Cancer Specialists of North Florida (CSNF) has successfully implemented Paxman Scalp Cooling devices across six of its 10 locations to help patients preserve their hair during chemotherapy.
After a six month trial period at its Beaches office, CSNF found that the technology was both effective and well-received. As a result, the scalp cooling system is now available at the clinic’s largest locations.
Scalp cooling works by reducing blood flow to the hair follicles during treatment, thereby minimizing the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach the follicles and reducing hair loss.
Patients are informed about this service during their education meetings, and those who wish to use the technology must notify their care team before their first chemotherapy session. The England-based parent company, Paxman Scalp Cooling, then provides the patient with a starter kit, including a cooling cap.
“The success of the scalp cooling system is measured in a unique way,” said Dr. Ilicia Shugarman of CSNF Beaches. “We expect that 50% of patients who use this service will lose less than 50% of their hair. Additionally, their hair tends to grow back more quickly and healthier than in patients who do not use the system. Of course, some patients experience even better results.”
One of Dr. Shugarman’s patients, Kristen, shared her successful experience with the system:
“I wanted to try scalp cooling when it was offered to me because I wanted to handle my breast cancer diagnosis as discreetly as possible. Because of the expense and time commitment, I followed the instructions meticulously. I underwent four treatments of the aggressive chemotherapy drug ‘doxorubicin,’ known as ‘the red devil’ due to its severe side effects, including hair loss. By the end of my fourth treatment, I had only lost 30-40% of my hair, which I could easily conceal by keeping it pulled back or combed differently. By the time I began my fifth treatment (the first of a new chemotherapy drug called ‘Taxol’), my hair had already started growing back, with the same texture and thickness as before. Even my general surgeon commented that he had never seen anyone finish ‘the red devil’ with hair!”
Currently, scalp cooling at CSNF is available on a self-pay basis. However, Paxman offers a Patient Assistance Program that patients may apply to for financial support. CSNF does not profit from this service but chose to offer it due to its success rate.