Scalp Coolers

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Main Content: Helping to keep your hair on!

What are scalp coolers?

Many people undergoing chemotherapy in the UK are completely unaware that scalp coolers exist let alone that they could help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to keep their hair. Losing your hair can be the final straw and can have a devastating impact not only on the patient but also their families, particularly children.

These amazing machines, developed by Glenn Paxman as a result of his own wife losing her hair through chemotherapy, are compatible with most chemotherapy drugs and have received some wonderful results. Many people have reported that their hair loss was so minimal that using the machines enabled them to 'just feel normal' whilst undergoing treatment.

What is the aim of Walk the Walk?

Over the next 5 years we aim to put scalp coolers in hospitals throughout the UK, including training for staff and maintenance and as a result enable ALL cancer patients to have the equal opportunity and choice to receive a treatment that can make a beneficial difference to how well they manage their treatment.

So how do scalp coolers work?

Prior to receiving the chemotherapy drug, the scalp cooler (which consists of a lightweight silicone cap connected to a small refrigeration unit) is placed on the head. Ensuring the cap fits well, the machine reduces the temperature of the scalp creating a restriction in the amount of blood reaching the hair follicles. This protects the hair follicle from the effects of the concentrated chemotherapy drugs carried in the blood stream and increases the chance of retaining the hair. The cap continues to be worn during administration of the drugs and then for a calculated time afterwards. The total time the cap is worn ranges from 1½ hours up to 5 hours, with the average time being 2 to 2½ hours.

Where can you find them?

At present it is a real postcode lottery, not all hospitals have the equipment, so patients are not informed of the treatment. In some areas machines are available but not enough to offer all patents treatment, and in some cases the hospitals do not feel that it is an important part of treatment. The project is now entering its 2nd year and to date we have placed 81 coolers in 27 hospitals throughout the UK.

A list of hospitals can be found at the bottom of this page

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" Using the coolers and keeping my hair made my life normal, nobody needed to know that I had breast cancer unless I told them.I didn't want people looking at me and feeling sorry for me. Also my daughter who was 7 at the time didn't have to explain to her friends why her mummy had no hair, I just kept everything normal.It made a huge difference to the quality of life, I don't think I could have led a normal life or survived my chemotherapy ...its a life saver! " Debra Wolfe, who completed her treatment in 2005

Ask your oncologist about scalp cooling and maybe Walk the Walk could help you keep your hair on!

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" I'm doing well thanks - have just finished the chemo, so a massive cloud has lifted and I'm now detoxing/repairing as best I can before I start the Tamoxifen. My digestive system is in a bit of a state, but it will get better with time and I'm on really good nutritional plan to help with that. (with lots of L Glutamine and Vitamin C!) More importantly, I got to keep enough hair not to wear a wig, and that was mainly down to you and your team, so thank you VERY much for that! Keeping my hair allowed me to carry on working, almost as normal over the summer (I only had about 6 days off total because of the chemo) as it helped me to keep my self-confidence. I did feel odd/spaced out at work sometimes, but I just kept going, as you do. So, at the moment, if you hadn't known me before, you would never have guessed that I had been on chemo. My eyebrows are back already, so I hope my lashes and hair will start to grow again very soon. To me, my hair does look and feel a little odd and my fringe is little sparse, but I really can't complain. So - all in all, its a massive success story. Thanks again - I know it doesn't matter that much to some, but I couldn't really put a price on what keeping my hair has meant to me this year. Love, Debbie xxx " Debbie Taylor

Hospitals that have our machines...

Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre
Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup
Hammersmith Hospital
Manor Hospital
MacKinnon Memorial Hospital
Durham University Hospital
Pinderfields General Hospital
Royal Blackburn Hospital 
Burnley General Hospital 
Gartnavel Hospital
Western General Hospital
Royal Surrey Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
King George Hospital
Royal Marsden
Birmingham City Hospital
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Addenbrooks Hospital
Inverclyde Hospital
Derriford Hospital 
Poole Hospital
Vale of Leven
Calderdale Royal Hospital
Crosshouses Hospital
Ailsa/Ayr Hospital
Bolton General Hospital 
Mount Vernon Hospital
  Bishop Aukland Hospital

Page Last Modified: 14/11/2008


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Visit the Paxman site to find out more information

Nina with one of our scalp coolers

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" Using scalp coolers ...it meant that I looked like me. I was determined to try it despite being warned that it may not be suitable. Hair loss was a huge issue for me. Apart from having a terrible diagnosis and embarking on a gruelling treatment, losing my hair would have been the final straw. The psychological impact of losing your hair is so underestimated, because I kept my hair, people didn't know I was going through cancer and often commented on how well I looked, which made me feel so positive. My quality of life was definitely enhanced.A positive image may seem trivial to some, but for me it really helped me to feel good about myself and more in control of my treatment. " Tessa Whitton

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"

I say ‘Thank God for Scalp Coolers’!




When you are diagnosed with Cancer, your world comes crashing down around you and your family, but you have to maintain a positive attitude and believe that you will beat this horrible disease. The thought of losing my hair was an added burden.




I was told that the type of chemotherapy that I would be receiving would most definitely mean that I would lose my hair- that thought alone filled me with dread.




My daughter (who works for Walk the Walk) knew that The Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford where I was to have my treatment had just taken delivery of 2 Paxman Scalp Coolers granted by Walk the Walk. I decided without hesitation to use the machines. I received six treatments – one every three weeks, for five of those treatments I used the Scalp Coolers.




I would recommend using Scalp Coolers to anyone – yes, you do have to spend an extra couple of hours at the hospital and the treatment is obviously cold but its not unbearable and the nurses will wrap your in blankets and give you a heat pad.




Although my hair did thin, I still maintained a good head of hair which the doctors were amazed with and commented on each time I saw them.




I beat the cancer and I kept my hair!!


" Linda

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