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What is wrong with the 30-year-old practice of scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced hair loss?

Abstract

Since about 1970 scalp cooling has been used to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss, one of the most common and emotionally distressing side effects of cancer therapy. Generally accepted opinions, uncertainty and controversy, topics to study and recommendations for improving the results of scalp cooling are the subjects of this article which was also presented at the MASCC Symposium, June 2003, Berlin.

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Correspondence to Wim P. M. Breed.

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This work was presented as an invited lecture at the 15th International Symposium Supportive Care in Cancer, Berlin, Germany, 18–21 June 2003

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Breed, W.P.M. What is wrong with the 30-year-old practice of scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced hair loss?. Support Care Cancer 12, 3–5 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-003-0551-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-003-0551-8

Keywords

  • Scalp cooling
  • Hypothermia
  • Cold cap
  • Chemotherapy-induced hair loss
  • Alopecia