New “Scalp Cooling” Invention Prevents Hair Loss in Cancer Patients
Although chemotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments available today, it is frequently associated with a variety of physical and psychological side effects. Among the potential side effects is one condition notoriously dreaded by cancer patients: hair loss.
Because chemotherapy induced hair loss often makes cancer treatment more difficult and mentally damaging, scientists and physicians continually research ways to preserve native hair and prevent thinning hair during anti-cancer treatments.
Recently, two hospitals in the United Kingdom introduced a new invention that may prevent unfortunate chemotherapy induced hair loss and help cancer patients heal in a more comprehensive manner.
The invention, created by the daughter of a breast cancer victim, is tentatively called a “scalp cooler,” and works by literally lowering a patient’s scalp temperature and decreasing blood flow to the scalp. The reduced scalp blood flow helps minimize the interaction between the hair follicles and harmful chemotherapy drugs, which prevents damage and decreases the frequency of hair loss.
According to Julie Reed, a nurse at one of the trial hospitals:
They are a massive benefit to patients who will be able to use them during their cancer treatment because obviously it’s more evident to people that they are under going treatment when they have no hair.
Furthermore, Oncologist Larry Hayward agrees and states:
Obviously the most important thing is to control the cancer, get rid of it if we can, but allowing patients to get on with life is normal whilst they have what’s otherwise quite complicated treatment is going to be a huge advantage.
Clearly, the “scalp cooler” could become an important asset for chemotherapy patients. We truly hope this device continues evolving and improving the lives of brave cancer patients.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: chemotherapy, hair loss, thinning hair, hair follicles
