Latest Chemotherapy Breakthrough Could Lessen Hair Loss Side Effects For Breast Cancer Patients

It's as if as though the agonizing pain and emotional stress that a cancer patient suffers from were not enough, those who undergo chemotherapy also get to experience its adverse side effects on their bodies, not the least of which is hair loss. And, for women who suffer from breast cancer, the thought of losing their crowning glory could be just as traumatic.

New Scientific Breakthrough Might Just Be The Answer

Just recently, a new treatment product showed promising results in clinical trials when it comes to preventing hair loss during chemotherapy sessions among female breast cancer patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA has given their green light for the product as early as December of 2015.

The latest breakthrough is a cooling cap system, which was able to help avoid hair loss during chemotherapy treatments of cancer patients based on the latest results that were showcased during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, wrote BABW News.

According to the data presented, the 48 out of 91 breast cancer patients in the trial who were asked to use the cooling cap while on their chemotherapy treatment were shown to have minimal hair loss as compared to those who did not. The 47 others all went bald after a series of treatment.

How Does The Cooling Cap System Works?

Chemotherapy attacks cells in the body that are rapidly dividing like cancer cells. The problem is that the cells in the hair are also rapidly dividing and become a target of the chemotherapy drugs involved. The cooling cap system plays a role in preventing large amounts of these drugs to get into the scalp.

"Hair is important, especially to women," says Dr. Julie Rani Nangia of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center. "Hair loss can really affect how a patient feels. If you have a heart attack, you won't look different, but if you have cancer and lose your hair, everyone knows what you are going through. Some people embrace it, but for others, having something so private made public is embarrassing."

She added that the thought of hair loss is also one of the major reasons why some breast cancer patients try to avoid chemotherapy as much as possible, Catholic Online reported.