33805 Retrospective cohort study of scalp cooling in breast cancer patients

Abstract

For patients with cancer, alopecia is a common side effect that negatively impacts personal identity, body image, self-esteem, quality of life, and medical decision making. Scalp cooling is a technique used to prevent alopecia in patients undergoing chemotherapy in which patients wear a cooled cap during chemotherapy infusions, causing localized vasoconstriction of blood vessels on the scalp. Because of the recent emergence of scalp cooling, there is a need to explore further the reasons why patients pursue this treatment and the associated patient-centered outcomes. A retrospective chart review of women with breast cancer treated at The Ohio State University was conducted to investigate how factors such as patient age, race, ethnicity, insurance status, stage of cancer, and chemotherapy regimen influenced patient’s decisions to incorporate scalp cooling into their treatment plan as compared with those who did not. Findings revealed that patient race and chemotherapy regimen were predictors of a patient’s likelihood to undergo scalp cooling. In comparison to White patients, non-White patients were less likely to choose scalp cooling. Furthermore, patients placed on the chemotherapy regimen of AC-T were less likely to pursue scalp cooling than patients on AC, PCTH, and TC regimens. These findings provide background for the development of educational resources for both patients interested in this therapy and healthcare providers discussing this treatment option in dermatology and oncology settings.