Scalp Cooling Treatment
Hair loss is widely recognized as one of the most feared side effects associated with chemotherapy. Losing hair can have a significant psychological effect on the patient’s self-esteem and lead to increased social isolation.
Scalp cooling treatment can help minimize hair loss due to the effects of chemotherapy. More important, this relatively painless procedure empowers patients and gives them a greater sense of control during cancer treatment. Baptist Cancer Center is delighted to offer this option – also known as ‘cold cap’ – to patients at our locations across the Mid-South.
Why Chemotherapy Makes Hair Fall Out
Chemotherapy works by targeting all rapidly dividing cells. Hair cells are the second-fastest dividing cells in the body, which is why many chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss. Vulnerable hair follicles in the growth phase are attacked, resulting in rapid and extensive hair loss approximately two weeks after the start of chemotherapy.
How Scalp Cooling Treatment Works
Scalp cooling alleviates the damage caused to the hair follicles from chemotherapy by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees before, during, and after chemotherapy treatment. This cooling causes blood vessels in the scalp to constrict, which reduces blood flow and the number of chemotherapy agents that reach the hair follicles. The treatment is safe and relatively easy to tolerate. The most common side effect is a minor headache caused by the cooling.
The success rate for scalp cooling is high as 70% for some chemotherapy regimens, and there is evidence that scalp cooling encourages faster, healthier and stronger regrowth than would occur without the treatment.
For more information or additional resources about scalp cooling treatment offered at Baptist Cancer Center, please talk to your care team.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance for scalp cooling is available to patients at Baptist Cancer Center through multiple foundations, including the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation. Your care team can help you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
