Cold Caps, Warm Hearts

Tool Helps Reduce Hair Loss During Chemo

Nancy Taylor wears a Paxman Cold Cap during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss during treatment.

Hair loss is a common experience for cancer patients undergoing certain chemotherapies. It’s a physically — and often emotionally — challenging aspect of treatment.

To help reduce chemotherapy-related hair loss, the Enloe Health Regional Cancer Center offers the Paxman Cold Caps System to affected patients. According to Susan Hawes, Enloe Health’s Director of Infusion & Clinical Services, cold caps are specialized scalp-cooling devices designed to reduce hair loss and promote regrowth after treatment.

Paxman Cold Caps maintain a temperature of 64 to 72 degrees to constrict blood vessels in the patient’s scalp. This reduces the amount of chemotherapy drugs reaching hair follicles. It also slows down cellular activity in hair follicles, making them less susceptible to damage. Retaining 50% or more of a patient’s hair is considered a successful outcome, Hawes said.

“Hair loss is a very visual side effect of some cancer treatments,” she said. “Being able to lessen hair loss and increase the rate of regrowth can improve confidence and body image for some patients.”

The Cancer Center treated its first patient with the Paxman system in June 2025. Since then, 17 Enloe Health patients have used cold caps during their cancer treatments. Nancy Taylor, a Chico resident who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, has used a cold cap for the duration of her treatment and maintained much of her hair.

“I had three chemo sessions before I noticed any hair loss whatsoever,” Taylor said. “It’s thinned a lot, but you can see I still have hair. Everybody is different, but they say that, usually by the second session, you’re completely bald. To have any hair at this stage is a plus.”

Being able to keep her hair during treatment was reassuring for Taylor and her family. Her young granddaughter also encouraged her to use cold caps when she was given the option.

“I wanted to use anything that would save my hair,” Taylor said. “I have a 10-year-old granddaughter who said, ‘Don’t cut your hair off. I want you to keep your hair.’ She encouraged me to say yes to cold caps.”

Who Are Cold Caps For?

Cold caps are not for everyone. The amount of hair a patient retains will vary depending on several factors, including their medications, chemotherapy regimen and type of cancer. Hair loss is also not guaranteed in every type of chemotherapy treatment, meaning some patients may not need cold caps for their treatment, Hawes explained.

The Food and Drug Administration approves automated cold caps, including the Paxman System, to treat chemo-related hair loss related to solid tumor cancers. The American Cancer Society does not recommend cold caps for people who:

• Are under 18
• Have cancer of the central nervous system
• Have or will have radiation therapy on the skull
• Have leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma

“Cold caps aren’t appropriate for every treatment,” Hawes said. “It depends on the medication and regimens. It’s best discussed with your oncologist if cold caps are appropriate for your treatment plan.”