A Coolbrandt1,2, A T'Jonck3, K Blauwens3, E Dejaeger4, P Neven5, K Punie5, K Vancoille4, H Wildiers5. 1. Department of Oncology Nursing, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. annemarie.coolbrandt@uzleuven.be. 2. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. annemarie.coolbrandt@uzleuven.be. 3. Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 4. Department of Oncology Nursing, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. 5. Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Recent evidence supports the efficacy of scalp cooling in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer treatments. However, efficacy largely varies between treatment regimens. The aim of this study was to explore the patient- and nurse-reported results of scalp cooling in terms of hair loss and need for a wig/head cover in patients with breast cancer treated with 3-weekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2. METHODS: We studied nurse-reported efficacy as noted in the electronic patient files of 85 patients treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 between 1/1/2017 and 1/1/2020. Sixty-nine of them also self-reported on their scalp cooling results up to one year after adjuvant chemotherapy in a retrospective way. RESULTS: Nurse- and patient-reported data showed that scalp cooling was successful (i.e., hair loss < 50%) in 47.1 and 44.9% of patients, respectively, and 55% of patients were (very) satisfied with the result of scalp cooling. Scalp cooling was perceived as (very) uncomfortable in 36.2% of patients. Regarding hair status one year after treatment, 47 patients (55.3%) reported no changes compared to their hair status before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Scalp cooling is successful in preventing severe chemotherapy-induced alopecia in almost half of the patients with breast cancer treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2. Better understanding of the success rate of scalp cooling enables correct patient information and decision-making support.
PURPOSE: Recent evidence supports the efficacy of scalp cooling in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer treatments. However, efficacy largely varies between treatment regimens. The aim of this study was to explore the patient- and nurse-reported results of scalp cooling in terms of hair loss and need for a wig/head cover in patients with breast cancer treated with 3-weekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2. METHODS: We studied nurse-reported efficacy as noted in the electronic patient files of 85 patients treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 between 1/1/2017 and 1/1/2020. Sixty-nine of them also self-reported on their scalp cooling results up to one year after adjuvant chemotherapy in a retrospective way. RESULTS: Nurse- and patient-reported data showed that scalp cooling was successful (i.e., hair loss < 50%) in 47.1 and 44.9% of patients, respectively, and 55% of patients were (very) satisfied with the result of scalp cooling. Scalp cooling was perceived as (very) uncomfortable in 36.2% of patients. Regarding hair status one year after treatment, 47 patients (55.3%) reported no changes compared to their hair status before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Scalp cooling is successful in preventing severe chemotherapy-induced alopecia in almost half of the patients with breast cancer treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m2- cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2. Better understanding of the success rate of scalp cooling enables correct patient information and decision-making support.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alopecia; Breast cancer; Hair loss; Scalp cooling; Taxane
Authors: Anne Versluis; Kirsten van Alphen; Wouter Dercksen; Henk de Haas; Corina van den Hurk; Ad A Kaptein Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-01-20 Impact factor: 3.603