Scalp cooling gets a warm reception

A device that helps reduce hair loss for patients going through chemotherapy is not a particularly new technology, yet when Westerly Hospital added the Paxman scalp cooling system to its care options this summer, many patients were excited to give it a try.

“One of our patients, who is fairly young, has been using it during her treatment and her hair looks terrific,” said Molly Hodshon, RN, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Westerly. “The device doesn’t prevent hair loss for every patient, especially since some chemotherapy regimens are much harder on hair follicles than others. But even for those who lose their hair, the cooling system can help with hair regrowth once chemotherapy is complete.”

Overall, data suggest that scalp cooling gives patients a 50 percent chance of retaining half of their hair during chemotherapy because when hair follicles are chilled, they are less susceptible to damage. Similar devices are used at other Smilow Cancer Hospital locations, including Waterford.