Prevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Hair Loss with Scalp Hypothermia

Abstract

THE psychological impact of chemotherapy-induced alopecia represents one of the more devastating side effects of cancer chemotherapy and, in some instances, leads patients to refuse potentially curative chemotherapy. The problem of alopecia is severe when patients are treated with the anthracycline antibiotic, doxorubicin (adriamycin), which is beneficial in many types of cancer (e.g., breast, lung, ovary, sarcomas, lymphomas, and leukemias).^{1 2 3 4 5 6} In 1973, Luce and his co-workers achieved good protection against doxorubicin-induced alopecia in 12 of 15 patients by means of regional direction of chilled air to the scalp.⁷ More recently, Edelstyn's group used cryogel packs held on the scalp with . . .