Shawna Mayberry, from Arlington, Texas, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, a week after retiring from a 30-year-long teaching career. Faced with cancer and chemotherapy, Shawna felt a sense of control over her treatment when she became one of the first patients to try Paxman scalp cooling in the United States, as part of the trial for FDA clearance. Wanting to spread awareness and increase access of the treatment that brought her so much comfort, Shawna joined the team at Paxman as a patient liaison, helping people just like her to feel as normal as possible during chemotherapy.

The first US Paxman Pioneer 

Shawna agreed to share some of her experiences with us as one of the first to trial the Paxman system and explain what scalp cooling did for her in a special recording of her survivor story.  

“I had a slice on control over my treatment,” Shawna said, reflecting on using the Paxman Scalp Cooling System during her six chemotherapy treatments at the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, Texas. She spoke to us about how the cold cap gives women facing cancer, as she did, the power to make a decision and the comfort of still looking like ourselves throughout treatment.  

“When we’re meeting with our friends or when we’re talking with people that we haven’t seen in a long time, it doesn’t look like we are sick,” she commented, “I even remember that was a comfort when I found out I had breast cancer. I saw a lot of people feeling really sorry for me… And I was the one that said to them, but I'm going to be in this trial so that I can possibly keep my hair!” 

Keeping her hair and some confidence 

Shawna had such a positive mindset when it came to her treatment. Recalling her first scalp cooling experience, Shawna has said: “I anxiously sat in a chair while the cap was placed on my head. Once turned on, I could feel the cold on my scalp. It graced me with comfort as it reminded me of the days I was on the swim team in Indiana - it was refreshing! I started calling my chemo treatments, ‘spa days’. Who would have thought?”  

Shawna retained about 70% of her hair during the scalp cooling trial. She described it as looking a little thinned, but regrowth started very quickly, and Shawna was soon able to continue her regular, daily routine.  

She recalls one interaction during a time when she accompanied her mother-in-law to a doctor’s appointment. Shawna told a receptionist she was going through chemotherapy, who didn’t believe her: 

“I said, I'm going through chemotherapy. And she said, no, you're not. And that surprised me. She said, no, you're not because you have your hair - kind of like she caught me - and that really hit me. But that is what people see when you don't have hair. They associate you with going through chemo. When you have hair, they think everything's normal.”  

 Joining Paxman as a Patient Liaison 

The Paxman system has been FDA cleared since 2017 and is now deployed in facilities all over the United States. Delighted with the results of scalp cooling and how it made her feel, Shawna has made it her mission to help others benefit from scalp cooling. She has been a valuable part of the team for many years, with real, lived experience, empathising with patients who are facing cancer and plays a crucial role as one of our patient liaisons. 

The empowering nature of scalp cooling, how it helps a patient look and feel normal during chemotherapy, is one of the main reasons Shawna wanted to join Paxman. The impact it had on her made her want to help other patients get access to the treatment. The huge impact scalp cooling had on her, and the big difference it makes to patients, drove Shawna to help others get access to the treatment, which leaves her feeling happy at the end of the day.  

At 44, Rachel Kayla was diagnosed with breast cancer. When told she would need preventive chemotherapy after surgery, her first question wasn’t about survival. It was “Will I lose my hair?’ . It wasn’t vanity, it was about holding onto who she was.

She discovered the Paxman Scalp Cooling System and began researching it in depth, as a very data-driven person. She decided to try it after a friend asked what she would advise, if their situation was reversed.

Rachel kept around 70% of her hair. More than that, she kept her sense of self, privacy, and strength. She kept her independence and was able to keep her business running.

After her experience, Rachel became a strong advocate for scalp cooling within the Paxman Facebook Group community, offering advice, support and knowledge to others. Upon seeing misinformation within the group, Rachel realised she had to do something to help. This led her to working for Paxman.

Now a Patient Liaison, Rachel supports patients and healthcare professionals alike through the scalp cooling experience, working on spreading awareness, sharing her story, and helping others feel confident in their decision to scalp cool.

I’m Rachel Kayla, Patient Liaison at Paxman, and I wanted to share some deeply personal aspects of my cancer journey – aspects that I hope might convince a healthcare provider to adopt scalp cooling or simply offer hope to someone who needs it today.

A Diagnosis I Never Expected

I was 44 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Uninsured at the time, I had just found a new primary care doctor who helped me find an affordable place to get a mammogram – my first in three years. That mammogram saved my life. They caught a lump early, and I will never forget the moment after surgery when my doctor told me chemotherapy was next.

My first question wasn’t about survival. It was, "Will I lose my hair?"

It wasn’t vanity. It was about holding onto my identity; being able to see myself in the mirror and feel a sense of normal in a life that suddenly wasn’t.

Discovering Scalp Cooling

I was lucky. My doctor told me about a machine that might help me keep my hair. This was when I heard about the Paxman Scalp Cooling System. He didn’t know much, but a nurse brought me information, and I dove into researching clinical studies and reading patient experiences, all while weighing up the pros and cons.

It was only when a friend asked me this one question that I knew my decision: “If I came to you asking whether to try it, what would you say?”

And just like that, I knew what I had to do.

I had heard of Taxotere, the chemo drug I would be getting, and its risk of permanent hair loss. After feeling like lightning had already struck once with my low risk for cancer, I wasn’t going to gamble again. Scalp cooling was a chance (not a guarantee), but I took it.

My Experience of Chemotherapy and Scalp Cooling

The first day of chemo is a whirlwind of unknowns. I remember wondering if they'd find a vein, whether I’d react to the drugs, whether I was ready. A snowstorm delayed my cap shipment, so I borrowed one. Even then, I felt prepared. I’d watched every video I could find. I think that helped take my mind off of the other anxieties that were happening; the other million and one things that you're thinking about with chemotherapy.

The nurse offered to help me fit my cap and I remember telling her, “No, I’ve got this. I’m going to do this.” It was probably hilarious to watch, but once I’d got the hang of it, it was easy and simple. And more importantly, it gave me a sense of control in a situation where control is rare.

Was it comfortable? No. But it’s called cold capping for a reason. It’s chilly, but it’s refreshing. At first, it felt like jumping into a lake in early spring. But just like you would in the lake, your body adjusts. You wrap up in blankets, you layer your sweatshirts, and you get through it. It wasn’t painful or unbearable. And most importantly, it was worth it.

Keeping My Hair Meant Keeping Myself

My hairstylist said I kept about 70% of my hair. But what I kept went far beyond just strands.

I didn’t feel sick during chemo. My treatment was preventive. Without losing my hair, I didn’t look sick either. I could walk into a grocery store without seeing sadness in strangers’ eyes. I could pass a mirror and still see me. I didn’t have to explain my story to anyone unless I chose to. I kept my independence, I kept my business running, and I kept my dignity.

And I’ve come to understand it wasn’t just for me. My friends, many of whom had watched someone else we loved lose their hair to breast cancer years before, found comfort in not watching it happen again.

Finding A Community and My ‘Breastie’

One of the most beautiful outcomes came from a simple Facebook group.

At the time, I lived in a different state, and I met Nicole – who I call my "breastie" – through an online cancer support community. She was a week ahead of me in treatment. When I had questions about what to expect, she already knew. She also pointed me to the Paxman Facebook group where I found a community, support, and real patient experiences. It was one of the biggest resources for me as I was going through my scalp cooling and my chemo journey.

Eventually, Nicole and I became close friends. Today, we live in the same city. I’ve met her children. We spend time together, and we continue to support each other. That connection would never have happened without Paxman.

And then, a late-night scroll changed everything.

From Survivor to Advocate

I had COVID, so I was at home, resting and reading Facebook posts in the group. I'm in a stage now where I feel like a big sister, sharing my journey so those that are new can see what it's like on the other side.

One comment from a new patient caught my attention; a patient said that her nurse had discouraged her from scalp cooling. They had told her it was ineffective and that it was dangerous. I knew that simply wasn’t true. I’m data-driven. I’d done the research, I knew the facts, and it had worked for me. And I knew I had to speak up.

I became aggravated and just wanted to do more to help. I went to the Paxman website hoping to submit a testimonial but instead, I saw they were hiring.

That same night, I sent off my resume.

The next day, my (now) manager responded. The position was for a different city, but coincidently, it was a city I had been thinking about moving to. We set up an interview and the rest is history! That’s how I came to work for Paxman, as a Clinical Product Specialist.

Now, I get to help support not just patients, but the nurses, doctors, and cancer centers who care for them. I get to share my story and help others feel confident in their decisions. I get to be the voice I once searched for during the hardest time of my life.

Our Voice, Our Choice

If you’re reading this as an oncology healthcare professional, I urge you to offer scalp cooling as an option to your patients and allow them to make their own informed decision.

In the short space of time where a patient learns of the toxic drugs they’ve been prescribed and the changes they should accept as the ‘new normal’, giving them this one choice offers a degree of control when they need it most. It makes such a difference – believe me, I know.

My Message to Patients

To anyone faced with this choice for themselves, here’s what I’ll tell you: Yes, it adds time to your treatment day. Yes, it takes effort. But if keeping your hair will help you feel like you, it’s worth trying. And if it gets too hard, that’s OK too. Your decision is the right one, because it’s yours.

We're all different. What we need out of this journey is different, and we need to do what makes us most comfortable. And a lot of the time, keeping your hair is what makes you most comfortable.


Rachel Kayla, Clinical Product Specialist

Paxman Scalp Cooling

When Jennie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, her world shifted overnight. Treated at the Kellogg Cancer Center in Evanston, Illinois, Jennie faced the same overwhelming fear that so many people do when beginning chemotherapy, but she also discovered something powerful: the impact of scalp cooling. With the support of her family and a dedicated nurse named Bonnie, Jennie began her treatment journey with uncertainty, determination, and hope. What followed not only helped her retain a sense of normalcy during one of the most challenging times of her life — it led her to a new career, helping others navigate their own treatment journeys. This is Jennie’s story.

Going into my first treatment day, I wasn’t just a little nervous, I was truly terrified. My husband helped me get ready, strapped me into the cap, and I remember sitting there when it really hit me: I have cancer. I’m about to start chemotherapy. I had no idea what would happen to me - to my body, my family, or my life.

My cancer diagnosis

My name is Jennie, a Clinical Product Specialist at Paxman. I’m from Chicago, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. I was treated at Kellogg Cancer Center in Evanston, where I had an amazing nurse named Bonnie. She was so enthusiastic about scalp cooling and I’m so grateful she was there. She believed in scalp cooling, she was so involved, and she really helped me along the way.

Like so many people, I was absolutely more afraid of chemo than anything else. You hear the word chemo and you think about hair loss, sickness, losing yourself. When I tried the cold cap for the first time, I was shocked. But I got used to it.

Still, that first day sitting there with the cap on my head and the chemo ready for infusion - I couldn’t compartmentalize it anymore. Everything hit me and it was so overwhelming. This is real. This is happening right now.

It’s not just vanity

Obviously, the number one thing is to get rid of the cancer. That’s what we’re all fighting for. But for me, keeping my hair through treatment wasn’t just about vanity. I thought about what could happen on a day when I wasn’t feeling well and I looked into the mirror without my hair; that my reflection would look back at me and tell me ‘you’re sick’.

Keeping my hair meant that a tiny bit of myself was still there. Some days I might have felt sick, but I didn’t have to look sick.

I also have a son. He was 17 at the time and is a fairly private person. He didn’t want to talk about it with everyone. He was busy, involved in a lot of activities, and we were always around other parents and kids. Keeping my hair meant that he could tell his close friends, but he didn’t have to explain it to everyone. It gave us a little bubble of normalcy in a time that felt anything but normal.

My surprising results

I probably kept about half of my hair. In the moment, I remember thinking, Oh my gosh, I’m losing so much. I was so hard on myself, and I noticed every strand that fell out. But actually, I shed evenly, and to my surprise, so many people didn’t realize I was in treatment.

I was obviously very concerned and aware of my shedding, but scalp cooling allowed these changes to be barely visible to the average observer. And that taught me something important: we shine a huge spotlight on the tiny details and changes within, but the world actually has no idea what you’re going through.

I didn’t even realize my hair was regrowing until my hairdresser told me, ‘Jennie, you have so many little hairs back here. We definitely can’t highlight – there’s no way.’

Hearing that and feeling that regrowth was this amazing moment for me. It was super exciting, it’s there, it’s coming back!

Scalp cooling didn’t erase the fear. It didn’t make chemo easy. But it gave me back a sense of control in a time when so much felt out of my hands. It gave me hope. And it gave my family - especially my son - a way to protect our privacy and hold on to something normal when everything else felt upside down.

Joining Paxman

Once I finished treatment at the Kellogg Cancer Center, I joined a Paxman buddy program. Patients who had gone through scalp cooling were asked to come and help others on their first days, if they wanted to and felt comfortable.

I remembered how helpful it was to have the support and enthusiasm from Bonnie and all of the amazing nurses at Kellogg. It made me really excited to get involved. Having been there myself, I knew that having that extra level of support can remind them that it is possible to come out the other side and feel like yourself again.

It was from this buddy program that I came to be a part of Paxman. To go from being a patient to working for the very company whose product helped me means so much to me. I see people come through every day facing what I faced: that fear, that uncertainty.

But the gift that I got from cancer was all the support and love from outside sources (that I wasn’t expecting!). Starting as a Patient Liaison meant I could be the one to ensure that patients received that same support and reassurance that I considered so valuable.

If you’re about to start chemo and you’re thinking about scalp cooling, I wouldn’t underestimate the power of seeing yourself in the mirror and recognizing you. That tiny bit of normal can mean the world when everything else feels so out of control. And for your loved ones, it can give them protection too.

I’m so thankful to Bonnie, my family, and everyone who supported me, so I could feel like myself on the days when I needed it most. And I’m grateful I can now be part of helping others hold on to that sense of self and hope while they fight the biggest fight of their lives.

If you’d like to know more about scalp cooling, my door is always open. This is why I do what I do.

Leah Eidson, Clinical Product Manager at Paxman, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. She became the first patient to use a Paxman Scalp Cooling System at Bon Secours Saint Francis in Midlothian, Virginia. Retaining her hair meant that to the outside world, no one knew about her diagnosis and she could still look and feel like herself. After her scalp cooling journey, she felt connected to Paxman in some way, and decided to reach out. Not long after, Leah started working for Paxman as a Patient Liaison, to offer support to others facing the same challenges she once did.

My name is Leah Eidson, and in 2019 I was diagnosed with breast cancer after what I thought would be a routine mammogram. Like so many others, I never imagined I’d hear those words. Suddenly, my life was divided into “before” and “after.”

I was treated at Bon Secours Saint Francis in Midlothian, Virginia, where I became their very first patient to use the Paxman Scalp Cooling system. I learned about scalp cooling through a friend who encouraged me to Google “cold caps.” My husband and I started researching, and at first what we found involved dry ice and complicated logistics. Then my surgeon mentioned that my treatment center was in the process of installing a system. Two weeks later, I walked in as their very first patient to use it.

Facing Treatment with Anxiety and Hope

Like anyone about to begin chemotherapy, I was anxious. I practiced with the cooling cap at home, with my husband and sister helping me fit it properly. Still, the unknowns of chemotherapy loomed large. My worry was about whether I could tolerate the chemo, how my body would react, and what the journey ahead would bring.

On that first day, I discovered that the hardest part of scalp cooling was the first 15 minutes. It was colder than I expected, but with my sister talking my ear off nonstop, I got through it. After that, the cold became manageable. I knew what I was working toward, and that gave me strength.

The Results That Changed Everything

Throughout treatment I lost about 45–50% of my hair, but the loss was spread pretty evenly. I didn’t experience bald spots or crown balding. To the outside world, I still looked like me. Strangers at the grocery store had no idea what I was going through. Even colleagues who knew I was in treatment said, “I thought you were going through chemotherapy? How come you still have your hair?”

That privacy was priceless. It meant I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone unless I wanted to. It meant my four sons could still see their mom looking like herself. It meant that when I looked in the mirror, I still recognized the person staring back. Holding on to that part of my identity gave me strength to face the days when I didn’t feel 100%.

A New Chapter with Paxman

After treatment ended, I returned to my old job, only to lose it when the company was sold during COVID. At first, I was devastated, but I couldn’t shake the thought of Paxman. My mom always told me, “Everything happens for a reason,” and I kept wondering if maybe this was mine.

With no recent résumé, I reached out directly to Paxman. The young lady who answered the phone in their US office said to me, “I think you should contact Rich Paxman… he loves to hear from patients”. So, I emailed him directly and to my surprise, he replied quickly and warmly, which I was so grateful for. That led to conversations with the U.S. team and eventually, to me joining as an Account Manager.

Today, I support clinics and patients across the East Coast as a Clinical Product Specialist - training nurses, answering questions, and often FaceTiming with patients who just want to talk to someone who’s been through it.

It feels like life has come full circle. The very company that helped me through the darkest days is now the one I represent, helping others through theirs.

Why I Encourage Others to Try

When people ask me for advice, my answer is always the same: try it. I knew that my alternative was losing all of my hair after the first treatment. So, to me, anything I could keep was a win. Instead of focusing on the hair that fell out, I celebrated the hair that remained.

And when regrowth began, it was faster than I imagined. Within weeks I could see little curls and stubbles of regrowth coming in, especially around my temples. Those tiny curls made me smile every time I walked past a mirror. They were proof that I was healing, that my body was recovering.

Grateful Beyond Words

Scalp cooling didn’t erase the challenges of cancer, but it gave me something deeply important. It gave me a way to hold on to myself. It helped me maintain my confidence, my privacy, and my sense of identity. And now, in my work with Paxman, I see daily how much it means to others, too.

Cancer takes so much away. For me, scalp cooling gave something back. And that made all the difference.

After witnessing her mother’s distress from chemotherapy-induced hair loss, Begoña feared her own children would experience the same trauma when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Choosing scalp cooling gave her not only the chance to preserve her hair, but also her sense of identity, privacy, and normality throughout treatment. Her story is about more than just cosmetic comfort, it is about restoring control, protecting family bonds, and bringing hope during one of life’s most challenging moments.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Like many people who receive such news, I felt a deep shock and fear. But alongside the overwhelming concern for my health, one unexpected fear rose to the surface almost immediately: the fear of losing my hair.

This wasn’t about vanity. For me, hair loss represented something far more emotional. It was rooted in a memory – one of the most painful in my life.

A family already traumatised by cancer

Just three years earlier, I had lost my mother to the same disease. One of the hardest moments during her illness was the day I shaved her head. She couldn’t bear the clumps of hair falling out from the chemotherapy. It was traumatic for her, and for me. I remember her distress, how losing her hair made her feel stripped of dignity, vulnerable, and alienated from herself.

Her appearance changed dramatically, and this affected her emotionally and socially. My young son, who she helped care for at the time, became frightened of seeing her without her wig. The change in her appearance made the illness real—and terrifying—for him. It broke her heart. In fact, she was so affected that, toward the end of her life, she chose not to say goodbye to her grandchildren. She wanted them to remember her the way she had been. Not sick. Not altered by disease.

That moment stayed with me.

My own diagnosis: was history about to repeat itself?

So, when I received my own diagnosis, my first thought was: I can’t let my children go through that again.

Just three years after we had started to emotionally recover from her loss, I was flooded with the fear that history might repeat itself. I didn’t want my children to go through that same kind of trauma or see me deteriorate in the same way. I didn’t want to trigger those memories again. And I didn’t want to feel like I had lost control of my identity, the way I had seen my mother suffer.

That’s why, when my hospital offered me the option to use scalp cooling, I immediately said yes.

Scalp cooling was my chance to keep my hair

Scalp cooling, sometimes called cold cap therapy, is a technique that helps reduce hair loss during chemotherapy by lowering the temperature of the scalp, which in turn reduces the impact of the drugs on hair follicles. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll keep all your hair, but it gives you the chance to look normal and feel the benefits that come with it. For me, that chance was worth everything.

The day I started using the cooling system, something shifted in me. It was as if my emotional state was given a boost. I suddenly felt empowered again, not entirely at the mercy of the disease. I had a choice, and a way to preserve something deeply personal, both for myself and my children. And it worked!

I didn’t keep all my hair, but I kept enough that I still looked like myself without the need for a wig. I could go home after treatment, look in the mirror and still recognise myself. My children weren’t confronted with a “sick” version of their mother. Life at home stayed as close to normal as possible, and that made an enormous difference in how we all coped.

It's not just hair

Looking back, I can say that scalp cooling helped me protect more than just my appearance. It helped me protect my privacy, my mental health, and my relationships.

When you lose your hair, people know you’re ill even if you haven’t told them. It becomes a visible sign to the world. You’re constantly reminded of your condition by the reactions of others, and you’re asked questions you may not be ready to answer. You’re seen as a patient before you’re seen as a person.

Keeping my hair gave me the choice of when and how to share my diagnosis. It allowed me to move through my social and professional circles with discretion and dignity. And it made returning to normal life after treatment feel quicker and less jarring. I didn’t have to wait a year for my hair to grow back. I didn’t have to wear wigs or explain my appearance. I could re-enter my life as myself.

There’s a saying: “It’s just hair, it will grow back.” But I know from both personal experience and my mother’s that this phrase, while well-meaning, oversimplifies the emotional complexity of hair loss during cancer treatment.

It’s not just about hair. It’s about identity. It’s about how you see yourself and how others see you. It’s about feeling stripped bare at a time when you’re already fighting for your life.

Scalp cooling gave me a sense of control at a time when everything else felt uncertain. It softened the emotional blow of cancer. And it gave me the strength to support my family, shield my children, and maintain a level of normality that would have been otherwise impossible.

My message to others

If you’re considering chemotherapy, or supporting someone who is, I urge you to look into scalp cooling. It might not be suitable for everyone, and results vary by chemotherapy regimen, but if there’s a chance it can help preserve not just your hair but your sense of self, I believe it’s worth trying. Even on regimens with lower hair retention efficacy overall, by scalp cooling, you are still protecting your follicles which are needed for regrowth.

Today, I have the opportunity to share my story more widely through my work at Paxman. Being part of this shared mission to help others preserve their dignity, privacy, and emotional well-being during treatment feels like a natural extension of my journey. It allows me to turn a difficult chapter in my life into something meaningful for others.

I couldn’t change my mother’s story. But I could write a new one for myself and my children. One that was gentler, more hopeful, and filled with small victories that made a big difference.

That, to me, is the real power of scalp cooling. It helps us reclaim something we often feel we’ve lost in the face of illness: control, identity, and hope.