Beyond Breast Cancer: Which Diagnoses Can Benefit from Scalp Cooling?

When most people hear about scalp cooling, breast cancer is the first diagnosis that comes to mind. That's not surprising, breast cancer has the largest body of research on scalp cooling efficacy, and it's where FDA clearance was first established in the U.S. However, the data has expanded significantly and patients with other diagnoses may also be candidates.

Why Breast Cancer Gets Most of the Attention

Breast cancer patients were the earliest and most studied population for scalp cooling, in part because taxane and anthracycline based regimens, which cause significant hair loss, are cornerstones of breast cancer treatment. The data for this population is strong, and clinical protocols are well established. But the underlying mechanism of scalp cooling (reducing blood flow to hair follicles during infusion to minimize chemotherapy exposure) applies broadly.

Other Solid Tumor Cancers

Scalp cooling data has continued to expand, supporting its use across additional cancer types and mechanical scalp cooling has received FDA clearance for patients over the age of 21 with solid tumors.

•       Lung cancer (non-small cell) treated with taxane-based regimens

•       Ovarian and gynecologic cancers receiving platinum/taxane combinations

•       Colorectal cancer with certain regimens

•       Bladder and kidney cancers in select cases

Eligibility depends on specific chemotherapy drugs and doses, not just the diagnosis. Nurses and oncologists should assess each regimen individually, considering the whole patient.

Who Is Not a Candidate?

The use of Amma is contraindicated in adult patients with:

● Cancers of the head and neck

● CNS malignancies (either primary or metastatic)

● Cold sensitivity or cold urticaria

● Cryofibrinogenemia

● Cryoglobulinemia

● Existing history of scalp metastases or suspected presence of scalp

metastasis

● Hematological malignancies and non-solid tumors (leukemia, non-Hodgkin,

and other generalized lymphomas) or hematological malignancies that are

being treated for cure

● History of cold agglutinin disease

● Imminent bone marrow ablation chemotherapy

● Imminent or previously received skull irradiation

● Post-traumatic cold dystrophy

● Scalp and/or cutaneous metastases have been reported in patients with nonsmall

cell lung cancer, colon cancer, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, and

bladder cancer. Patients with advanced forms of these cancers may be more

likely to experience scalp metastases with the scalp cooling system.

● Patients with severe liver or renal disease from any etiology who may not be

able to metabolize or clear the metabolites of the chemotherapeutic agent

● Skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell

carcinoma)

● Small cell carcinoma of the lung

Questions during treatment? Reach out to

our Customer Care team, we're here to support you every step of the way.

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 Cooler Heads provides scalp cooling services and education to cancer patients across the United States. This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult your oncologist before making any decisions about your treatment.