Recognized by NCCN as Standard of Care

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and Cancer Australia recognize scalp cooling as a treatment recommendation to reduce the incidence of chemotherapy-induced alopecia for breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

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What is Scalp Cooling

Scalp cooling is a proven approach to reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia that has been used successfully by thousands of patients worldwide for decades. Reduced temperature results in a decreased blood flow to the scalp area so that less chemotherapy reaches the hair cells. Therefore, hair cells are not exposed to the full dose of chemotherapy and may be able to survive the chemotherapy treatment. As a result, hair is less likely to fall out.

How Scalp Cooling Works

Two physiologic reactions occur during scalp cooling:

1. Reduced blood flow
Vasoconstriction in the scalp area limits the amount of chemotherapy agent delivered to the hair follicles.

2. Reduced metabolism
Lower scalp temperature decreases the reaction rate causing normal cellular activity in the localized scalp area to slow dramatically.

With these two reactions the follicles absorb fewer chemotherapy agents and hair loss is significantly reduced.

Scalp Cooling Treatment Cycle

Scalp cooling requires a 30-minute pre-infusion cooling time. Following a patient’s infusion, the chemotherapy agent is still active in the patient’s bloodstream. Therefore, the scalp cooling treatment continues for a cycle of post-infusion cooling. Depending on drug and dose, this is typically 60 – 180 minutes.

Why Scalp Cooling Matters

A patient’s hair can be a major part of their identity, and many patients rate hair loss as one of the most devastating side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is an unwelcome reminder of disease, one that can negatively affect self-image, confidence, overall sense of well-being and a patient’s attitude toward treatment.

Hair loss is no longer inevitable. The DigniCap Scalp Cooling System is a proven approach to reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia, used successfully by thousands of patients worldwide to maintain privacy, self-esteem and control during a critical period of treatment.