Everything you need to know about scalp cooling

Chemotherapy can cause a range of side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. These vary from person to person, depending on the type and stage of cancer and the chemotherapy drugs used. Most side effects are temporary, and your care team will support you to manage them.hair loss can be one of the most distressing parts of treatme

For many people, nt. Icon Cancer Centre was among the first to introduce the Paxman Scalp Cooling system, a technology now used in more than 30 countries across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Understanding scalp cooling

Scalp cooling is designed to help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. Using the Paxman system, your scalp is gently cooled immediately before, during and after chemotherapy. Lowering the temperature of the scalp reduces blood flow to the hair follicles, which limits the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches them.

How the cooling system works

A soft, lightweight silicone cap — sometimes called a cooling cap or ‘cold cap’ — is fitted to your head and connected to a compact refrigeration unit. A chilled liquid circulates through the cap to keep your scalp at a consistently cool temperature throughout treatment.

By slowing blood flow and reducing the activity of hair follicle cells, fewer chemotherapy drugs reach the follicles. This may help to minimise hair loss.

The cooling cap is usually worn for around two and a half hours at each session: approximately 30 minutes before chemotherapy begins, during the infusion itself, and up to 90 minutes after treatment finishes.

Effectiveness of scalp cooling

Scalp cooling can be effective for people receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer and other solid tumours, particularly when certain drugs are used, such as docetaxel, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin. Effectiveness varies from person to person and depends on several factors, including:

• your chemotherapy regimen

• type of cancer

• previous treatments

• age

• ethnicity

Your care team can explain what results you might expect based on your individual treatment plan.

Safety of scalp cooling

Scalp cooling is considered safe, and studies show it does not increase the risk of cancer returning in the scalp or skin. Your treating doctor will assess whether scalp cooling is appropriate for your cancer type and overall health.

Our commitment to supportive care

Icon Cancer Centre has a long history of investing in technologies that support patient comfort, dignity and wellbeing. Scalp cooling is provided as an additional service for eligible patients, with no added cost for the use of the cooling system.

The content on the Icon Cancer Centre website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. For personalised medical guidance, please consult with your GP or another qualified healthcare provider.