About this study
Many children and young adults who receive chemotherapy lose their hair during treatment. Hair loss can be upsetting and can make them feel different from others. Doctors at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital want to find a way to help protect patients’ hair while keeping their treatment safe and effective.
This study tests a special cooling cap. The cap makes the scalp cold before, during, and after chemotherapy. Cooling the scalp may slow blood flow to the hair roots, which could prevent some of the chemotherapy drugs from damaging the hair. The study includes patients who have solid tumors (not brain tumors) or non-cancerous conditions such as sickle cell disease or aplastic anemia.
Patients in the study put on the cooling cap about 30–45 minutes before chemotherapy begins. The cap stays on during the treatment and for about 2–3 hours afterward. Nurses and other trained staff help put on the cap, make sure it fits well, and check that the scalp temperature stays at about 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 degrees Celsius). Patients will have photos taken of their hair before and after treatment. They will also fill out brief surveys.
The main goal of the study is to learn if this cooling cap is safe and if it can be used comfortably in young patients. Researchers will also look at how much hair loss happens in children and young adults who use the cap.
Through this study, researchers hope to find a way to reduce hair loss caused by chemotherapy. If the cooling cap works and is safe, it could help children and young adults feel more confident and comfortable during their cancer treatment.
Eligibility overview
- 7 years and older
- Has a solid tumor (not brain tumor) or a non-cancerous condition
- Scheduled to receive chemotherapy
- Able to tolerate scalp cooling
- No prior use of cold-cap therapy