Hi Candice, 

I saw you were asking about cold caps so just wanted to share Wils3398's post with you as they have provided a very detailed account of their cold cap experience which may help you with your decision. 

I'm going to tag [@Dafra]‍ in this post as their daughter-in-law used cold caps during their cancer treatment so he may be able to give some insight about her experience as well.

I hope this helps Candice and I wish you all the best for the start of your chemo next week.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Candice

I'm so sorry that you have been diagosed with breast cancer and I hope you have a very successful treatment.

Steph had tagged me so I can give some insight to the cold cap experience.  My daughter in law was treated for bowel cancer with surgery and chemo a few months before her wedding.  She opted for cold cap treatment to attempt to preserve her lovely thick black hair.  She said it was unpleasant but not unbearable and I think the wedding was foremost in her mind.  It hurts a little like placing feet in very cold water but you overcome this.  This was in 2003 and the technique may have changed.  It was very successful.  The blood supply to the hair is inhibited during chemo to prevent damage.  I don't think her eyelashes or brows were affected either but I suppose that could be corrected with makeup.

Kind regards

David

 Hi David, thank you for your reply. It’s given me some hope so thank you for that :-) I’m gonna give it a go and see what happens. What will be will be and I’ll deal with it any way I have to. If my hair stays anything like your lovely daughter in laws i’ll Be very lucky x

Thank you Steph x

I read Victoria derbyshires book,the lady of the telly in the morning,she had the cold cap and gives a very detailed account of the cold cap she had,I have had breast cancer and now have blood cancer but haven,t had chemo,but her account is heartwarming and amusing,I do wish you all the best,try to read her book,it goes through her journey with breast cancer and she is now back on telly xx

hi sorry for your diagnosis. i too had breast cancer masectomy and reconstruction post op 3mths. been having chemo since april. tried cold cap twice. first time didnt know what all the fuss was about but quckly realised that i had on the wrong size. and developed a bald patch where it didnt touch  my head. the second time felt better but no way near as bad as what people said. hence my hair fell out. so depressing. so basically you need it the tighter the better to your scalp or it wont work. not using it now and i dont appear to have lost anymore shaved my hair shsort and its less depressing than seeing clumps coming out

Hi and thanks for your reply. I’m in two minds to even bother but I guess I won’t know unless I try and will make sure I have the right size. I just wish they would just chop them off but I have to do 9 months of chemo first to shrink  as it’s a large tumor than surgery and then radiotherapy. Not quite sure why that way round as a lot of people on her seem to have had surgery first. I’m sure they know what they’re doing though. I’m scared as my hair has always been my trademark but if it means getting better then so be it x

Candice if your hair is very important for your wellbeing, why not give it a try? I know I'm not the one having to suffer but I think, if it works, you will feel so much better. 

Kind regards

David

Yeh I think I’m going to. Don’t have much to lose. Seems so pathetic worrying about hair in the grand scheme of things though doesn’t it! Have just watched Victoria derbyshires videos as recommended by [@jipster]‍ and were really informative x

Ah dizzel glad u have had some response :-)

Sorry I couldn’t help on this one but u know where we are if u want anything else or just want t shoot the breeze. Take care me dear x