The effectiveness of scalp cooling in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in persons with breast cancer

Abstract

"Is scalp cooling effective in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in persons with breast cancer?" Scalp cooling is a treatment involving the application of a water or gel cap to the scalp of cancer patients during the administration of chemotherapy. This treatment is used for the prevention or reduction of alopecia, which is one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy. This dissertation discusses the efficiency of scalp cooling in preventing alopecia in persons who are receiving chemotherapeutic treatment for breast cancer. This discussion is based on the evidence present in literature published between 2000 and 2012. Publications included in this dissertation consist of studies which focus on breast care patients (and not only) receiving depilitating chemotherapy, and which test the efficiency of scalp cooling. Publications written in languages other than English were not included. From the literature search which was carried out, eight studies were chosen to be reviewed. The studies were appraised by means of CASP tools. The main results from the studies appraised in this dissertation show that scalp cooling is effective in preventing chemotherapy induced alopecia, with little side effects evident and no risk of skin metastasis. These results suggest that the introduction of this treatment should be promoted and supported in order to improve the quality oflife of breast cancer patients. However, further studies should be carried out in order to properly evaluate the effectiveness of scalp cooling on preventing alopecia caused by various types of chemotheraputic regimens. More research should be carried out in order to evaluate which type of scalp cooling system is the most effective and the most tolerated by patients. Finally recommendations regarding the correct and proper use of this treatment should he hased on the evidence present in literature and the instructions provided hy the manufacturers of the scalp cooling systems.