Martha ▶ CO

Martha | Colorado
Age: 33
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer Stage 1a
Chemotherapy Regimen: Cytoxan, Taxotere
Total Treatments: 4  
Infusion Center: UCHealth Harmony Campus 

Tell us about yourself.
I’m a proud mom, wife, and flight attendant. Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis meant shifting my focus to my own recovery and wellbeing, which was a major adjustment.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after my 31st birthday. The initial devastation and fear consumed my mind, brewing feelings of anger and despair. Though I had an optimistic prognosis, I felt angry that cancer was now part of my life. While going through treatments and surgeries, I struggled with how much cancer was taking away from me.

How did you find out about DigniCap?
It was divine timing that I inadvertently learned about scalp cooling on social media. Immediately, I knew that I wanted to try it! A spark of hope ignited in me, eager to prevent cancer from taking one more thing away from me.

“It was divine timing that I inadvertently learned about scalp cooling on social media. Immediately, I knew that I wanted to try it! A spark of hope ignited in me, eager to prevent cancer from taking one more thing away from me.”

Did you have a successful experience using DigniCap?
Being a redhead has always been part of my identity, and I’m elated to share that I kept about 65% of my hair! Nobody (except for me) could tell that I had lost any hair, which empowered me to pick and choose how I wanted to share my cancer journey.

Why was trying to keep your hair during chemotherapy important to you?
Utilizing scalp cooling was an opportunity for me to “fight back” against cancer, specifically how it impacted my self-image.

How did keeping your hair affect you, and those around you?

I was able to shield my toddler from knowing about the diagnosis and maintain a semblance of “normalcy” in my day-to-day life. No awkward stares while running errands; no sad glances from strangers. Keeping my hair was instrumental in protecting my inner peace.

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?
For anyone recently diagnosed with cancer, I encourage you to embrace self-advocacy. Choosing to implement scalp cooling therapy was the most empowering aspect of my treatment plan. I brought it to the attention of my care team, and communicated how important this option was for my mental health. While some medical professionals were skeptical, I knew I would regret not trying to preserve my hair. It worked! Not only did I successfully prevent hair loss, but I also felt proud that I had advocated for myself.