Effect of using a cold cap on chemotherapy-induced hair loss in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Hair loss (alopecia) is a common side effect of chemotherapy drugs, imposing further psychological stress on the patient. Scalp cooling is a common method used to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia; however, the results are not conclusive. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using a cold cap during chemotherapy in preventing alopecia in women with breast cancer. Methods: In a randomized Clinical Trial, 100 women with breast cancer were recruited and randomized into two equal-size groups of intervention (chemotherapy while wearing a cold cap) and control (chemotherapy without using a cold cap). Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire and alopecia was rated on a scale of 1(very low) to 4(very high). Results: The mean alopecia score was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (2.25 ± 0.49 vs 2.49 ± 0.34, p = 0.005).The difference in alopecia score was not associated with any of the demographic or clinical variables including age, disease stage, type of surgery, menopausal status, education, marital status, employment, and income. Conclusion: Using a cold cap while receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer is effective in preventing hair loss.