Singapore offers scalp cooling therapy to counter chemo side effects

The Nationwide College Most cancers Institute, Singapore (NCIS) on the Nationwide College Hospital (NUH) is now providing scalp cooling remedy to sufferers present process sure varieties of chemotherapy which will trigger hair loss. Chemotherapy-induced alopecia or hair loss is a standard aspect impact that impacts greater than 75 per cent of sufferers who’re prescribed chemotherapy therapy.

Scalp cooling remedy has been proven to cut back chemotherapy-induced alopecia within the Caucasian inhabitants however there have been few printed knowledge on its efficacy on the Asian inhabitants previous to this.

The NCIS examine is the primary to work with Paxman (primarily based in England) to research the position of scalp cooling in a multi-racial Asian setting. 

Scalp cooling works by lowering the temperature of the scalp instantly earlier than, throughout and after the administration of chemotherapy. The scalp cooling system delivers the cooling through a “chilly cap” that’s worn on the pinnacle of the affected person. Decreasing the scalp temperature decreases the blood movement charge to the scalp by 60-80 p.c, assuaging the injury induced to the hair follicles by chemotherapy.