Cooling therapies during chemotherapy

Cooling therapy is a system used to apply cold to your scalp, hands, or feet while you are having chemotherapy (chemo). It may help reduce problems that some chemo medicines can cause with your hair, skin, and nails.

Wearing a cooling cap on your head may help reduce hair loss. Wearing frozen socks or gloves may help reduce problems with the nails. Nail problems may include loose nails or pools of blood under the nails. They may also include nails that get infected or fall off. Frozen socks or gloves may also help reduce tingling, pain, and numbness in your hands and feet.

Ask your doctor if using a cooling cap could help prevent hair loss.

Cooling caps chill your scalp before, during, and after chemo treatments. Experts think that the cold may constrict, or narrow, the blood vessels of your scalp so that less chemo medicine gets to the area where the hair grows. The cold may also slow growth of the cells in the area so they are less affected by the chemo.

The cooling cap could help limit hair loss for some people who get certain types of chemo treatments. It doesn't seem that using a cooling cap makes your treatment less effective.

You can check with the place where you will get your chemo treatments to see if cooling caps are available. You may also be able to rent one and bring it with you.

There are several types of cooling caps. One type is a tight-fitting ice pack. Another type is a cap that has cold liquid circulating through it during treatment.

Using a cooling cap can be expensive. If you have insurance, check to see if it covers cooling caps.

You wear a cooling cap or frozen gloves or socks at the treatment center. You wear one or more of these items during treatment, and for a time before and after treatment.

There are several types of cooling caps. One is a cap that has cold liquid running through it during treatment. Another type is a tight-fitting ice pack.

Frozen gloves or socks may have frozen gel in them. Or you may cover your hands or feet with very cold water or gel ice packs.

It's important that the device stays very cold. If you use one that has ice or frozen gel, you may need to switch it for a cold one when the first one starts to warm.

Cooling therapy works best for certain chemo medicines and types of cancer. Ask your doctor if this therapy might work for you.