Annie Young, Professor of Nursing at the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is one of six globally-recognised experts in cancer care, launching a new database aimed at reducing hair loss in chemotherapy patients.
This data will be used to establish best practices around the maximum effectiveness of scalp cooling to help reduce hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy. A new website, scalpcooling.org will serve as a global hub for patients and care providers seeking information about the treatment.
Professor Young works within the organisation known as CHILL, Cancer-related Hair Loss, International Leadership and Linkage. CHILL announced at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) conference in Washington, USA, an initiative to collect and track evidence-based patient information and clinical guidance on cancer related hair loss.
Professor Young said: “Hair loss in patients having chemotherapy can be devastating on top of cancer treatment. Our patients want to use scalp cooling and we need to ensure best practices are developed to improve patients’ quality of life and make it accessible to all.”
CHILL has designed an online registry that makes communication and global research accessible to all health care professionals interested in using scalp cooling therapeutics with their chemotherapy patients. The registry collects data about severity of hair loss of patients with and without scalp cooling. For patients undergoing treatment with scalp cooling technology, physicians can also gather information on tolerance and satisfaction with the results of treatment.
“Scalp cooling is well-recognised around the globe as a therapeutic solution to one of the most troublesome side effects of chemotherapy,” said CHILL chairperson Dr. Corina van den Hurk, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation. “The launch of the CHILL Registry is a significant step forward as we work together to develop best practices in patient care.”
As scalp cooling results vary depending on several factors, the CHILL Registry amasses information including:
• Clinical: type and dose of chemotherapy, infusion time, post-infusion cooling time.
• Patient characteristics: age, hair thickness, smoking, body mass index.
• Follow up information: availability and willingness of patient to be contacted six months after treatment to evaluate hair growth and results.
You can find out more information at scalpcooling.org
