In the News--Cold Cap Therapy for Chemotherapy

In the News—Cold Cap Therapy (or Scalp Cooling) for Chemotherapy

Having his/her hair fall out can be distressing for a person going through chemotherapy.  In fact, losing hair due to chemotherapy has caused some patients to postpone treatment.  This controversial treatment, used more in Europe, is gaining interest in the United States.  The theory behind these caps is that chilling the head temporarily shrinks the size of scalp blood vessels and the hair follicles aren’t damaged by the chemotherapy drugs.   Some doctors worry that their patients will develop cancer on their scalp because of the chilling of the scalp.  Other oncologists are supportive and working with their patient’s on the cold cap therapy for chemo. 

Later this year researchers around the country will begin a FDA-approved final clinical trial on the DigniCap cold cap therapy treatment.  http://www.medgadget.com/2013/06/dignicap-to-help-prevent-chemo-caused-hair-loss-cleared-for-fda-trial.html

This interesting news topic can be found at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlus/cold-cap-therapy-women-chemotherapy-hair/story?id=11985624&page=2  A website founded by two breast cancer survivors provides information about this new treatment at http://rapunzelproject.org/ColdCaps.aspx#TheCaps