Our team is dedicated to ensuring you look and feel your best during treatment.

Cancer treatment can present various challenges, and hair loss can feel like just another hurdle to overcome. At the Middlesex Health Cancer Center, we offer innovative therapies that can minimize hair loss, as well as a dedicated wig consultant(s) that can help you choose from a wide variety of wigs, hats and scarves - so that you can try a new style or find an option that resembles your hair before treatment.

Appointments with our wig room consultants are available between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday - Friday in both our Middletown and Westbrook locations

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 860-358-3744
pax

Paxman Scalp Cooling

Minimize chemotherapy-induced hair loss

Studies have shown scalp cooling can minimize chemotherapy-induced hair loss. For people receiving chemotherapy, scalp cooling can mean the opportunity to regain some control, ensure some privacy, and maintain a positive attitude toward treatment.

Paxman Scalp Cooling reduces the damage that chemotherapy causes to hair follicles. This is done by lowering the temperature of the scalp before,during and after chemotherapy. This reduces blood flow to the area around the hair follicles, which may prevent or minimize hair loss. The Paxman Scalp Cooling System Is FDA Approved.

A soft, lightweight silicone cap is placed on the patient’s head and is connected to a small compact refrigeration system. The scalp temperature is lowered by circulating a special coolant through the cold cap. This allows the scalp to be maintained at a constant temperature throughout treatment.

This depends on the type of chemotherapy drugs the patient is receiving. However, the average time the cold cap is worn is 2½ hours. The cold cap is worn for approximately 30 minutes pre-infusion cooling, during infusion, and for up to 90 minutes after drug infusion.

Pre and post-infusion times can be conducted while other non-chemotherapy drugs or medications are being infused.

Every patient is different in their tolerance to the cold. Scalp cooling should not be painful. Patients report that the first 15 minutes are the most uncomfortable. This is due to the scalp being rapidly brought down in temperature from 98° to 64 – 72° Fahrenheit. Still, the body quickly acclimatizes, and most people experience a numb feeling for the rest of their treatment.

Scalp cooling is currently only offered at the Cancer Center locations in Middletown and Westbrook.

Contact the Cancer Center’s Wig Room at 860-358-3744 or your nurse navigator.

Visit coldcap.com for an easy-to-follow guide to this treatment. You may also contact the Cancer Center’s Wig Room at 860-358-3744 or your nurse navigator.

LeeAnn's Story
Malnar Family

In 2018, LeeAnn Molnar was diagnosed with stage 3 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. She included the Paxman Scalp Cooling System as part of her treatment.

Read more about LeeAnn's experience