Jocelyn ▶ PA

Jocelyn | PA
Age: 37
Diagnosis: HER2 Triple Positive Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy Regimen: TCHP 
Total Treatments: 6 
Infusion Center: Allegheny Clinic Medical Oncology, Pittsburgh, PA

Tell us about yourself.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2023. I have no family history, I just felt a lump. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!). I just turned 39. I work as an accountant for a clothing company and I have a black cat named Wednesday who is my little best friend. I love just spending time with my family and friends. I love holidays, traveling, football, binge watching bad tv, wine, eating out, reading, music. One of my favorite places to visit is Nashville and I went there last summer (2024) with a group of friends to celebrate me being cancer free 🙂

How did you find out about DigniCap?
I first heard about cold caps from watching Dead to Me on Netflix (with Christina Applegate). The one woman on the show Judy has Ovarian cancer and uses one. Then when I was diagnosed, I started researching. I also asked my doctors, and they recommended DigniCap.

Did you have a successful experience using DigniCap?
Getting diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37 was a complete shock. I knew in order for me to do well with the treatments I had to be as positive and optimistic as possible. When I was told that I would need chemo, the first thing I thought of was my hair and it crushed me. I know hair grows back and overall health is most important, but if there was a way for me to keep my hair, I knew I was going to try it.

I followed the instructions during chemo – no heat on the hair, comb gently, use cooler water in the shower, gentle shampoo, etc. Also, I think just having the mindset that this is going to work for me, I am going to keep my hair really helps! I am so grateful that I used DigniCap! Being able to keep my hair let me feel a little more like myself when going through such a trying time. I did have some thinning and receding around the crown (I have bangs now lol) and then there were some short pieces here and there, but overall, I was able to keep my hair and I am so thankful! I would recommend DigniCap 100 times over! You got this!

“Your journey is yours and nobody else’s. It’s great that there are books out there and google where we can read about other people’s experiences, but do not let it get in your head too much. Just because it happened to one person or even 100 people does not mean it has to happen to you.“

Why was keeping your hair during chemotherapy important to you?
It was important for me to keep my hair because as a woman it’s part of my identity. I just wanted to feel as much like myself as possible when going through such a difficult time. Ultimately, it’s hair and it will grow back and your health is most important. However, if there was a chance for me to keep my hair I knew I was going to at least try. It helped me keep some confidence and just positivity over the whole situation. I am young, I am not married and I just wanted to still feel good about myself when I looked in the mirror (as vain as that may sound). Not that anyone would be less beautiful without hair, but we’re always our own toughest critic.

How did keeping your hair affect you, and those around you?
I really think keeping my hair just helped my attitude overall. When I was first diagnosed, the first thing I thought was, “I am going to lose my hair” and it made me really sad. So, just being able to keep that sense of self and normalcy throughout helped my mental health so much. It probably made my friends and family feel better as well, especially the children in my life, just knowing that their friend, daughter, niece, aunt, sister etc. looked mostly the same.

What advice would you give to someone who is going through a similar experience, or who has recently been diagnosed and is considering scalp cooling?
The advice I would give is that scalp cooling is definitely worth a try! I know depending on what type of chemo and how many treatments it works better for some than others, but it can’t hurt to try! It’s very cold at first, but it is in no way intolerable or painful. I would also say go into it with a positive mindset that this is going to work for you. I personally would say thank you for my hair every day. Also, your journey is yours and nobody else’s. It’s great that there are books out there and google where we can read about other people’s experiences, but do not let it get in your head too much. Just because it happened to one person or even 100 people does not mean it has to happen to you. I started reading a book that a breast cancer survivor wrote before I started treatment and it was all to be helpful but it started to scare me so I said no more and I didn’t finish it. I decided this was going to be my story.

My other advice in general, is as much as possible, to do the things you like to do. You may need more rest and not always feel great but when you do try to go for a 5 or 10 minute walk, try to have lunch with a friend. Just whatever makes you happy.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and you’ve got this! Sending love and prayers to all 🙂

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