FDA OKs Cooling Cap to Reduce Hair Loss from Chemotherapy

By Stacy Simon The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for marketing a cooling cap to reduce hair loss in women being treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer. Hair loss is a common side effect of certain types of chemotherapy – including the types often used to treat breast cancer. Although hair typically grows back after treatment ends, it can take a long time. Reducing this side effect is considered important to overall treatment by improving quality of life for many women. The first device cleared by the FDA is the DigniCap Cooling System, manufactured by the Swedish company Dignitana, Inc. It uses a computer to circulate a cooled liquid through a cap that a woman wears during chemotherapy treatment. A second cap made from neoprene covers the cooling cap in order to hold it in place and keep the cold from escaping. It’s thought to work by tightening up blood vessels in the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemo that reaches cells in the hair follicles. It’s also thought to decrease activity in the hair follicles, making them less likely to be affected by the chemo. The FDA based its decision on a clinical trial of 122 women with stage I or stage II breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy. More than 2/3 of the women who used DigniCap reported losing less than half their hair. The most common side effects were headaches, neck and shoulder discomfort, chills, and pain. RESOURCES: Look Good Feel BetterTender Loving Care catal...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Breast Cancer Coping with Cancer Source Type: news