A ‘scalp cooling’ masterclass is being held in the UK this week to help educate nurses about the pioneering treatment and the many myths that surround it.
Cancer affects people in different ways, but one of the most traumatic side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. It is consistently ranked as one of the most distressing cancer treatment side effects.
Although 90% of UK NHS hospitals now offer scalp cooling – a treatment that helps stop hair loss by cooling the scalp – the public’s awareness is extremely low.
It is believed that only 10% of the general public know what scalp cooling is, whilst 8% of patients refuse chemotherapy because they don’t want to lose their hair. There are also a number of misconceptions about what the treatment actually is from both nurses and patients.
To help change this and offer cancer patients a more educated choice, nurses from across the UK are attending a scalp cooling masterclass.
The session will discuss the importance of scalp cooling to patients and examine the science behind it.
It will also include clinical updates, explore the myths and facts about the treatment and look at the importance of the cap fitting. There will also be a number of patient and clinical ‘pioneers’ from across the UK to talk about their personal experiences.
Claire Paxman, Director of Sales & Training at Paxman, explains: “Scalp cooling is an option for people going through chemotherapy, but sadly there are so many people who have never heard of the treatment. Others are put off from it because they have been given the wrong misconceptions of what it is actually like.”
“We want to change this and are working hard to raise awareness. That’s why it’s so important that clinical staff are armed with the facts and they understand what scalp cooling is and how it works.”
Hair loss is a well-known side effect of many chemotherapy regimens, with many patients’ claiming it is the most traumatic aspect of their treatment. Scalp cooling provides the only real alternative to hair loss resulting in a high level of retention or complete hair preservation, improving patients’ self-confidence and creating positive attitudes towards treatment.
The masterclass is being run by scalp cooling pioneer Paxman and will run in conjunction with this year’s UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) Annual Conference.
More information about Paxman
Paxman is the leading global expert in scalp cooling, for the prevention of hair loss during chemotherapy.
Used all over the world, the Paxman Scalp Cooling System is available in two models. The single model provides cooling for one patient and is suitable for a small chemotherapy suite or private bed, whilst the double system provides cooling for one or two patients simultaneously with each cap working independently.
Made from lightweight, silicone tubing, the scalp cooling cap is soft and flexible – providing a snug yet comfortable cap during treatment. Moulding to all head shapes and sizes, liquid coolant passes through the cap extracting heat from the patient’s scalp, ensuring the scalp remains at an even, constant temperature to minimise hair loss.
Backed by leading oncologists from around the world, the system has achieved global success in many hospitals and specialist cancer treatment centres.
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