Cold cap success rates?

I've recently been diagnosied with BC and having surgery on 27th. Although my treatment plan hasn't been confirmed, they've told me it's very likely that I will be getting chemo and radiotherapy. 

With the chemo, I'll be able to use the cold cap treatment but what have people's experiences been? The BCN has already told me that not everyone can stick this because of the sore heads. But that it does mean you get to keep around 50% of your own hair. Part of me things is 50% worth keeping.. 

I currently have long thick natural auburn hair and although I like the idea of keeping it, I don't want to put myself through anything gruesome on top of the chemo. Especially if the hair I'll be left with is going to look awful anyway. 

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  • Hi Babsie,

    I haven't looked at studies to see how effective it officially is (not sure if there are any large enough studies yet) but the two people I know that used it had no obvious difference to my hair experience and I refused it outright due to having suffered migraines for decades.

    I had waist-length auburn hair but I've had it very short before and it grows back so I preferred to accept just losing my hair over having the potential problem with more migraines (I've already had a mini-stroke due to them).  Admittedly it feels like I blinked and my hair was already growing back and with wigs to wear when I want to I'm just not fussed about the hair loss.  But everyone is different.

    If you do go with it I would be cautious about putting too much hope in it keeping your hair.  If it does help keep it then great, but would be horrible to get your hopes up and be disappointed.  But if you were just to try it understanding that you'll see what happens then that shouldn't cause you any extra distress.

    LJxx

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  • Hi Babsie,

    I haven't looked at studies to see how effective it officially is (not sure if there are any large enough studies yet) but the two people I know that used it had no obvious difference to my hair experience and I refused it outright due to having suffered migraines for decades.

    I had waist-length auburn hair but I've had it very short before and it grows back so I preferred to accept just losing my hair over having the potential problem with more migraines (I've already had a mini-stroke due to them).  Admittedly it feels like I blinked and my hair was already growing back and with wigs to wear when I want to I'm just not fussed about the hair loss.  But everyone is different.

    If you do go with it I would be cautious about putting too much hope in it keeping your hair.  If it does help keep it then great, but would be horrible to get your hopes up and be disappointed.  But if you were just to try it understanding that you'll see what happens then that shouldn't cause you any extra distress.

    LJxx

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