Title : Scalp cooling success in a black woman
Abstract:
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is emotionally distressing and plays an important role in body image, emotional state, and quality of life. Forty-seven percent of women consider CIA the most taxing part of receiving chemotherapy, and 8% would forgo chemotherapy due to the fear of alopecia. In 2017, scalp cooling (SC) devices received U.S. FDA approval after studies demonstrated efficacy in preventing CIA. This improvement has not been generalizable to Black patients, however. Only a few Black patients have participated in SC trials. Here, a 65-year-old Black woman diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer underwent four cycles of intravenous docetaxel and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy using a proprietary device. Distinctively, she had chemically relaxed hair and slightly modified the standard hair preparation protocol. She used SC throughout her treatments and experienced 40% hair loss, attaining the criteria for success. The efficacy of SC largely depends on the patient’s race/ethnicity, hair type, SC system, proper cap fitting, chemotherapy regimen, dosing, and adherence to directions. Factors contributing to successful SC may include straight hair, taxane-based chemotherapy, gentle hair care practices, and modified hair products. Additional research and improvements in the cap design may be needed to alleviate the psychosocial effects of CIA in Black patients.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- This report demonstrates that scalp cooling can be successful in patients with ethnic hair
- Modifications to the protocol more appropriate for different hair types may result in improved success
- Additional research and improvements in the cap design may be needed to alleviate the psychosocial effects of CIA in Black patients
