A new wearable device currently in clinical trials in Europe hopes to help chemotherapy patients suffering from hair loss.
On average, 65 percent of people undergoing chemotherapy experience hair loss, and 99.9 percent of patients with some cancers experience hair loss. For many, it is deeply traumatic.
Video by VICE
And it’s not just about beauty. According to Luminate, the number one reason cancer patients stop or discontinue cancer treatment is peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). Many patients will suffer from peripheral neuropathy) chance of recovery.
CEO Aaron Hannon said of a time he was talking to doctors and patients about how to innovate in cancer: “I was struck by how hair loss dominated the conversation.” I was surprised,” he said. “Since then, we have been dedicated to making it something that no longer exists.”
They say that’s why they invented Lily, a portable helmet designed to hold hair.
How Lily Helmet works
The wearable device essentially applies even pressure over the entire scalp. This is a much more comfortable, convenient, and faster process than cooling, a common but uncomfortable hair removal option for cancer patients. Lilly works by blocking capillaries and preventing chemotherapy drugs from reaching the hair follicles.
“We’re really excited about the efficacy of this treatment because it works for many hair types,” Hannon said. “We have had patients with full hair remaining after 4 to 12 rounds of chemotherapy. We have had incredible feedback about how it has changed their experience receiving treatment. .”
Lilly is currently in clinical trials in Europe and plans to eventually conduct clinical trials in the United States.
“The next step is to conduct a multicenter study in the United States to obtain FDA approval,” Hannon said. “We’re looking for sites that would like to try this technology, potentially in New York, Florida, or Ohio.”
Although it is still in its early stages and not yet available, it could be a game-changer for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the future.
