What You Should Know About Chemo Cold Caps

If you or a loved one will soon be starting chemotherapy treatment, one of the things that often comes to mind is the loss of hair. While it is certainly not the biggest issue when it comes what people go through with cancer, it is something that does cause a lot of people to worry. They might be worried about how they look, possibly because they do not want everyone to first think of cancer when they look at them. Regardless of the reason, if you are worried about potential hair loss during chemo treatment, you might want to consider making use of chemo cold caps. If you are not familiar with these cold caps, you will want to continue reading so you can determine if they are something that you would like to try.

How It's Supposed To Work

The idea is that the cold caps constrict the blood vessels in your scalp. When this constriction happens, it makes it harder for the chemo treatment to target your hair follicles, which, in turn, prevents your hair from falling out. Some people find that they do not lose any of their hair thanks to this treatment, while others find that they lose some hair but are able to keep the majority of their hair.

There Could Be Some Side Effects

As with almost anything out there, there is the possibility of some side effects. Of course, the side effects from the cold caps are generally things that people who are extra sensitive to the cold have to deal with. For example, some side effects may include drowsiness, shivering, or shallow breathing. You can start to use the caps and then later stop using them if you find that you are too sensitive to the cold.

Now that you have a little more insight about chemo cold caps, such as what they consist of and how they tend to work, you can decide if they are right for you. You do not have to use them if you do not want to, as it is a personal choice and the lack of wearing them does not impact the actual treatment you are going through for the cancer. However, if you are interested in using the chemo cold caps, then you will want to get them set up for you so you can start using them as soon as you begin treatment.