Global scalp cooling collaboration launches to identify best practices in patient care
An organisation led by six globally-recognised experts in cancer care has launched an initiative to track evidence-based patient information and clinical guidance.
The organisation CHILL - Cancer-related Hair Loss, International Leadership and Linkage – launched the initiative to use data as a means to establish best clinical practices and to ensure maximum effectiveness of scalp cooling to minimise chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
A new website, will serve as a global hub for patients and care providers seeking information about hair loss and scalp cooling. Data from the CHILL registry showing the chance of hair loss with and without scalp cooling will also be available.
The CHILL registry aims to become a platform that allows clinicians to understand cancer-related hair loss during leading edge cancer therapies, improve supportive care by comparing their own data with international estimates, and access the extensive resources
CHILL executive board member Dr. Corina van den Hurk, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, said: “Scalp cooling is well-recognised around the globe as a therapeutic solution to one of the most troublesome side effects of chemotherapy. The launch of the CHILL Registry is a significant step forward as we work together to develop best practices in supportive care.”
The online registry has been designed to make communication and global research accessible to all health care professionals interested in using scalp cooling with their chemotherapy patients. The registry collects data about severity of hair loss of patients with and without scalp cooling. Physicians can also gather information on tolerance and satisfaction with the results of scalp cooling treatment.
Positive results have been released from two clinical trials on scalp cooling in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Both the DigniCap and Paxman scalp cooling devices were used with favourable results from patients.
The devices feature a tight-fitting silicone cooling cap that is placed directly on the head and an outer neoprene cap that insulates and secures the silicone cap. A liquid coolant circulates throughout the silicone cap to lower the temperature of the scalp skin by a significant amount. This results in vasoconstriction with reduced delivery of chemotherapy to the scalp skin as well as reduced cellular uptake of drugs. Together, these factors can help minimise hair loss.