Cool caps protect patients' confidence

Hair loss can be a traumatic side-effect of cancer treatment, but there is a 'cool' way to minimise its impact on patients.

Reducing scalp temperature during chemotherapy can significantly slow shedding as it limits the amount of drugs that reach the follicles. 

"I've been pretty lucky because my hair has only thinned out a little bit, but it didn't fall out in clumps," said Penny Watson, a breast cancer patient at The Bays Hospital – the only private facility on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula to offer cooling caps to people undergoing oncology care.

"It can be quite uncomfortable to wear the cap, but I associate it with taking a walk on the beach in the middle of winter," she added.

Marnie Paulberg, the hospital's Day Infusion Unit Associate Nurse Manager, said the cooling caps – available free to all oncology patients – made a big difference in helping with body confidence.

"Losing your hair can be quite traumatic, and hair loss can also be the most obvious outward sign that a patient has cancer," she said.

"Minimising hair loss helps patients look and feel like their usual self, which can really improve their mental health and wellbeing.

"There is some evidence that scalp cooling can lower the risk of significant hair loss by 43 percent, leaving people feeling that they had enough remaining hair so they did not need to use a wig or hair covering."

Ms Watson has been a midwife at The Bays Hospital for 12 years, and looked for an oncologist based there following her diagnosis in January 2023 so she could be near her trusted colleagues and friends during treatment.

"I have been very well cared for by all the staff and doctors, especially my oncologist Dr Zee Wan Wong, and I'm so grateful I have been able to have my treatment 'at home' and know I'm getting the best advice," she said.

"Staff have always been so welcoming of my family who keep me company during treatment. There's plenty of space for them to sit with me, and having a giggle with the staff is a welcome distraction.

"It's also been wonderful having treatment so close to home because it's easy for my family to get to."

The Bays Hospital is expanding its cancer services with the creation of a comprehensive care centre to meet rising demand in the Mornington region.

Building work started in October as part of a plan to make radiation therapy available for local residents – who must currently travel to Frankston or Melbourne to receive it – and offer full treatment in one location.

Read more: Cancer patients to benefit from The Bays Budget boost

Read more: The Bays Hospital volunteer wins top Senior of the Year award

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