Nursing Measures for the Prevention of Alopecia Induced by Chemotherapy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Medical Surgery, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

2 Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

3 Medical Surgery, Faculty of Nursing, Banha University, Egypt

Abstract

Alopecia is one of the most unwelcomed side effects of chemotherapy. Hair loss can induced a negative body image, alter interpersonal relationships, reduce quality of life and generate enough anxiety to cause some patients to reject potentially curative treatments. Forty patients divided into two groups. All patients received Anthrocycline based chemotherapeutic regimen. Cold system applied to group I while group II was the control. Cooling system consists of cold cap system which maintains scalp temperature below 15 for 20 minutes before, during and after chemotherapy by frequent changing the cap. Forty patients were evaluated for responses receiving a median of 40 cycles. No hair loss was observed in 30% of group I who used cold system. Hair loss of grade I, and II was reported in 50% of patients, which is considered adequate protection of hair loss. While hair loss grade III was reported in 50 %of patients, which is considered adequate protection of hair loss. While hair loss grade III was reported in 15% of patients and grade IV reported in 5% of patients. In group II about 40% of patients developed hair loss in grade III while 60% developed hair loss in grade IV. Scalp cold cap system is well tolerated and very effective measure in reducing hair loss following Anthrocycline based chemotherapy.

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