JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new medical technique is reducing hair loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy at a Jacksonville hospital.
Scalp Cooling System treatment uses a cooling cap to reduce the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach the hair follicles during chemotherapy.
Scalp cooling is offered at Mayo Clinic and hospitals across the country.
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Brielle Nelson, a mother of four, never imagined she’d be battling stage 1B breast cancer at age 33.
Doctors recommended that Nelson undergo chemotherapy to overcome the disease.
“Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is chemotherapy, which is a pretty toxic drug and will make your hair fall out, and I have young children at home so how is this going to affect my life?” Nelson said.
Approximately 65% of people undergoing chemotherapy experience hair loss.
Paxman Scalp Cooling is one of the largest manufacturers and works with Mayo Clinic to serve patients in Jacksonville and other states.
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Nelson learned about scalp-cooling from her doctor and began treatment earlier this year to help maintain daily life for herself and her family.
“I think it’s reassuring to know that even though mom’s hair may fall out or thin, she may be able to keep some,” Nelson said.
It’s that sense of security that empowers Nelson to continue doing the work that matters most to him.
“My goal as a mother is always to protect my children and make sure they are taken care of in the best way possible,” she said.
Take it one step and treatment at a time.
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