Hair loss is a side effect of cancer treatment and can be both physically and mentally challenging.
“When a patient loses hair due to chemotherapy, it can be very traumatic for the patient,” said Susan Ferguson, director of clinical management at MD Anderson Breast Center. “It can reduce how you feel and how you feel about yourself.” Their intimate relationships and the way they see themselves all reduce the quality of a person’s life. ”
Chemotherapy-related hair loss can also impact patients’ jobs and families, added Brenda Brown, executive director of MD Anderson’s Ambulatory Treatment Center and Center for Clinical and Translational Research. .
To alleviate some of these effects, MD Anderson offers a technique called scalp cooling that can help prevent chemotherapy-related hair loss in some patients.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about how scalp cooling works and which patients benefit.
How does scalp cooling work?
Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells in the body. Chemotherapy targets cancer cells, but it also attacks other non-cancerous cells in the body, such as hair follicles. This is why hair loss occurs during cancer treatment.
This is where cooling your scalp comes in handy. While receiving chemotherapy, patients wear a silicone cold cap over their hair. The cold cap is connected to a system that cools the scalp to 64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Because blood flow to the hair follicle is reduced, the hair follicle is less susceptible to damage from chemotherapy,” explains Dr. Ferguson.
Who is eligible for scalp cooling?
Patients interested in scalp cooling will work with their doctor to determine if scalp cooling is right for them.
Eligibility for scalp cooling is determined by factors such as:
This year, MD Anderson began offering scalp cooling to patients with all types of solid tumors.
However, cooling the scalp is not the best choice for all patients.
For example, Brown says scalp cooling is not recommended for people who:
How effective is scalp cooling?
Cooling the scalp can reduce the amount of hair loss during chemotherapy, but it cannot completely prevent hair loss.
Cooling the scalp can reduce the amount of hair lost during chemotherapy by about 50%, Brown says.
However, cooling the scalp is not a surefire way to prevent hair loss. Many factors can affect the scalp cooling effect for each patient. These include:
The type and dosage of chemotherapy How long the patient needs chemotherapy The time it takes for chemotherapy drugs to be metabolized in the body The patient’s hair type The patient’s age and health
Scalp cooling is still a relatively new technology, with the first scalp cooling system receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2015.
“It’s in the early stages of research,” Ferguson says. “The jury is still out on how effective it is for specific tumors.”
Are there any side effects from cooling the scalp?
Scalp cooling can also cause short-term side effects, Brown says. These include:
Chills Headache Dizziness Nausea Numbness Burning Sinusitis pain
Professor Brown said these side effects are usually tolerable for patients, but scalp cooling may be uncomfortable for patients who are sensitive to cold.
“I put it on my head for a few minutes,” she says. “It’s very, very, very cold.”
Is scalp cooling covered by insurance?
Although each situation is different, the FDA approval of scalp cooling systems means that scalp cooling may be covered by insurance in some cases. However, Ferguson points out that even if a patient qualifies for scalp cooling, insurance won’t necessarily cover it.
She recommends patients first check with their doctor to see if they are a candidate for scalp cooling. In that case, patients should contact their insurance company to see if scalp cooling will be covered. You can then contact the clinic to proceed.
“While we are encouraged by the success of insurance coverage for those who come to the Breast Center for scalp cooling, there are many who do not,” she says.
Patients whose insurance does not cover scalp cooling may consider paying for the service out of pocket.
What happens in Promise?
Before starting chemotherapy, patients who choose to use scalp cooling will wear a cooling cap that they bring with them to each appointment.
Patients who use scalp cooling should schedule each chemotherapy appointment to last longer than those who do not. This is because cooling the scalp adds several extra steps to the chemotherapy process.
“In that case, your appointment could be an hour and a half to two hours away,” Brown says.
Common chemotherapy appointments for patients who choose to undergo scalp cooling include:
hair preparation
Before a chemotherapy appointment, patients wet their hair, apply conditioner, and brush their hair back before putting on a cooling cap.
Scalp cooling before chemotherapy
During the pre-cooling process, patients spend at least 30 minutes connected to the cooling system before starting chemotherapy.
chemotherapy
The patient wears a scalp cooling cap and is connected to the scalp cooling system throughout the chemotherapy injection.
Scalp cooling after chemotherapy
After chemotherapy is complete, patients continue to cool their scalp for up to an additional 90 minutes.
If I’m interested in scalp cooling, who should I talk to?
MD Anderson patients interested in scalp cooling should talk to their care team.
Healthcare providers can help determine whether a patient is a candidate for scalp cooling and whether scalp cooling is appropriate.
Request an appointment with MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
