Hi all…new to this post. I’m cold capping, 2nd fec is this Friday. Just yesterday I started to lose hair but it’s from near the neck where the cold cap didn’t reach. I’m honestly not bothered with losing my hair, the paxman is used at my unit so you get put automatically on it with the option to stop if you don’t like it. However since im doing something that is to help prevent full hair loss I am aware when it comes out. I have been washing my hair every 3 days with boots ‘kind natured’ shampoo and conditioner. I seriously smear the shampoo on, with very minor scalp rubbing, then I leave the conditioner in for a while and comb it with a wide toothed comb while washing the conditioner out. As I have curly hair I always did this anyway, but daily and always air dried. I am getting dandruff now though which is a pain.
Just before chemo, in fact before my surgery, I cut my shoulder length curly hair to a pixie cut, with one side super short and the other long, this was to help me get used to my skull! I love my new hair style, in fact my hair has been growing and would love to have it cut again, but worried about going to the hairdressers for the cut?
Anyway will see how the hair holds out in fec2.
Good luck Friday Nadz xx
Tina I don’t think cutting shorter will make a difference to the amount of hair loss or the impact of the coldcap but it may help you psychologically to have shorter strands fall out.
I cold capped through 3 fec and 13 weekly taxol. I only washed my hair once a week - on chemo day to wash out the conditioner. Didn’t brush or comb it and used a very low setting on hairdryer to half dry it. I lost around 50% all over and was able to pull it back into a ponytail which gave the illusion of thicker hair.
Also check out cAncerhaircare website for loads of tips x
Hi all. its great to hear news of successes with cold capping but I just wanted to say for all the ladies reading this forum who are finding it hard that it didn’t work for me and it’s ok to stop whenever you want!!
I was on FEC started in October and did 3 doses. I cold capped twice but masses of hair fell out after second FEC which I found very stressful and upsetting. Although I still had quite a bit of hair left over 50% I decided to clipper off as hated the hair falling out everywhere and it didn’t look like my hair anymore!
Just a word of encouragement I finished the three FEC end November wearing mostly scarves and hats and occasional wig and hair is starting to grow back now. You think it will never come back but it does!!
You have to do what is right for you and everyone is different. It just didn’t work for me.
Good luck everyone xx
This is interesting reading. They don’t have a paxman cold cap at the unit I go to. They have the ones that go from the freezer every 30 minutes. What’s with the conditioner with the paxman? I haven’t heard of this. Mine just being put straight on my dry head.
Xx
Thanks Marli and Tina for info. Guess that its different system so they don’t need to with mine.
Going back into work tomorrow and been having panic over the bald patch and what to do about it. Been scouring the Internet and found sone very helpful youtube videos a young girl has done. Her hair loss is for different reasons but still so helpful.
Some show things to help patches like his one youtu.be/6qVjgBYus2c
Some have things to help it grow back, some extentions, which I know are a long way off but I will be doing that! All sorts on her channel and well worth a look.
I found them helpful. Hope they help someone else
Xx
Hi
I’m new to this site 43 years old and triple negative no node involvement 23 mm tumor… Devastated is an understatement . Had a lumpectomy in November started chemo 14 th Dec 2015 really didn’t want it but my husband family friends begged me in the end I’ve really done it for my 13 year old always been ant chemo . Treatment 3 EC and 3 Docetaxal 33 sessions radiation …Just finished my 3 rd EC cold capped yes it torture but I do not want to lose my hair reasons everyone knows I’m sick and the other normality for my son and finally I’m a makeup artist I travel the world with my job I want to get back to work as soon as this is all over … In my opinion positivity is the key and help urself don’t give up when u lose hair and find it on the kitchen floor … Make sure the cap is fitted properly and insist on this … use good products roots conditioner from lush … Nioxin shampoo and conditioner … Coconut oil on lashes and brows every night … Wash hair weekly wash hair 24 hrs after chemo don’t brush it I’m sick of negative people saying wear a wig NO why should I … Yes I appreciate it doesn’t work for everyone but take tips from me and maybe it will … Another tip I have a Hickman line in so much easier insist on this its painless and no horrible needles to the point ur veins collapse .On EC I’ve had a horrible heavy lump feeling in my throat terrible nausea and just knackered this lasts 7 days approx … A little apprehensive about Docetaxal I’m trying frozen gloves for hands and feet to avoid nails lifting and discolouring I wear dark nail push aswell call me the frozen queen with the cold cap aswell OMG !!! Dreading it is an understatement can anyone tell me there side effects I’ve been told no nausea on docetaxal so that’s a blessing !
Hi Dollydeb. Not sure if anyone on here has had tax yet. I am cold capping too. Lost a lot of hair but as it was so thick its just thinned and one bald patch. Change of hairstyle slightly and you can hardly tell.
Have you tried the monthly threads for help on the tax?
Vicky
Hi red robin
Thank you I will do that … My hair has thinned too but I can cope with that … Regards Deb x
I had weekly paclitaxol which is less harsh than the docetaxel and my hair started to grow back. By the end of chemo I had 1-2 inch layers throughout my head where it had she’d and grown back.
Hi Tandy 4 I read about ice gloves for hands and feet and asked the question at The Christie Manchester they said yes I can have it they don’t offer normally so ask the question like I did … My hair has slowed down now so hopefully the worse is over finished my 3rd EC on Tuesday … A holiday is due when all this is over … Xxx
I’ve been told cold cap doesn’t work with the weekly drug and I would need 9 sessions just want it over with my hair still firmly there but that’s just me !
yes lush roots while cold capping and spray nioxin scalp treatment on too … I can’t stand the smell either … Then use nioxin shampoo conditioner after 24 hrs … I wash my hair every 7 to 10 days no brushing … Bad hair day everyday for a while though … Thank goodness for the cold weather bobble hats are my new bezzies !
I had 12 weekly sessions of paclitaxol after 3 x fec - I cold capped for every single one! It was a marathon. I felt like stopping at one point but BCN said I needed to carry on as hair loss is significant with taxol. So question what you’re on dollydeb.
Hi Tandy 4
I’m triple negative …that’s the regime if I was having pax … Hairloss is a side effect on both but I was told cold capping doesn’t work well with pax better with docetaxal so maybe u have just been very lucky …
Yes tax still has hair loss as a side effect I know I need to carry on cold capping but pax doesn’t work as well with cold cap that’s why my decision was to stay with docetaxal to give me a better chance of holding on to my hair … I feel very lucky to be treated at The Christie Manchester one of the best cancer hospitals in the world they have been amazing x
Hi Tandy 4 pax is an alternative drug to docetaxal … Pax not meant to have as harsh side effects just weekly treatments but I’m not due for my docetaxal till 16 th feb just finished my 3 x EC so very anxious what im in store for next x
Paclitaxol is very much kinder that docetaxel. I started it around this time last year through to mid April. My ses were negligible compared to the rest of my group on docetax and cold cap definitely worked for me. I only shed hair on the first fec way back in November. Hair started to grow back around this time last year and continued to grow throughout taxol. We’re all different but I’d go for paclitaxol over docetaxel every time from my experience.
Hi, first time poster here so sorry for it being so long!!! Diagnosed November with grade 3 Invasive ductal carcinoma. Had lumpectomy/mamoplasty and 3 sentinel nodes removed the week before Christmas. I was/am quite large breasted so have lost almost half of the left breast I’d guess. Looking very lopsided & wearing post surgery bras which I can fit my ‘chicken fillet’ into (which I get on Thursday, currently using a softie) to evens me out!! Thankfully lymph nodes were clear, I am ER+ & HER2- so based on those results I got the oncotype DX test. I needed to score 18 or below to avoid chemo, test came back with 65 so chemo was a definite. I see it as a plus that I am only having to go through 4 sessions of TC (Taxotere or Docetaxol as its also know & cyclophosphamide). Had my first session on Friday 29th, I used the Paxman cold cap. The headache & brain freeze started almost immediately when I was connected to the machine. Went prepared wearing layers & took a fleecy blanket. Had loads of hot drinks too. Unfortunately I only lasted just over an hour, I was very upset. The headache, brain freeze & putting up with cold weren’t too bad in fact if it was only these I had experienced I could have continued but it was my claustrophobia which got the better of me I am sad to say. The cap and chin strap especially were so tight I felt I couldn’t breathe properly and went into a panic several times. I tried relaxing, deep breathing, reading to try take my mind off it but nothing work and I kept having panic attacks and crying. I promised myself I would try the cap and I feel gutted it hasn’t worked for me, felt very jealous of the lady opposite me on Friday who managed her whole session with the cap on. Feeling apprehensive about hair loss but the cold cap was not for me and I will deal with whatever happens in the best way I can. Got 3 weeks of radiotherapy after chemo, then oncologist says some hormone treatment (not sure what that is yet) and eventually my surgeon will give me further mamoplasty on right breast to “even” me out.
Thanks for reading, good luck to all you other brave ladies xx