hi all, about to start first chemo in Jan. anyo... - My Ovacome
hi all, about to start first chemo in Jan. anyone have expereince of using ice cap to reduce hair loss please?
My relative is having weekly chemo. She wears a cold cap and hasn't lost any hair (she is just about to have her 5th treatment). It hasn't even thinned. We were told that her hair would go within two sessions without the cold cap. Are you having the three weekly carbo/taxol combination? If you're having the larger does it may not work but you have nothing to loose by giving it a go. They replace the cap during the treatment to keep the scalp cold.
Hi Chriss,
I was told when I started my chemo that the cold cap would have no effect on my hair loss. I was on carbo/taxol every three weeks. I think it depends what chemo you are on as to weather you get offered the cold cap. Because carbo/taxol is very strong the cold cap is not offered. My hair fell out after the first session of chemo and I'm still bald I had my last chemo in November. It is hard when your hair first falls out but I have got a couple of very nice wigs and It becomes the norm putting it on every day. I have my Tori wig on in my profile photo everyone at work thought I had had my hair cut and highlighted when I first wore it as I had long dark hair prior to chemo.
Hope this helps Love Babs x x
Hey this is really worrying. I was due to have exactly the same chemotherapy as you and was offered the Cold Cap. They did mention though that it's most effective on thick untreated hair which I have.
There is also a new cold cap which doesn't have to be changed. It's plugged into the electric socket and looks rather like an old-fashioned hair dryer in a hair salon.
xxx
thank you both for your replies. i have not been told the dose yet only that it will be carbo/taxol. just had biopsy 2 days ago. babs you look ab fab in your wig and i would never have known. feeling very nervous about what the coming year will bring but am trying my best to be positive although sometimes its difficult particularly at this time of year which is so emotional. xxxxxxx
Hi Chrissy,
I was diagnosed with OC last december 23rd to be exact. I was at stage 3b and was told surgery not an option as it was to far. I had carbo/taxol and after 3 treatments my tumour went from 11cm to 2cm and after the 4th chemo I had surgery. I had 2 more chemos after that and was told I was cancer free in July and in Remission. My hair fell out but it has grown back and it is fab. Healthy and slighly curly. I feel better than I have done for years. Please stay positive you can beat this thing, it is is just a hiccup in life. Have a wonderful christmas and look forward to next christmas being cancer free.
Hopes and prayers are with you.
Love
Carol xx
Hi Chrissy, I had carbo/taxol and wasn't offered the cold cap. I don't think I would have tolerated it anyway. My hair was very fine although I had a lot of it. I just felt loosing my hair was the least of my problems. Some days you won't feel up to doing your hair especially a few days after chemo. The wigs are lovely tho' I don't wear mine a lot. I like the hats and pretty scarves. I was without my hair all through the summer and matched hats and scarves to outfits. I finished chemo Oct 12th and my hair is only started to grow now.
Good luck with your chemo, it's not too bad and if it gets rid or gets you a good remission all the better.
Have a wonderful Christmas
love Chris xx
Thanks for that chris your right. Merry Xmas to you too and lets hope for a good new year.xx
Just to have have a merry Christmas and try not to worry too much, I am sporting my buff headgear scarf as a beanie today, first time out in public after head shave last night and actually quite like it! Getting ready for clinic was very quick! I couldn't have cold cap as no point, same as Babs. I've got a wig but haven't worn it yet, although it is rather gorgeous and bit thicker than my old hair, not that that was hard - LOL. All the best to you for the festive season and for when you start your chemo, will be thinking of you Amanda x
It worked for me, hair was a bit thinner
Hi Chrissy, I am on Carboplatin and Taxol and just about to have the fifth of six treatments. Before the first treatment a nurse asked me to consider the cold cap treatment and showed me what looked like an old fashioned swimming cap attached to a long tube. She said it was uncomfortable to wear as it would cool the scalp to -4 for the duration of the treatment but that some people had had a good result. However, the following day my oncologist advised against it because of the Taxol which she said would make my hair fall out anyway. She was great, the most honest and direct person I have come across. She actually said "If it was me, or a member of my family, I would say 'Don't do it, it would be a waste of time." This is apparently because the Taxol is more aggressive than just having Carboplatin. When my hair started falling out, I had my head shaved - not so much for aesthetic reasons but because it gets absolutely everywhere - on clothes, down the plug hole, all over the floor etc. Like others who have replied to you, I have a wig now. Takes a bit of getting used to, but they are really good quality nowadays and look very natural.
As for the emotional stuff... it is really hard, but you seem to find an inner strength you didn't know was there and friends and family really can be wonderful and frequently tell you how much you mean to them - which they might not have done before!
Take care, H
I was on 3 weekly carbo/ taxol and they told me the cold cap wouldn't work but it did!
I only had 4 treatments in the end though. Had a little bit of thinning at the sides.
I think it's worth a try. It's a bit uncomfortable when you first put it on but you soon adjust and it's not too bad after that.
I'm really glad I did it!
Katy x
Have been on Carbo/Taxol and Taxol on its own and each time hair came out, I was told that the taxol would make it fall out regardless of cold cap. You get ready really quickly to go out with no hair, just pull on the wig. I got my daughter to shave my head when it became obvious that it was all coming out - saves the mess on the pillows.
All the best. xx
Thanks to you all for replying. Merry Xmas and HNY. Xx
i also used the cold cap had six carbo/taxol. and it has worked for me, its worth a try. x
Hi all. Just thought I would share my experience with you all. I am currently using the plug in cold cap on three weekly carbo/taxol for stage 2a OC and was told i could try the cold cap. i am just about to have my 4th session and so far I still have my hair!! It has thinned a bit but no clumps have come out. I wear a hairnet at night (very attractive lol) as I read somewhere it helps to protect your hair when tossing and turning whilst asleep. I also read and use an alaplecia shampoo and conditioner called NutraVital. I only wash my hair twice a week. I don't' brush (i use an afro comb) straighten or use a hair dryer/hair products apart from a small amount of 'leave in' conditioner to stop it looking a bit frizzy.
I don't find the cold cap too unpleasant at all. It is cold for first 20 mins but after that (in my experience) it is nothing more than a minor irritation. My partner suggested that I have my hair cut short before I started the chemo in case cold cap didn't work as statistics reckon that it only works in 30% of cases. I didn't get my hair cut and i am glad I didn't. If i do still lose my hair i am cool with that also as i have a couple of lovely wigs and scarves and i think baldness in women with cancer looks beautiful... look at how beautiful jade goody looked on her wedding day!!
At the end of the day if losing your hair is something you would like to try to prevent and your Consultant says it is an option then give it a go. Good luck and god bless you all xxxxxxxx
I have been using the cold cap this time and after 14 weeks of weekly taxol I still have my hair. It is very uncomfortable for the first 20 mins after that fine. I have my own conditioner and spray bottle to damp my hair and a hair band to protect my forehead. I have the cold cap for 1/2 an hour before, during and an hour after chemo. I keep my hair short and wash it less often. I take a hat to wear on the wY home as you cannot sash the conditioner out for 24 hours. Other hair is very thin but my head is fine! Still have my hair.
M
Hi Chrissy, so sorry to hear you are starting chemo again, when do you start ? Are you going to the Liverpool day on Tues ? Be lovely to see you again. Definately try the cold cap if you want to try to keep your hair. I've just finished 18 weekly treatments of taxol / carbo and wore the cold cap for each taxol treatments .( 12 doses in all ) didnt wear it fir the carbo doses As Margeret says it aches for th first 15 mins and then is uncomfortable but bearable. I've kept my hair which is long and fine. Its thinned along my parting towards the last few treatments but after 5 w has grown back along my parting and is same texture and colour as before.i lost all my hair elsewhere including eyelashes and brows so the cap definately worked. The nurses said the new plug in caps were better- ill try to attach a photo o make you laugh - it certainly kept the one chemo patients amused . Several asked me if I had a brain tumour ..,., !!!
Hi Hilary. Don't know what's happened but this post was from last year. Thankfully I'm not having more chemo at the mo -please god no. Will be going to Liverpool on tues all being well. Look forward to seeing you there and will give you a call on your mobile if I can't see you! Xxxxxxxx
I thought it was odd!
