalp’s skin. The hair may be less prone to fall out if there is less chemotherapy drug in the follicles.
Cold caps and scalp cooling systems are tightly fitting, helmet-like hats filled with a cold gel or liquid that you wear during chemotherapy infusions. These devices have helped many people keep some or quite a bit of their hair during chemotherapy which can cause hair loss. Cold caps and scalp cooling systems work by narrowing the blood vessels beneath the skin of the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy medicine that reaches the hair follicles. With less chemotherapy medicine in the follicles, the hair may be less likely to fall out. The cold also decreases the hair follicles’ metabolic activity, which makes the cells divide more slowly and protects the follicles from chemotherapy. During each chemotherapy session, you wear the cap for 30 to 50 minutes before the infusion, during the infusion, and for a certain amount of time after the infusion. The amount of time you wear the cap after the chemotherapy infusion can vary from 20 minutes to 4 or 5 hours, depending on the type of chemotherapy you’re getting and the type of scalp cooling method you use.
How is it working? and what the benefits are.
You’ll be able to maintain most, if not all, of your hair if scalp cooling is helpful for your specific chemo treatments.
More than half of women with breast cancer who had scalp cooling during their chemo treatment preserved most or all of their hair, according to research conducted by Trusted Source. Hair loss was observed in all of the women who did not get scalp cooling.
Many of these studies also demonstrate that scalp cooling is particularly effective for breast and solid tumor cancers in their early stages.
While more research is needed to determine long-term effectiveness or negative effects, this appears to be a noninvasive and safe strategy.
Side effects:
If you’re sensitive to cold, scalp cooling may cause discomfort.
Because applying cold temperatures to your scalp might drop your general body temperature, carry warm clothing or blankets to your chemo treatments to avoid hypothermia symptoms. Shivering is one of the signs of hypothermia.
- drowsiness
- shallow inhalation
- Chills
- Scalp pain.
E.g. of published results
Studies have shown that females affected with early-stage breast cancer undergone chemotherapy have got beneficial and satisfactory results of reduced hair loss on the use of caps.
