Meadows I’m pretty much a year on from you. I finished my chemo at Macclesfield General last March 20th & cold capped all the way through and kept enough of my hair for no one to really notice & for me that made so much difference to how I felt. I had my rads at the Christie. I did have a short red Bob throughout which really faded so I think it was about 6 weeks after my last dunk that I gave in and dyed my hair, it was driving me mad. I did use a herbal hair dye as I didn’t want to put chemical on my hair. There are loads of colours on Amazon & it was ok but not the brightest. However, within about 4 more weeks I decided I wanted white hair so I put peroxide on it and had it cut kind of like Pinks style so I couldn’t have really mistreated my hair more but I figured it was now or never & I have to say I love having short hair, before Cancer I had long hair but now one side is completely shaved to a number 1 & the other is longer found my face. I never would have dared have this style before Cancer but I love it.
I’d probably wait a few more weeks then see how your hair feels. I used the lush shampoo bar that stimulates growth and my hair grew really quickly. Good luck
Sam xxxx
Hi I also have used cold cap every time 3rd FEC this week and am so glad I did. Although quite painful and have lost a fair bit of hair and had it cut to a shooter length no one would know what I was going through - so would definitely recommend. No have seen my nurses today and discussed colouring as have some grey coming through she suggested maybe a henna or colour with no ammonia in and that could be any time really, she said no real guidelines out there. The thought of losing my hair terrified me and would definitely recommend the cold cap hard going but worth it!! ??
Hi,
I live in Melbourne but this forum has been very useful. I have just started losing my hair, I used the paxman cold cap system nearly 3 weeks ago, it was my first of 4 scheduled chemos. I’m devastasted that I’ve lost about 2/3 of my hair. I had thick long red hair and now it’s nearly gone, I can see my scalp which I never knew was pink.
I guess what I’d like to really know is when does it stop falling out?
My nurses said that my hair would thin, they said about a 1/3 (I’ve lost alot more than that). Its been coming out since the 2 week mark after chemo, I washed my hair for the first time a few hours ago and it started coming out in clumps, so I brushed it to get the loose ones out and there are still more strands all the time.
Please tell me when this stops?
I don’t know if I should just shave it off?
Help.
Hi Sooba, I also lost quite alot of hair too, I had long red hair but had it cut short before I started chemo and now a year on I have peroxide bleached hair which I now keep shaved on one side to a number 1, can’t imagine having long hair again. Did your cap fit tight as on my 3rd treatment mine didn’t & I lost a lot of hair on the top of my head but I did find that my hair grew back a lot quicker than other ladies who didn’t use the cap so I would keep using it. Try not to wash it, I used simple products & managed to onky wash it once a week. I would have what you gave left cut shorter as it is easier. Good luck
Sam xxxxx
I have to be honest I thined a fair bit and got fed up finding hair everywhere but still have full head of hair which I can still style I also still have eyebrows and lashes. Have used cold cap 3 times whilst on FEC but also put it down to juicing every day - good old spinach !!!
Thank you for the advice everyone, I just saw my son (he’s 20) and he said that it wasn’t really bad, just a small patch. I’ve brought a few scarves so if it stays like this I can hopefully just cover up the top but I will definately consider cutting it off because my scalp is so itchy and tingly feeling.
I’m seeing my oncologist tomorrow, hopefully she will be able to tell me if this is all of the hair loss I will experience or its just the beginning?
I’m capping my sister. Talk to penguin cold cap reps they have tons of info. I recommend a relative or friend to cap you. Make sure you take tylenol3 or a sedative to help withstand the cold. They suggest a list of items to buy You have to have caps tight and at the correct frozen temp according to your chemo meds. They’ll tell you.
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I cold capped 3 x fec and 11 x weekly taxol. I lost approx 1/3-1/2 my thickness of hair all over after the first fec. After that oy started to grow back. Lady garden went first though. My leg and underarm hair stopped growing after a while but shaving again by the end of Chemo. Weirdly eyelashes have only just come out - finished Chemo 6 weeks ago and eyebrows thinning! Also plucking chin hair - though it’s gone grey!
I used the cold cap through 4 cycles of chemo and kept approx 40% of my hair, although it is very thin on top. The fitting of the cap is in my view really essential to get the best result. Now 8 weeks on from my last chemo, I am still noticing that my hair is falling out (rather more than it would naturally have done before) and I have less of it to lose! I talked to my oncologist about this who told me that the Docitaxal impacts the hair follicles, even of the hair you keep and did not seem surprised that I was still losing some. Dies anyone else have experience of on going loss of what they ‘saved’ above and beyond what you might natually expect to lose each time you wash/brush? I do have new growth coming through so it’s not alopecia as far as Im aware…
Hi, I’m going to haven’t my first chemotherapy next week, and I’m in quite a quandary about the cold cap.its all a bit Scarry!! There are very few parts of my body I like…2 of them been removed and now I’m likely to loss my hair… but it’s better than the alterative. It great to read about people who have or are going through the same thing, you don’t feel alone.
I finished cold capping on 10 April. I had my hair trimmed and coloured in June and its really thickening up now. My hair loss was really only after the first fec in November and new growth started immediately so I have a layer of new hair around 2-3 inches long. I plan to keep ep trimming til it’s all the same length again, although these natural layers are giving it body! Keep going, its worth it ladies.
Thanks so much for all this info Jane. I’m about to start my Fec-T on Wednesday and do want to give the cold cap a try. Even though it gets a bit of negativity. So it’s great to hear it has worked for so many of you. I have had my hair cut to a short bob which I love and wish I had done years ago!!! It was so dry on the bottom I knew I would be pulling t out just trying to detangle it. I do have a wig ready in prep for it falling out which I’m thrilled with but would love to keep my own. My hair is so thick so even if I lose half it shouldn’t be noticeable. As daft as this may sound the hair loss won’t bother me but I’m worried about what my 5 year old daughter will say!!! Stupid I know but we haven’t really said much to her yet as she’s a real worrier.
Hello everyone. I’m reading these messages to get some inspiration as I’m sitting in hospital having my first FECT treatment with the cold cap. The first 30 minutes was hard and my ears really suffered but now having had it on for about 3 hours it’s just fine. I just hope it works. I know that it depends on the person and chemo drugs. I’ll keep you posted.
Just seen your post about cold cap. I’m due to start chemo in three weeks and contemplating cold cap. What is the feeling I would experience did it really help
Did you still need to cut your hair short? I’m finding it difficult to accept at the moment
Thank you
So the cap is it put on when you are receiving the chemo infusions? How long is it on your head for? How many times do you wear it? I’m down for 5/6 months of chemo
Hi Babypink
It’s been about 3 years since I had my chemo, and I used the cold cap. When I did it, you had to wear the cap for at least 30mins before the start of the treatment, and I think 30 minutes after. I found it quite painful at start, but soon got used to it, however, mine had to be changed half way through, so that was uncomfortable. I think I had it on for about 2hrs in total, but I might be wrong, my memory is bad!
I had long thick curly hair, and wasn’t given any advice, so the first time wasn’t a complete success, as the cap probably didn’t get near enough to my scalp. It’s best to keep your hair as flat to your head. I ended up losing quite a bit after the 2nd treatment, and did have my hair cut to about shoulder length. After that, I’d lose some, but managed, with the help of some filaments the disguise the odd bald patch, to not need my wig.
Hopefully this helps you a bit, all the very best luck to you and everyone else doing through it now xx
I cold capped for 3 x fec plus 11 x weekly taxol starting Oct 14 until April this year. It is uncomfortable for the first 10-20 mins but after that it’s OK.
Tips:
Wear layers you get cold
Hot drinks and hot water bottle
Wear a headband to protect earz and forehead
Take strong painkillers half hour before
My hair thinned after first fec then not much more. I cut it to a bob and tied back in loose ponytail to hide thin bits.
Def worth it as now have a full head if shoulder length hair with 3 or 4 inch natural layers of regrowth!
Unlike most here, I didn’t continue with cold cap after 1st round of chemo. (I finished round 6 28/10/15 and haven’t gone bald, just thinned a lot. So it does seem to be luck as much as anything.
The fit of the cap is crucial, must be tight all over. The better the contact between the hat and head, the more likely it is to work. Long thick hair will have poorest fit but then will probably still will have plenty even if they do thin. I had a shoulder length bob and fine hair.
I was warned that the coldness could give headaches, make you feel cold etc but I coped fine with that side of things, yes it was cold for the first 15 mins or so but I just found it made thewhole experience much worse. The tightness of the cap and the chin strap just made me so clostorphobic/paniky that I think I just felt very moment of that 3 hour session and I vowed if I lost any hair after round 1 I wouldn’t bother with cold cap on round 2. Day 17 I started losing lots, needles to say I didn’t have it round 2.
How much more I have lost has varied with each cycle, round 2 I lost lots and that’s when I cut my hair short, then clippered it to a no1. Round 4 I didn’t have a sore head at all so guess I didn’t lose much that round. In fact I think it was round 1-3 where I lost most but I have not gone bald yet!
As as for eyebrows, they seem to be the last to go, I have v.short stubby ones with nothing at the out edges and eyelashes have been done since about round 3/4. This is v.annoying as bits get in your eyes all the time. Had lovely smooth legs for a while, been growing again for a while now. Facial hair lessened but didn’t go. Lady garden went gradually, but not completely.
Good luck whichever way you decide to go.
Hi I had the same as you rosarty 3 X Fec and 3 X dox and had cold cap twice felt ill with it but thought if kept hair … But was falling out in clumps after second dose do my daughter who is a hair dresser cut very short but o
List all on top do the clippers come out and you are right it was kind of a relief… Tears then you just get on with it … I have a false fringe I bought on wigs4u it’s Velcro and just goes under bandanna or hat makes me feel less of a C victim … Finished chemo 3 weeks ago starting rads next week … Good luck with rest of chemo xxx