Hair Loss Is Not Inevitable For Increasing Numbers Of Chemo Patients

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 21 Jul 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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A grant from breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk, worth approximately £250,000, has seen the delivery and installation of 21 scalp cooling machines into St James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds. These ground breaking machines can reduce or even prevent hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The 21 scalp coolers were on display in Bexley Wing's impressive glass atrium this morning and caused quite a stir with the staff and visitors. This is the biggest ever grant for scalp coolers by Walk the Walk and the biggest ever delivery by Huddersfield based manufacturer, Paxman Coolers.

Undoubtedly, the most distressing side effect of chemotherapy treatment and the most visible sign of cancer is hair loss. The stigma of cancer chemotherapy is well documented and patients have been known to refuse treatment in fear of losing their hair.

Scalp cooling can reduce or prevent hair loss by lowering the temperature of the head and scalp immediately before, during and after chemotherapy, minimising the damage caused to the hair follicles. This results in improved self-esteem and quality of life for the patient, which helps in fighting the disease. Positive attitudes lead to positive outcomes.

Walk the Walk has committed to donating £5 million for the provision of Paxman scalp cooling machines in NHS hospitals around the UK.

Glenn Paxman, founder of Paxman Coolers Limited, commented today "It's fantastic for our scalp coolers to be available to patients here at St James's Institute of Oncology, one of the largest specialist cancer treatment centres in the UK. We would like to thank Walk the Walk for their generosity in supplying this grant and enabling us to help improve patient's lives during this difficult time."

Background

Scalp Cooling

Scalp cooling is a method used to prevent or reduce hair loss for patients receiving chemotherapy. Research and studies have shown that scalp cooling can be effective across a wide range of chemotherapy drugs such as; Epirubicin, Doxorubicin, Taxol and Taxotere. Successful scalp cooling depends on many factors - one very important factor is how you treat and look after your hair. Reducing the scalp temperature by a few degrees creates a restriction in the amount of blood reaching the hair follicles thereby protecting them from the effects of the concentrated chemotherapy drugs carried in the blood stream.

Paxman Coolers

Paxman Coolers have applied this principle using modern technology to produce the Paxman Scalp Cooler. A system that works, is user friendly, is a cost effective way to reduce the need to supply wigs, and has been accepted by doctors, nursing staff and patients alike. Previous problems associated with cold therapy treatments have been eliminated

The system has received the Millennium Product Award for Innovation and has had much success in many hospitals and specialist cancer treatment centres in the UK and countries throughout Europe and other parts of the World.

Source
Walk The Walk

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