Cancer Patients Keep their Hair! Medical News and Health Information
Cancer Patients Keep their Hair! -- Research Summary
BACKGROUND: The chemo cold cap is soft, elastic, covered by a thermo insulate that is used to cool the scalps metabolism and blood flow, to protect the hair follicles from chemo drugs. Hair loss is an inevitable side effect of chemotherapy and it is not a medical issue. Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy targets all rapidly diving cells, healthy cells as well as cancer. Hair follicles, the structures in the skin filled with tiny blood vessels that make hair, are some of the fastest-growing cells in the body. When healthy, hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours, but as the chemo does its work against cancer cells, it also destroys hair cells. Within a few weeks of starting chemo, patients may lose some or all of their hair. Drug induced alopecia occurs in over 80 percent of patients and represents a major psychological fall back for patients. The cold cap treatments have been successfully used in Europe, New Zealand the United Kingdom for years. Now backed by clinical studies the U.S is beginning to look at cold caps for hair retention.
(http://www.breastcancer.org/) ; (http://www.advancecoldcap.com/)
EFFICACY: In a clinical trial that involved 98 patients, 93 females and 5 males, divided into metastatic breast cancer, advanced ovarian cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer; the cap was placed as a tightly as possibly by applying a wet single-use mobcap on the patient's hair. The temperature of the cap had to be around 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Adherence to the scalp was improved by bandages. Cotton protected the nap, brows and ears. Chemotherapy was started 15 minutes after putting the cap on; the cap was changed 30 minutes after the beginning of the infusion, and the second cap was worn for one hour. Alopecia was assessed according to the World Health Organization. Success was defined as WHO grade less than or equal to two alopecia and no need to wear a wig, according to patient's decision. Failure was defined as the fact that the patient wore a wig whatever the grade of alopecia.
All patients but one was evaluable for the results, because they refused chemotherapy. Of the patients, 83 were successful responders to the cap as they had a WHO grade 0 or grade 1 alopecia. Only 14 patients were evaluated as a failure because seven of them refused to continue with the cold cap, and the other seven had to wear a wig.
The conclusion was the cold cap is an effective technique for the prevention of Docetaxel-induced alopecia.
(European Journal of Cancer, 1997)
APPLICATION: Most doctors are willing to use the cold cap treatment, however there are many who have not heard of the treatment and will need research and clinical information.
There is a service now offering cold caps, however insurance does not cover the cost. Through Advance Cold Cap Services, patients can order their cold caps that arrives in a cooler that is packed with dry ice in special compartments that allows effective cooling. The dry ice is not accessible to the user, so they never have to handle it or touch it. Six cryogel caps arrive frozen and easy to access. The cooler remains at a temperature at or below -50 degrees Fahrenheit and can do so for up to 5 days. They can be refrozen and cycled for repeated applications during treatment. The cost for the treatment is $249. MORE
(http://www.advancecoldcap.com/)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Bonnie Davis
National Media Relations Manager
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center(336) 716-4977
bdavis@wakehealth.edu
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