"Cold Cap" may prevent hairloss from chemo

Before Shirley Billigmeier underwent her final round of chemotherapy her daughter spent time brushing her mother's hair. Even after six rounds of treatment, Billigmeier retained the hair on her scalp, a fact she attributes to experimental headwear.

"My hair is all there. It definitely works," Billigmeier said.

Before each round of chemotherapy, Billigmeier wears a device called the Cold Cap. She wears it for one hour before and for four hours after each treatment, Billigmeier said.

The Cold Cap is kept at -22 degrees Fahrenheit. It works by freezing the hair follicles in an attempt to slow blood circulation and prevent the chemotherapy from being absorbed.

"I thought I'd get an ice cream headache, but I don't," Billigmeier said.

When Billigmeier first learned she had breast cancer and need chemotherapy, she started doing research. She discovered Cold Caps and learned they were popular in Europe, Billigmeier said.

"I discovered I have a choice. I didn't have to lose my hair," Billigmeier said.

According to a 1997 study in the European Journal of Cancer, the Cold Cap worked for 87% of patients. Another study published in the Annals of Oncology looked at several different methods of hair retention and found scalp cooling to be effective.

Since starting chemotherapy, Billigmeier began a foundation to create awareness for the Cold Cap. She even raised enough money to put a special freezer into Abbott Northwestern Hospital so other women can have access to the Cold Caps.

"They are excited it's a possibility because many people have never heard that you can keep your hair during chemo with drugs that are supposed to take your hair," Billigmeier said.

Billigmeier is now working with her new foundation, the Rapunzel Project, to get more freezers for more hospitals.

Billigmeier says she is currently cancer free but still continuing radiation.