Chemotherapy

The use of scalp cooling for chemotherapy-induced hair loss

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is a common and distressing side effect of cancer therapy and is one of the major unmet challenges in cancer management. Scalp cooling can prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss in some cancer patients with solid tumours receiving certain chemotherapy regimens. Recent evidence indicates that this technique does not increase the risk of scalp metastasis. A reduction in post-chemotherapy infusion duration of scalp cooling and the advancement in cool cap technology may assist clinicians in promoting scalp cooling to cancer patients. This article discusses recent research, scalp cooling guidelines, products available and implications for nurses and their organisations in providing scalp cooling. It also considers recent advancements in identifying genes associated with chemotherapy-induced hair loss and international research collaborations including a registry and a ‘chemotherapy-induced hair loss action group’–all striving to improve the patient experience of chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

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26 May 2016Volume 25Issue 10

ISSN (print): 0966-0461
ISSN (online): 2052-2819

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History

Accepted 1 May 2016

Published online 27 May 2016

Published in print 26 May 2016

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