Abstract 5225
Background
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a common and distressing side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Significant progress has been made during the past 2 decades in treating many of the side effects associated with cancer chemotherapy including emesis, hematopoietic cytopenias, xerostomia, infection, pain, and thrombosis. Similar progress has not been made in the prevention of CIA, apart from scalp cooling. We set out to examine the uptake, patient satisfaction and efficacy (as perceived by medical staff and patients) of scalp cooling treatment among patients receiving chemotherapy.
Methods
We reviewed a prospectively maintained database of patients who were offered scalp cooling treatment in our oncology dayward between 01/10/2014 and 22/06/2018. We analysed patient uptake and efficacy as perceived and recorded by medical staff (“medical efficacy”). A questionnaire was sent to patients who had accepted scalp cooling treatment and were alive at follow-up, to assess patient perceived efficacy and patient satisfaction. Patient perceived efficacy was compared to medical efficacy using the Fisher’s exact test.
Results
The mean age was 60.1 (SD 10.9) and 91.4% of the patients were female. Uptake for scalp cooling was 49% (120/245). 75% (90/120) of patients were alive at follow up and 51% (46/90) responded to the questionnaire. Scalp cooling was considered efficacious in 63% (29/46) of patients, versus 43.3% (52/120) as assessed by the medical team, Fishers test p = 0.0253. 86.9% of patients who accepted scalp cooling and responded to the questionnaire (40/46) agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with their choice to try scalp cooling, and 67.4% (31/46) agreed or strongly agreed that their experience of scalp cooling was a positive one. There was a strong association between patient perceived efficacy and satisfaction (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The use of scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy induced alopecia is an effective treatment in our real-world population. Patients were more likely than the medical team to consider scalp cooling treatment effective. We found high levels of patient satisfaction with the decision to try scalp cooling, even among patients whose treatment was ineffective.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1701 - Immunogenicity and optimal timing of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination during adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric and colorectal cancer : A randomized controlled trial
Presenter: Wonyoung Choi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3158 - Tobacco Retail Access and Tobacco Cessation Among Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Survivors
Presenter: Lawson Eng
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5511 - ASSERT: A Prospective, Observational Study Measuring Sodium Improvement and Outcomes in Patients Treated for Moderate to Severe Hyponatremia Secondary to Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone secretion (SIADH) in Italy (Lung Cancer Cohort)
Presenter: Rossana Berardi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3821 - Efficacy and safety of controlled ovarian stimulation with or without letrozole co-administration for fertility preservation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Presenter: Benedetta Bonardi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2168 - Child development at 6 years after maternal cancer diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy
Presenter: Tineke Vandenbroucke
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5855 - Update of the registry of young women with cancer by the International Network of Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy
Presenter: Charlotte Maggen
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5156 - Erectile dysfunction in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Presenter: Ilya Tsimafeyeu
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4992 - Exercise level, interest and preferences in cancer patients.
Presenter: Alice Avancini
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3427 - Filling the Gaps in Informed Consent for Advanced Cancer Patients considering Phase 1 Oncology Trials - an in-depth Qualitative Study of Key Stakeholders at a large United Kingdom Phase 1 unit
Presenter: Abhijit Pal
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3537 - Breast Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life: Real World Data
Presenter: Thanos Kosmidis
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract