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Scalp cooling
outcomes calculator

We have developed a guide that will give you an indication of the amount of hair retention you could expect, based on the chemotherapy regimen you will be receiving. If you know your dosage you will get a more accurate indication.

I know my chemo type and dose

This provides less accurate results

I only know my chemo type

This provides less accurate results

chance of retaining half of your hair

Outcome Results

Your selected drug regimen

Your outcome results

You have a % of retaining half your hair

Pre-infusion cooling time

30 mins pre-cooling time (45 minutes for thicker hair)

Post-infusion cooling time

minutes post-cooling time

Unfortunately we do not know the retention rate for your option

Please note that this number is a guide based on current research data. Your patient could potentially retain more or less than indicated.

What is the calculator

The guide uses information from the Dutch Scalp Cooling Registry which has collected information from over 7000 patients who have scalp cooled. It’s the biggest scalp cooling data set in the world. The information is a true representation of scalp cooling with real patients in real cancer centers, rather than in a clinical trial setting. Access to so much data means that the calculator can give a reliable indication of what you can expect. It is important to remember that the calculator will only provide an indication of what has been experienced by others - you may see more or less hair retention, but it’s a really good starting point.

How to use it

Pick your regimen from the drop-down box. If you know your dosage too, this will give you a more accurate indication.

Why can’t I see my regimen?

The regimen list is based on the Dutch Registry information and therefore may not include the drugs you are receiving. The Registry includes the most common and universally used regimens. The order the drugs are listed is not of importance – for example if you are receiving cyclophosphamide and epirubicin, it doesn’t matter if they are listed in the reverse order.

If you can’t find your regimen on the list, we won’t be able to give you a specific indication of potential outcome. This is because there isn’t enough data within the Dutch Registry to be able to give a useful answer. It may be worth asking your clinician if there is a similar regimen to the one you are receiving on the list that can give you an idea.

If you can’t find your dosage, try the regimen-only option instead. Please also be aware that Herceptin and Perjeta (also known as trastuzumab and pertuzumab) are not chemotherapy drugs and therefore will not be included in the list. For example, if you are receiving docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab you should look for docetaxel and carboplatin.

If you would like more information, please do get in touch.

Why does it show the chance of retaining 50% of my hair, not just a percentage of hair retention on its own?

This reflects the way the data was collected in the Dutch Registry. Retaining 50% or more of your hair is usually the clinical definition of scalp cooling success. The calculator shows you the percentage chance of seeing what would be considered a ‘successful’ outcome. We know that a successful outcome is much more complicated than this, but it is a good place to start.

Remember, scalp cooling is different for everybody

Each person’s experience and outcomes from cold capping are different. For some people, this can add more uncertainty to an already stressful and upsetting time. For others, there is a comfort in knowing they tried and all hair retention is a bonus.

While the decision making guide can give you an indication of retention, the scalp cooling process is much more complex than a potential percentage. There is so much emotion tied up in cancer treatment and hair loss that the decision of whether scalp cooling is right for you is multi-dimensional.

Be realistic but be positive…
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Scalp cooling haircare