Cold Cap Therapy

For cold cap therapy to work, you must use it before and after every chemotherapy session. Missing just one session reduces effectiveness and increases the chances of hair loss.

Other factors that can impact success include:

• Tumor type: Cold cap for chemo is most effective for solid tumors such as breast cancer. We do not recommend it for cancers like leukemia and lymphoma that may live in blood cells near your scalp.
• Chemotherapy regimen: Outcomes are better when treatments involve only one or two chemotherapy drugs. Also, high doses of chemotherapy lowers the chances of successful scalp cooling. 
• Hair type: Hairstyles that allow the scalp to maintain close contact with the cooling cap achieve better outcomes. If you have thick hair, you may want to pull it back with a hair tie. We do not recommend small, tight braids or dreadlocks. 

There are very few risks associated with cold capping, rather inconveniences. While many people experience positive results, there are no guarantees about hair retention rates. You should expect hair shedding to occur at some level throughout chemotherapy treatment and afterward. 

Other potential downsides to treatment include: 

• Haircare changes: You’ll need to make changes your haircare routine, such as shampooing less, using specific products and avoiding some styling methods.  
• Potential discomfort: The cold cap may be uncomfortable during treatment, making your scalp and body cold. There may also be headaches or nausea. If the side effects are too much to bear, you can discontinue therapy at any time. 
• Extended chemo sessions: Cold cap for chemo significantly extends treatment times. Patients typically undergo a one-hour cooling before chemotherapy begins. After chemotherapy, additional cold cap cooling takes another one to two hours.