Yorkshire cancer patients offered hair loss prevention treatment
- By Susan Whitford
- Published 7th November, 2011
- Hair News
- Unrated
Susan Whitford
Susan Whitford has twelve years experience as a health and beauty journalist in the United Kingdom. Susan has worked as a staff writer and features editor on a number of consumer magazines.
Cancer patients at an East Yorkshire hospital are benefiting from new equipment that helps to reduce the amount of hair loss caused by chemotherapy treatment.
The new equipment at Hull's Castle Hill Hospital sees the patients fitted with a rubber cap that is pumped with cooling fluid. The cooling effect of the cap limits the blood flow to the hair follicles in the patients' scalps and offers some protection from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs.
The machines were developed by Huddersfield-based family firm, Paxman Coolers Ltd, and were donated to the hospital by a leading breast cancer charity.
Claire Paxman, from Paxman Coolers, said they had first been inspired to develop the technology in 1997 after her mother lost her hair during chemotherapy. Claire said her mother had been given scalp-cooling treatment, but it was very primitive and did not work.
Castle Hill Hospital's nurse director, Sarah Bates, said hair loss is one of the most traumatic parts of cancer treatment for many people, and they were delighted to be able to offer this new facility.
"We've actually had patients who have nearly refused treatment because of the fact we had nothing to offer them to prevent their hair loss," she said. "So to be able to offer this, and get this up-and-running is absolutely fantastic."
The new equipment at Hull's Castle Hill Hospital sees the patients fitted with a rubber cap that is pumped with cooling fluid. The cooling effect of the cap limits the blood flow to the hair follicles in the patients' scalps and offers some protection from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs.
The machines were developed by Huddersfield-based family firm, Paxman Coolers Ltd, and were donated to the hospital by a leading breast cancer charity.
Claire Paxman, from Paxman Coolers, said they had first been inspired to develop the technology in 1997 after her mother lost her hair during chemotherapy. Claire said her mother had been given scalp-cooling treatment, but it was very primitive and did not work.
Castle Hill Hospital's nurse director, Sarah Bates, said hair loss is one of the most traumatic parts of cancer treatment for many people, and they were delighted to be able to offer this new facility.
"We've actually had patients who have nearly refused treatment because of the fact we had nothing to offer them to prevent their hair loss," she said. "So to be able to offer this, and get this up-and-running is absolutely fantastic."