A cancer diagnosis often brings a whirlwind of uncertainty and questions: Do I have the strength to endure this battle? How will my loved ones cope with the journey ahead? And
for many, the personal and emotional concern: Will chemotherapy take away my hair?
For 81-year-old Peggy Cook, the answer to whether she would lose her hair to chemotherapy was "no," thanks to being Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka’s first Amma Cold Cap patient. Diagnosed with endometrial cancer,
Peggy was offered the opportunity to incorporate the cold cap at the start of her cancer treatment regimen.
The FDA-approved Amma Cold Cap system is designed to mitigate chemotherapy-induced hair loss by approximately 50 percent for certain patients. By lowering the scalp temperature to 65 degrees before, during and after chemotherapy, it reduces the absorption of chemotherapy into the hair follicles.
“Hair loss can be a distressing side effect of chemotherapy no matter who you are,” says Priscilla Lynn, director of cancer services, Providence St. Joseph. “It often affects one’s self-esteem and personal image, making an already challenging journey even more difficult. Scalp cooling has been proven to reduce the severity of hair loss and promote faster regrowth after chemotherapy, and we are happy to offer this service in our cancer infusion program.”
Within days of being identified as a suitable candidate for the cold cap, Peggy was fitted with the device, which arrived in time for her first chemotherapy infusion in April. "The inner cap is made from a material similar to a wet suit, allowing cold air to penetrate," Peggy shares. "With nearly two-thirds of my treatment complete, I can honestly say it works — I have hair on my head, and it has helped my hair follicles survive."
The effectiveness of the cold cap has contributed to Peggy’s overall positive experience at St. Joseph Hospital. From the infusion nurses to the oncologists, she shares, "the whole cancer support system is great here."
For more information about the cancer services at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka, please visit: Cancer Program | St. Joseph Hospital Eureka | Providence
About Providence in Humboldt County
Providence is committed to meeting the highest standards in health care delivery while ministering to the needs of the whole person – body, mind and spirit. This commitment to the people of the North Coast is expressed in the Providence’s five core values – Compassion, Dignity, Excellence, Justice and Integrity. In Humboldt County, Providence operates St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna and offers a comprehensive network of specialty care and services including a Level III Trauma Center, Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and a Cancer Center Accredited by the Commission on Cancer. The health care ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange began in Humboldt County during the flu epidemic of 1918. The Sisters opened the first St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka in 1920 and committed to continually improving the health and quality of life of the people served. This commitment continues today and has been further defined by the vision of Providence – Health for a Better World.
