Alopecia is often one of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment.
At the Bretagne Atlantique hospital center (CHBA) in Vannes, for several years, a technique has been offered in particular to women at the oncology-hematology day hospital. The goal: to prevent or reduce hair loss.
Helmets cooled to less than 4°C
These silicone helmets are cooled to a temperature of minus 4°C, which causes vasoconstriction of the scalp vessels. The helmet is put on 30 minutes before chemo and used an hour to an hour and a half afterwards. As five nurses working in oncology-hematology point out, “this use is made on medical prescription”. The hair is wet beforehand and a conditioner is applied to the scalp before applying the helmet.
There are cases where this technique is not recommended: if the patient suffers from migraine or brain cancer.
Better accept chemotherapy
“These flexible helmets can be an asset in getting chemotherapy accepted, as women fear losing their hair,” underlines oncologist Camille Poirier. 95% of women with breast cancer have this proposition. These helmets designed in England around twenty years ago (Paxman brand) cost more than €20,000 each. The Bretagne Atlantique hospital center financed one, and the League against Cancer another (€24,000). One of the two will be used on the Auray site.
