Creating an Alert Cryotherapy prevents hair loss in chemotherapy

After being diagnosed with cancer, the most varied doubts arise about the forms of treatment and their side effects. In the case of women, one of the most dreaded is the hair loss caused by chemotherapy. This distress often overlaps even with the positive results of the therapy and leads to a high risk of secondary problems such as low self-esteem, anxiety, stress and depression. According to the experts, the psychological impact is even more important with regard to bad cancer, the most common malignant neoplasm, accounting for 28% of all cases diagnosed in this group in 2016, a universe that represents 60,000 people, according to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA)
"It should be noted that women with bad cancer experience an emotional whirlwind that begins when they discover the disease and continue, with ups and downs, throughout the treatment process.The diagnosis of this type of tumor, in particular, generates insecurities related to the course that the disease will cause in the image of the patient. , it is necessary to ensure not only that the disease is well monitored, but also to take into account the psychological aspects, "says Daniel Gimenes, oncologist at the Paulista Center for Oncology (CPO) (Oncoclinical Group)
., A procedure that increases the chances of preservation of leads in chemotherapy processes have been considered an important ally for improving emotional balance in women in the treatment of bad cancer. The technique, called Cryotherapy or Scalp Cooling, involves the use of an ice cap that cools the scalp, causing contraction of the blood vessels and thus creates a kind of protection that preserves the hair follicles.
"There are no calculated figures on the effectiveness of the use of this technique in Brazil, since it was approved by Anvisa in early 2015. However, research has been conducted in several European countries, where its application has been carried out in recent years, show that the reduction in alopecia rate ranged from 49% to 100% in more than 2000 patients evaluated. the hair loss was nil or almost invisible in most cases, "says Daniel.
The treatment is safe and offers good results that contribute to the improvement of the general condition of patients, as it contributes to

How does cryotherapy

• A helmet covered with a gel at a temperature of 4 ° C is connected by means of a tube to a machine that looks like an air circulator. Placed on the patient's head 60 minutes before the chemotherapy infusion, the cap remains used for the duration of the chemotherapy application and is removed only about an hour after the full application of the drug. The whole process takes about three to four hours.
• The glossy device causes a thermal sensation of about 15 ° C and is generally well tolerated. In some cases, there may be a complaint of headache, dizziness and cold sensation, but such symptoms are not considered factors leading to the patient's dissenting procedure, thanks to the good results obtained.
• blood flow to the root of each wire, making the hair follicle less susceptible to the aggression of chemotherapy and therefore less prone to falling risk. The specialist notes that the level of hair retention is related to the type of chemotherapy used. Considering the stronger drugs, which would lead to the total decline of the leads, it is possible to reduce the rate of loss from 20% to 30%. "This means that wearing wigs or wipes becomes useless in most situations, greatly contributing to the self-esteem of women undergoing treatment," notes oncologist Daniel Gimenes.
• Cryotherapy can be applied in patients diagnosed with other types of cancer, having the same potential for efficacy, but there are restrictions. The contraindication occurs for those who have hematological cancer (which affects the blood), such as leukemia and lymphoma. People with allergies to the scalp should not be treated.