Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
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alice12- I used ccc, and loved them. They provided you with everything you'd need - thermal thermometer, cooler, dolly, instructions... The rep did a phone consult with me and my mom about how to use the caps. They don't pay for dry ice, you pay for that separately, but they do help you find a distributor close to you where you can purchase it. I liked them a lot. The rep I talked to was readily available to answer questions by email or text.
I lost quite a bit from my crown, creating a bald spot, which toppik does wonders in covering. So I recommend if you use these caps, really knead them so the top gets as flush with your head as possible.
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Thanks pch!! It's funny I have kept 70% of them. I guess being impatient does not help. Lol. But thanks for the advise!! Does anyone dare spray a natural hairspray if going out? I live in Philly and the humidity is blowing my hair up!! Obviously not spraying the roots. I also bought a hair powder to fill in the thin spots. Works great!!!
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hi makingway, thank you for your info.
wpmoon: yes, the rep named Bill is very helpful. Penguin's sales rep finally called me yesterday after several phone calls. I know penguin is a good brand, but just worried if someone is not readily available when I have questions.
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Hi Alice. Penguin CC and Chemo CC use different brands of caps. Penguin is a manufacturer/distributor of its own brand and you are paying to rent the caps from the company. They have reps who can and do help but that is not their primary purpose. Chemo CC does not have its own brand of caps, they are primarily a service company. They purchase ElastoGel caps and then turn around and rent them to customers. As makingway said above, you can buy ElastoGels and needed supplies on your own if you wish. With Chemo CC, you are paying a premium for the hand holding and support. I'm not in favor of one over the other, just be aware of what you're paying for. Most of us were able to get through it on our own (with a lot of help and support from the wonderful women here).
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Good morning BeatCancer: I used a small amount of hair spray all throughout chemo. Never had any problems
I also used Toppik to cover thin spots. Works excellent. -Kim0 -
hi jc254: thank you for the info. I understand now. no wonder chemo cold cap charges premium, basically for customer service only.
Ladies: any suggestion on how to protect nails during chemo?
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Last day of chemo! Pic with my BIL who thought my helmet looked like a Cal Berkeley football helmet (my alma mater), so he made me felt Golden Bears to stick on!!
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Scarlett,
congrats!!!! your CC looks cooler than mine ever did!!
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Alice, you can find a good comparison of the pros and cons of Penguin cold caps versus ElastoGels on makingway's website. I think there's a link at the bottom of her post. I didn't do anything special to my nails and had no problems.
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Congratulations Scarlett. Love the bear!
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Alice12,
They do make elastogel mitts for your hands and feet. I could not use them. Way to cold for me with caps. But I do have a tip as crazy as it sounds I researched it, and it worked for me. I always kept my nails done ( by me. Do not trust salon) in a DARK COLOR. Supposed to protect them. I also took a supplement called hair volume. Ask your docs. Worked great for hair and nails. As far as the elastogel helmet. I have one. Do not recommend. Not cold enough!! Great for around the house/exercise!!
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Yay Scarlett!! Congratulations on being done!
Alice, I agree with beatcancer. I kept my nails painted in a dark color and had absolutely no problems. I also took a hair/nails supplement. My nails grew like crazy during chemo and I trimmed them short weekly.
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Angiel: what type of supplement do you take during chemo? My regimen is Taxotere Carboplatin Herceptin, for 6 times every 3 weeks. Your hair looks fabulous. people won't notice you have just completed chemo. I guess cold caps work
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Ladies: Is there any shampoo that you could recommend to use with the cold caps that possibly helps with the dandruff?
thank you for the tips
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after doing AC did anyone start getting hair growth while on taxol? I'm getting antsy wanting these balding spots to fill in a little bit. I know some people had some regrowth during taxol but can't remember when!
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Steflove-Yes, many women find they have new hair growth where they had lost earlier, while receiving Taxol but usually don't notice it until it's 1/2-1 inch long because it can grow in fine and fair.
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unite shampoo is great
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Alice, I use the Phyto Phytophanere Duo supplements sold on Sephora as well as Biotin & Silica supplements.
I had hair regrowth starting on Taxol and by the time I finished I had about 2 inches of new growth sprouting everywhere.
I am 2 weeks PFC now and still have my eyebrows and most of my top lashes...bottom ones are still sparse. Maybe I won't lose my eyebrows after all? I'm hopeful.
I've also started using a couple of the Bamboo products from Alterna Hair Care. They have a thickening spray and thickening lotion that I absolutely love. I swear my thin, stringy hair nearly doubles in volume after using it. It's available on Sephora as well.
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Hi all cappers! I am 26 days post first (and last) chemo session TCH and am shedding like crazy. It started on day 19 and has not let up one bit......huge handfuls every morning that I work out very gently. I have done all the required capping suggestions ,been very gentle, barely wash my hair once every 2 weeks, no pulling etc. I am concerned that it has not let up at all...when can I expect the shedding to stop? I have thin hair to begin with.
I will not be having any more chemo as I was in ICU on life support for that one session 10 days post. No more chemo for me.
Inputs would be appreciated.
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I'm 16 days past my first AC, 2 days past my second and as you all have clearly said, this is when we start shedding lots of hair. How do I stop worrying about it being too much hair loss. I am using the cold caps religiously, following all the directions, barely washing. Is this normal?
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berlin42000,
You may want to wash it a bit more than two weeks. The build up may be weighing the roots. Try Kenra Clarifing. Do not wash during chemo that entire week. If you exercise just rinse with cold water. I'm 5 weeks past TC AND my shedding is stopping!! I still don't see new growth yet. I really would love to know if it will come back in the spots dark.?!
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Espanola, as long as you are not losing clumps of hair at this point, you will be fine. I am 2 weeks PFC and did AC-T also. My hair started shedding right around the time where you are at now and still sheds daily - yes, every day. Some days were close to 300 hairs and some closer to 50. As long as you are shedding evenly, that is what is to be expected. By some estimations, we have 100,000 hairs on our head, so we can stand to lose even 30% - roughly 30,000- and still end up ok in the end. I guess that is roughly what I lost through my 5 month treatment. If you scroll back a few pages, you can see the picks I posted at the time of my last chemo to give you an idea what 30% hair loss looks like to me. I only washed 2 times per week but would rinse with cold water on days that I exercised. I only combed -and still do-my hair once per day. As stressful as it is, try not to stress about it as stress has been shown to cause hair loss or little regrowth. You may want to look at supplements like biotin and silica. I take both and have lots of short new growth all over my head right now. Good luck
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Angiel, where do you get silica?
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I am right there with you...my hair is thin to begin with and after 7 or so days of shedding my little pony is getting thinner and thinner. I think if you start with thick ole hair all will be good. Not so sure if you start with thin hair...I am sooooooo worried. No one has really answered how long the shedding typically lasts...
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Berlin, it should stop soon. Mine stopped very abruptly about day 28 after first TC. Hang in there. So sorry about ICU. are you ok now?
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BB, I order supplements from Vitacost.com. Great site with reasonable prices and lots of user reviews.
Berlin, in my case, the shedding started around day 18 of my first treatment. That was in February. It has never stopped. I have shed every day so far for 5 months, so I can't say when it stops....I am 2 weeks PFC so I am hopeful that it stops in the next 6 weeks or so.
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Thanks, Angiel.
I am almost 8 weeks PFC and still shedding. Most of my shedding started AFTER I finished chemo. During treatments it was much less. I read that some women were shedding even 16 weeks PFC.
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Yes, I shed for 4 months post TCH treatment. My hair thinned, but never to the degree that others would notice, nor did I develop bald spots that would show (had some in classic places at nape of neck).
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P.S. So sorry you ended up in ICU after one TCH! Neutropenic fever?
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thanks for the advice. At this point i have like 20 hairs left in my pony so loosing any more will result in me having to cut it all off. Only 29 days post 1st chemo..
I am fine now and lucky to be alive......I gpt septic shock from a bacterial infection in my tummy, blood pressure dropped to dangerously low so required life support drugs, had the no white blood count condition (had lost them all...) organs were starting to shut down. THis was all caused by one round of chemo. I do have another medical condition, addisons disease which made it all intolerable to my body.... so no more
unfortunatley it looks like I will lose my hair with just one round and capping... another week of this level of shedding and I literally will have see thru hair
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