Cold cap

[Stargazer1]

Morning Katflo & Other cold cappers 

I’m cold capping and am 1 week after 2nd Fec, I’ve shed lots of hair but am told it doesn’t notice to others, however I’m very aware that my parting is a little wider & I have a small bald spot on the parting too. 

I see you’ve used Toppik, Can this be used during chemotherapy?

Thankyou xxx

[Daisy200]

Hi Embolorry,

I definitely found the T a bit harder to bounce back from, but that could, of course, be the cumulatve effects of chemo in general. The mouth took a harder hit, that's for sure. I'm a week on from my last T and everything still tastes disgusting and my skin cells inside are still sloughing off, my tongue is coated in white stuff and everything feels wrong when I swallow. It is slowly improving, but not being able to eat properly never helps anything does it? I never suffered from the T trots I was warned about, in fact constipation was more like it. Really it's just the fatigue that seems markedly worse. I've literally done nothing for five days now and I don't feel like doing much more right now. It's definitely do-able. I was actually sick for the first time on this one too, but that was really my own fault. Bank Holiday Monday **bleep** it glass of red, stayed down for about 20 minutes. I bloody love wine as well. I've been lucky with the pain thing too, I've either not particularly had it, or I've slept through it. I have noticed that the injectons you have to give yourself have given me some twinges in my back though, that does stop as soon as the injections do. Four more to go (I forgot to start on Saturday so I'm a day behind).

Good luck with yours, it'll all soon be a distant memory xxxxxx

[Embolorry]

Hi daisy & amanda,
Thanks for replying.
I will give it a go and see if I can bear it.
Feel nervous and worried for this next hurdle of treatment, but i will get on with it and take whatever comes in my way...
Daisy - did you find the T part very different in terms of side effects and pain?
Thanks,
Em

[Daisy200]

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@Daisy200 wrote:

Hi, I've just literally (last Thursday) finished six rounds, three FEC and three T. I cold capped right through and haven't had any noticable hair loss. I suppose it could still all come out this month, but so far so good. My first and last cold caps were excrutiating for the first 20 minutes, the four in between seemed easier. And I've not really followed advice, I've washed, dried and straightened it every day. I noticed my brows and lashes seemed to fall out when I was moved onto T, but not sure if that was the change of drug or just the cumulative effects of the chemo. I'm glad I cold capped, it's one less hurdle back to normality at the end, but I can certainly understand why people try it and abandon it. Good luck ladies xxxxxx

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[Daisy200]

Hi, I've just literally (last Thursday) finished six rounds, three FEC and three T. I cold capped right through and haven't had any noticable hair loss. I suppose it could still all come out this month, but so far so good. My first and last cold caps were excrutiating for the first 20 minutes, the four in between seemed easier. And I've not really followed advice, I've washed, dried and straightened it every day. I noticed my brows and lashes seemed to fall out when I was moved onto T, but not sure if that was the change of drug or just the cumulative effects of the chemo. I'm glad I cold capped, it's one less hurdle back to normality at the end, but I can certainly understand why people try it and abandon it. Good luck ladies xxxxxx

[amanda9165]

hi just thought i would pitch in i had 6 rounds of chemo from aug 17 to dec 17 and persevered with the cold cap all through my hair was short though had it cut a little shorter when i found i had to have chemo. long story short though i lost some hair and had tiny patches that i could cover by styling it worked for me I think you know after the second round of chemo if its going to work or not . Now its growing thick and strong and curly which is weird anyway hope it helps.

Amanda

[Embolorry]

Hi all,
Due for my first cycle of FEC next week and don’t know whether to bother with the cold cap? My hair is quite short anyway and I have heard that sometimes it doesn’t work?
Any advice, much appreciated,
Em
X

[katflo]

Hi Rachel I don’t know if heat would have made any difference or not... I have done 3 fec so far and the heaviest shedding I had was after 2 and it has since slowed up. Due to start T next week so will seee what that brings. One of the nurses said some people see new hair growth on T so worth persevering. Even if your hair thins out it will still come back quicker once chemo finishes. Also have a wig hairbands etc on standby if you need to cover bits up. Hope it goes ok for you

[rachelmon]

Hi All,
I’m new to this forum and started FEC-T 16th Apr and have second round tomorrow. I used the Paxman cold cap and lost no hair until Sunday (3 weeks after 1st session) when it started falling out when I ran my fingers through it and I lost a lot that evening when I washed it. I have been doing everything recommended only on blow drying / straightening, washing it once or twice a week, using chemical free shampoo / conditioner only brushing with wide tooth comb, silk pillow case etc. I got really hot over the weekend and although I had a hat on to protect my head from the sun, my head particularly got really hot. I am wondering if this triggered hair loss or if it was a coincidence, does anyone know anything about keeping head cool between chemo sessions?
Good luck to everyone else going through chemo at the moment xxx

[Pebbles38]

Hi ladies, I’ve just had my 1st go of the Paxman CC. So far it seems very doable. I’ll give you weekly update !!

[Gygi]

Thanks Katflo I will look into Toppik. Looks like I'm behind you got 2 more Fec then T. Second Fec this Friday but going for a wig fitting Wednesday. Nothing fallen out yet. I guess I have it to come. Good luck you too.

[katflo]

Hi GiGi the shedding seemed to be worse the first week after second fec. Got a bit thin around the scalp but got some stuff off amazon called toppik that fills in patches and it worked really well so worth a try. It’s just tiny fibres that match your hair colour that you shake over and they stick to your existing hair. You can get a tiny bottle to start with, worth a go! I have fec 3 next week then change to T the nurses say you don’t have to wear the cold cap for as long on T which is a relief! Good luck!x

[Gygi]

Hi Katflo how's you? I'm a little behind you with fec and cold capping. My second fec is next Friday. So far no shedding my hair is probably the best it's ever been. I am washing it only once a week and I comb it then and not really much more. I bought a silke to wear at night too. Only worn it two nights but it is lovely. Hope things are going well. Take care Gigi

[amanda9165]

As rediculous as it sounds the thought of losing my hair when they told me i had to have chemo was the first time i broke down in the consultants office, i wouldn't say i'm a vain person but it made the reality of the situation sink in and it would be something i couldn't hide from people. so I persevered with the cold cap through all sessions and kept good head of hair a few thin patches but nothing my hairdresser couldn't hide it is hard when you wash your hair or comb and see all the strands coming away my advice is don't wash too often and keep combing to minimum.

its not pleasant but it gets easier with time or did for me.  wish you luck

[katflo]

Just wondering if anyone Is cold capping and how it’s going? I had my second fec last thurs and hair seems to be hanging in there. It is shedding when I comb but no bald patches so fingers crossed. I did find the cap almost unbearable second time and was sick twice I’m sure it was much tighter than the first time