Supportive Care

Scalp Cooling: The Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

Anne Katz

scalp cooling, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, hair loss, metastases
CJON 2017, 21(4), 413-415. DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.413-415

Hair loss (alopecia) from chemotherapy is one of the most feared side effects of many patients, particularly women. Many patients and their healthcare providers believe that cryotherapy can help prevent or mitigate these changes. Scalp cooling has been used for more than 30 years to prevent alopecia caused by chemotherapy, particularly taxanes and anthracyclines. This article presents an overview of the evidence for this strategy, as well as its impact on nursing care provision.

AT A GLANCE

  • Alopecia is a distressing side effect of chemotherapy that affects men and women.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved one device (the Dignicap® system) to reduce the incidence of hair loss related to chemotherapy.
  • The use of scalp cooling devices requires additional chair time that may affect patient flow in chemotherapy units.
Members Only
Not a current ONS member or journal subscriber?

Purchase This Article

Receive a PDF to download and print.