Have Your Cake…and Your Hair, Too!

University Medical Center Offers FDA-Cleared DigniCap Scalp Cooling System to Minimize Hair Loss During Chemotherapy

For patients recently diagnosed with cancer, it often feels like there is much to lose: time, energy, money, perhaps hope. Hair doesn’t have to be among the mix. Because of the DigniCap scalp cooling treatment, cancer patients across the United States are undergoing chemotherapy and seeing less hair loss. Now patients at University Medical Center New Orleans can do the same.

If you’re a patient looking to have your cake, and your hair, too, here’s what you need to know:

How It Works

The DigniCap scalp cooling treatment is a proven approach to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss that has been used successfully by tens of thousands of patients worldwide. The reduced temperature results in a reduced blood flow to the scalp area so that less chemotherapy reaches the hair cells. Hair cells are therefore not exposed to the full dose of chemotherapy and may be able to survive the chemotherapy treatment. In addition, cellular metabolism within the hair cells is slowed down.

As a result, hair is less likely to fall out.

How It Feels

We sat down with one of our patients, and the term she used was “pain-free.” The DigniCap is designed to comfortably fit patients’ heads and comes in varying sizes. Although it can get a little cold at times, most patients tolerate scalp cooling with the DigniCap® scalp cooling system very well because the system cools the cap down gradually from room temperature. The cap temperature never drops below freezing to help make the treatment more comfortable for patients.

Common Side Effects

Side effects, as a result of the DigniCap, are minimal. They include feelings of coldness, headaches, scalp pain, and/or light-headedness, which is rare. Your doctor can provide a pain reliever if you develop a headache.

What It Costs

Scalp cooling costs roughly $350-400 per treatment. The number of treatments required is determined by a patient’s physician.

How You Can Receive Treatment

For more information, or to express your interest in being treated with the DigniCap scalp cooling system, contact the UMCNO Cancer Center at (504)702-3113 or visit www.umcno.org/dignicap.