title: Impact of scalp cooling on chemotherapy-induced alopecia, wig use and hair growth of patients with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytotoxic therapy for patients with cancer frequently induces reversible, but long-lasting alopecia which might be prevented by scalp cooling. This study evaluates the effectiveness of scalp cooling with respect to the severity of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) and the purchase and use of wigs and head covers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this observational study, scalp-cooled patients (n = 160) were compared with non scalp-cooled patients (n = 86) with several types of cancer. Patients were enrolled in 15, mostly general hospitals prior to taxane and/or anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Patients completed four questionnaires between the start and one year after the last chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severity of CIA, and purchasing and actually wearing wigs and head covers were significantly lower among scalp-cooled than non scalp-cooled patients. Overall, scalp cooling reduced the use of wigs and head covers by 40%. Among 84 scalp-cooled patients who purchased a wig (53%), only 52 patients actually wore it (62%), and they just wore it intensively (86% daily) for less than six months (80%). Especially young patients camouflaged CIA with a head cover instead of a wig.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relatively long duration of CIA, the wish of many patients to camouflage or rather prevent it and the 40% reduction for head covering by scalp cooling, makes it a worthwhile supportive intervention. However, (cost-) effectiveness can be improved. Many scalp-cooled patients purchased a wig unnecessarily.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Comprehensive Cancer Centre South, PO Box 231, 5600 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: C.vd.hurk@ikz.nl.
authors.forename: C J G
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van den Hurk
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van den Akker-van Marle
authors.forename: W P M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Breed
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: van de Poll-Franse
authors.forename: J W R
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nortier
authors.forename: J W W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Coebergh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012535:Scalp; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy-induced alopecia; Hair growth; Hair loss; Scalp cooling; Wig