How to protect bald spots while using PAXMAN cold cap?

[blueash]

Helen don't have extensions because they will damage your fragile roots. Instead get a "topper" that is just a wide clip in type of extention.

I went to a salon for extensions and they refused to do them and pointed me towards toppers. They are loads to choose from but be careful before you go spend a lot of money. You can have them VAT free because you fill in a form saying you have medical hair loss and then they send you the  hair piece minus the VAT BUT if you are telling fibs the authorities chase you not the shop - because you made the declaration that you had medical not cosmetic reasons for needing this item. You can do the same with bras but not the matching knickers!!

The base can be tiny or huge almost like a wig but I got this one:

http://www.internetwigs.com/toppers/medium-tp-top-piece-.html and it is wonderful. It is comfortable and invisible.

If your hair is longer they make a longer one:

https://www.simplywigs.co.uk/catalogue/hair-pieces/long-top-hair-enhancer-rene-of-paris.php I have that one as well and chopped a bit off because the medium was not quite long enough and the long was too long.

I don't like the mono top as much because they are more expensive but not as much hair.

Don't get a tiny base, waste of money.

[Helen0903]

Thank you for your support , my next chemo is 28 July so let's see how it goes , the shedding has got less but not sure if that is due to not much hair left , the reason I am so desperate to hang on to is I really don't want to see myself bald and also hoping to have hair extensions put in when it is safe to do so..

Good luck ladies , all my love

Helen xxx

[Blue2]

I used the cold cap and had approx 40% of my hair left after 4x Tax and 3 x EC. I've now completed chemo and still look much like my normal self - in fact, most people I know don't know I've had chemo. I use a wide headband to disguise my bald bits and already have new hair of about 1,inch long where I had initially lost it and think that the new growth was protected by the cold cap.
I used surgeons caps after my first chemo to protect my scalp and used them for every one since. The hospital provided them quite happily and in my unit, men who were bald up top were using the cold cap with the surgeons paper caps and nobody ever told them they couldn't! So stand your ground!!!

[Cath48]

Thank you Slowski and Helen 0903!

Helen 0903, I understand you want to hang on to the last bit, so am I! I hope to be able to camouflage the short hairs afterwards with my bit remaining "long" hair (shoulder length now - I used to have very long hair).

Each time I'm very scared they are going to refuse me the ice cap, although they promised me I can use it. I really hope they will still allow you the ice cap as well. And that we both can maintain our 20% hair! Be sure the ice cap is ajusted correctly. I think for the ice cap it's no pain no gain. The first time I didn't feel a thing. So I'm convinced the biggest part of my hair loss is due to that first time EC.

Meanwhile I wash my hair as little as possible and when I wash it I use Forticea shampoo (brand: Furterer). My pharmacist recommended it to me and I've already heard/read positive comments. It's a natural product so I'm reassured it will do no harm. I have the feeling my hair loss is finally reducing. But perhaps it's only wishfull thinking   There's not much left to fall out 

I think monday for my first Taxol I'll take a thin cotton cloth with me to be sure I have some protection if the nurses have nothing else provided.

I'll keep you posted. Succes with the next chemo to you both

Cath

[Helen0903]

Hi I am in a similar situation and only have about 20 per cent of my hair with it being very very thin practically bald right on top of my head , I do want to carry on with the cold cap and try to hang on to this last bit , however I do still have 2 AC left ..

if if you manage to find any info out please let me know 

Helen xxxx

[Slowski]

Hi,

I used cold cap and most of the hair loss was after the first cycle of FEC. If you only have 20% left they may be reluctant to let you continue with the cold cap - one of my chemo nurses was as I had lost about 50%. However I persevered, encouraged by one of the other chemo nurses, and managed to hang on to about 40% overall. Some people say use a surgeon's cap or gauze patches if you have actual bald spots to prevent freezer burn, although I didn't do this myself as my hair was more of an overall thinning than bald patches.

Good luck anyway, I'm so glad now I persevered.

[Cath48]

Hi, I had 3 EC's and now I'm gone start with 12 weekly Taxol treatments. The first time I hardly felt the PAXMAN cold cap. Second and third time I did experience the typical side effects. So I'm convinced the hair loss is mostly due to the first time because it was not ajusted correctly

Now there's about 20% hair left and I have bald spots. But I still want to have the cold cap! How can I prevent the bald spots from getting burned by the cold? I don't think the nurses have a lot of experience with the cold cap and most people probably give up the cold cap at that point. Does anyone has any tips?