One UK observational study reported an
89 percent success rate using the scalp cooling
treatment in breast cancer patients, with only
11 percent experiencing severe hair loss
requiring wigs.
“There is now quite a robust body of evidence
of its benefits and I feel that scalp cooling should
be offered to every patient undergoing breast
cancer treatment. I’m personally very excited to
be able to offer this technology to my patients at
Pindara,” Dr Tazbirkova said.
Pindara uses the Paxman Orbis II scalp cooler.
The scalp cooling device or ‘cold cap’ consists of
a helmet like cap which is attached to a portable
refrigeration unit that cools and circulates the
liquid used in the treatment. The cap is held in
place with a chin strap while the cooled liquid
is circulated around the scalp at low pressure,
reducing the scalps temperature by a few degrees
and constricting the scalp’s blood vessels.
The equipment is fitted around half an hour
prior to chemotherapy treatment and stays on
throughout and for a short period afterward.
In order to obtain optimal results it is
recommended that scalp cooling treatment is
started at the very first chemotherapy session.
Patients report that the short term effects of the
scalp cooling treatment are far outweighed by
the psychological benefits of reduced hair loss
throughout their cancer treatment.
“It is really not too bad. It is definitely bearable
and worth giving a try if it helps me keep most
of my hair,” said a current Pindara patient
undergoing treatment for uterine cancer.
“I chose to undertake scalp cooling for
myself, so that I would feel less self-conscious,
especially being a woman, and also so I could
keep my illness private. I am still working while
receiving treatment,” she said.
Unfortunately the scalp cooling treatment is not
available to all patients undergoing chemotherapy.
The type of drugs used in the chemotherapy
treatment as well as the type of cancer a patient
has been diagnosed with will determine whether
or not scalp cooling can be used. For example
haematology patients are often unable to use
scalp cooling due to the possibility of cancer
cells ‘hiding’ in the hair follicles; this could cause
recurrence of the cancer after treatment.
In addition to the benefit of reduced physical
hair loss, the main benefits to patients of utilising
the scalp cooling treatments are psychological.
“Scalp cooling is the only effective method
developed to significantly reduce hair loss. Some
hair loss is unavoidable, but scalp cooling may
eliminate the need to wear wigs or scarfs. I find
that patients who don’t go through the initial
trauma of rapid hair loss tend to have a more
positive outlook, have improved self-esteem and
are able to carry on with their social life without
the ‘cancer victim’ label,” Dr Tazbirkova said.
At Pindara, there is currently no added cost
for utilising the scalp cooling treatment during
chemotherapy.
THE SCALP
COOLING
TREATMENT IS
NOT AVAILABLE
TO ALL PATIENTS
UNDERGOING
CHEMOTHERAPY.
THE TYPE OF DRUGS
USED IN THE
CHEMOTHERAPY
TREATMENT &
THE TYPE OF
CANCER A PATIENT
HAS BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH
WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT
SCALP COOLING
CAN BE USED.
There can be some relatively short
lived side effects when using the scalp
cooling treatment which include:
Coldness/cold related discomfort
Headaches, ranging from mild to
severe
Heavy feeling in the head
Forehead pain
Neck pain that comes and goes
The approximate success rate using
the scalp cooling treatment in breast
cancer patients PATIENT UNDERGOING SCALP COOLING TREATMENT
22 | Pindara Magazine ISSUE 13 | 2018