I had heard of scalp cooling but never really knew anything about it until I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer in February 2024 after finding a lump by chance when leaning down to fix our broken WIFI. Following my sudden diagnosis and within two weeks of finding the lump I was not only thrown into the world of Cancer but I also became a chemo patient. The first thing that went through my mind is 'will I lose my hair'. Cancer is a cruel disease, I felt it was taking away a piece of me when I went to see my hairdresser to have my extensions removed and have my hair cut a bit shorter. I had my false lashes off and my nails, all the things I love about being a girl. When I turned up for my first chemo session I didn't really know much about the scalp cooling except that it would freeze my scalp and stop the chemo drugs reaching my hair. My chemo nurse had prepared me by saying I would probably lose my hair with my regime as hair loss was one of the main side effects.

I didn't really know what to expect with scalp cooling, my doctor told me not to google on my diagnosis but I also didn't really google on anything cancer related before or during my treatment so I didn't get access to or find any of the support networks out there until after I had finished my treatment.  My breast care nurse, Oonagh was amazing and introduced me to a lovely lady who had been through chemo and she told me what to expect and what to do. She told me a regime to follow, even down to when to wash my hair after treatment, how to care for it and how to minimise any discomfort. I found a few of my own things out along the way but the one thing I would say is that my whole experience with scalp cooling has been amazing, its been a love/hate relationship, but my nurses were angels and they meticulously applied my cap each week. They sprayed my hair with warm water, applied my Philip Kingsley conditioner that I brought in with me and they fitted the cap snugly and stuffed the front with gause to stop it digging in my head. Every week my hair held strong, I lost hair but I certainly didn't lose it like I was expecting. The main hair loss was around the edges of my head, my hairline, the main bulk of my hair felt thin and lacklustre but it stayed on my head. I know that the cold cap is the reason for this because without being too graphic, I lost all the hair on the rest of my body (Which wasn't such an issue!).

My husband took me out after week 1 of my chemo as my nurse had said to get a wig, just in case. I went to Selfridges and had a wig fitted, it was such a sad and depressing day. I also bought some Celine and Adanola baseball caps, each week after my treatment I wore a baseball cap home to hide the mark on my forehead from the cap. Thankfully I was so lucky that I never had to wear the wig, its still upstairs on my counter, I think I will donate it to someone who may need it more than me.

My biggest tips for scalp cooling are: brush your hair daily and tie it back

Make sure the cap is a snug fit

I reacted to all products so I used Phillip Kingsley unscented conditioner with the cap to stop it sticking to my head.

I didn't wash my hair until the following day of wearing the cold cap.

Make sure you get the nurses to put something in the front of the cap to stop it digging in, my nurses used gause.

sleep on a silk pillowcase

I obviously never wanted to be in this world but when I was thrown it to it I wanted to do everything I could to save my hair and using scalp cooling became a big part of that.

I would most definitely tell anyone going through chemo to have scalp cooling and to try and stick with it. It's never going to be easy and it might not save all your hair but you must try it or you will never know. My hair is growing back thicker and stronger than ever before now, I put this down to my scalp cooling. Even if you don't keep all your hair, it helps protect the hair follicle and helps with regrowth.