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Scalp cooling reduces persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, study finds
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins, medtech company Paxman is raising awareness of a critical and often overlooked side effect faced by many cancer patients: the risk of developing persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (PCIA) as a result of cancer treatment.
The efficacy of scalp cooling in preventing PCIA has once again come to the forefront through a recent study, Scalp Cooling in Preventing Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Randomised Controlled Trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by D. Kang et al.
The findings have the potential to reshape our understanding of PCIA and how Scalp Cooling has been proven to have a positive impact in reducing the risk for people navigating a cancer diagnosis.
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a common side effect experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy.
While typically temporary, some patients do not experience complete hair regrowth even after treatment ends, a condition known as persistent or permanent CIA (PCIA).
In a previous study, up to 42.3 per cent of breast cancer patients had incomplete hair regrowth three years after chemotherapy.
Moreover, although hair density often returns to baseline levels within six months post-chemotherapy, hair thickness frequently remains compromised, signalling long-term follicle damage.
Scalp cooling has already been established as a viable method to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.
However, evidence supporting its effectiveness in preventing long-term PCIA has been limited.
This recent study aimed to investigate the impact of scalp cooling on PCIA prevention and hair recovery in breast cancer patients, and the results are promising.
The randomised clinical trial demonstrated that scalp cooling significantly reduces the incidence of PCIA by promoting hair regrowth, particularly in terms of hair thickness, compared to the control group.
The study also revealed that patients who used scalp cooling experienced faster recovery of hair density and thickness and showed significant improvements in their quality of life, including reduced psychological distress.
The need for concealment strategies, such as wigs and scarves, was also significantly lower in the scalp cooling group, further highlighting the emotional and social benefits of this intervention.
The positive outcomes were consistent across different chemotherapy regimens and age groups.
Patients who underwent scalp cooling experienced less CIA-related stress six months after chemotherapy, with reduced reliance on head coverings and lower scores on the Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Distress Scale (CADS).
Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman, commented on the importance of the findings:
“This study underscores the importance of providing patients with the option of scalp cooling as a way to mitigate the risk of persistent hair loss, which can have a lasting emotional impact.
“By reducing the likelihood of PCIA, we can not only improve patients’ physical recovery but also help them regain a sense of normality and confidence post-treatment.”
The study’s results suggest that scalp cooling should be considered a standard care option for patients at risk of PCIA, especially those receiving anthracycline and/or taxane-based chemotherapy.
By offering scalp cooling as part of routine cancer care, healthcare providers can help mitigate the long-term impact of chemotherapy-induced hair loss, improving both the physical recovery and the emotional well-being of patients.
Although the trial demonstrated significant benefits in reducing PCIA within six months of chemotherapy, the authors acknowledged that additional research is needed to establish the long-term advantages of scalp cooling beyond this period.
The Femtech World Awards is proud to reveal the shortlist for Research Project of the Year as part of the third annual global celebration of innovation, impact and leadership across women’s health.
From fertility science and perimenopause research to regional ecosystem analysis, the shortlisted projects reflect the breadth and growing influence of femtech research worldwide.
The category is sponsored by OncoGenomX, with the winner to be selected by a representative from the organisation.
OncoGenomX is dedicated to offering solutions and providing comprehensive support services that empower Drug Developers, Clinical Researchers, Oncologists,NextGenSeq Diagnostics Laboratories, NextGenSeq Service Organisations, Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Companies to achieve their ambitious goals
The shortlisted entries for Research Project of the Year are:
Women’s health remains significantly underserved in South-East Asia, with persistent gaps in access, awareness, and quality of care carrying substantial social and economic costs.
This report examines the femtech landscape in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighting market trends, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and the evolving support ecosystem.
It identifies key challenges facing femtech founders, including limited access to finance, low awareness and persistent stigma, marketing constraints linked to content moderation, and gaps in tailored ecosystem support.
Led by Stephanie Willson, MD, of the IVI RMA Global Research Alliance, the study explored whether embryos that show certain chromosome abnormalities during genetic testing may still have the potential to result in a healthy pregnancy and live birth.
The research analysed more than 7,600 frozen embryo transfers and found that some embryos previously considered unlikely to succeed were still capable of leading to successful pregnancies, although at lower rates than embryos without abnormalities.
The findings could help fertility clinics and patients make more informed decisions during IVF treatment, particularly in cases where there are limited embryos available.
Rather than automatically discarding these embryos, the research supports a more evidence-based and personalised approach to fertility care.
For many women, perimenopause can feel confusing and unpredictable, with limited research explaining what is happening in their bodies.
Natural Cycles set out to change that by leading one of the largest studies ever conducted on menstrual and ovulatory patterns, uncovering new insights into how ovulation behaves as women approach menopause.
Conducted in collaboration with researchers from George Washington University, Seattle Clinical Research Center, Gennev and the University of California San Diego, the study analysed nearly one million menstrual cycles from more than 197,000 women aged 18–52 across more than 140 countries.
The scale of this dataset made it possible to explore menstrual patterns and ovulation in far greater detail than has traditionally been possible in women’s health research.
The Femtech World Awards celebrates the innovators, researchers and organisations driving meaningful progress in women’s health.
What happens next
Winners across all categories will be revealed during the virtual ceremony on June 19, with winners receiving a trophy and an interview with a Femtech World journalist.
Women over 40 are seeking raves for mental and physical wellbeing, with a study suggesting the benefits go beyond nightlife.
The findings challenge the idea that nightlife and electronic dance music events are mainly for younger people.
Published in Psychology of Music, the study focused on the common misconception that nightlife is only for younger audiences.
Researchers surveyed 136 female clubbers aged 40 to 65 about their experiences at electronic dance music events.
The study, carried out at the University of Leeds in England, found women reported mental and physical wellbeing benefits from attending these events.
Seeing favourite DJs was the most common motivation, but many women also described dancing as a way to relieve stress and find emotional support.
The research found that 65.9 per cent of participants described attending a rave as “spiritual”, while 62.9 per cent said it offered an escape from everyday life.
A further 58.3 per cent said they felt like a different version of themselves in a club environment.
Nine in ten participants said they felt at home at electronic dance music events, with many pointing to a shared passion for music and the sense of community around it.
The study also suggested physical fitness played a role, with some women saying they had made clubbing part of their regular exercise routine.
However, the findings also highlighted challenges for older women in nightlife spaces.
One fifth of participants said they felt visibly out of place because of their age.
Nearly half reported unwanted physical contact, leading some to seek out different venues or attend only with friends.
Osteoporosis may raise the risk of death in postmenopausal women by up to 47 per cent, a new study suggests.
The findings point to an inverse relationship between femoral bone mineral density and mortality risk, especially within certain ranges.
Femoral bone mineral density is the amount of mineral in the thigh bone, which is often measured to assess bone strength and osteoporosis risk.
Dr Monica Christmas is associate medical director for The Menopause Society.
She said: “Osteoporosis often remains a silent threat after menopause, despite its profound effect on women’s lives—from loss of height, poor balance, and reduced mobility to disfigurement, pain, and even premature death.
“Early screening and preventive measures, including a calcium-rich diet (preferably from food sources), regular weight-bearing exercise, and hormone therapy when appropriate, can significantly improve bone health and reduce risks not only of fractures but also cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and dementia.
“It’s time we bring this conversation to the forefront.”
In the study involving nearly 3,000 postmenopausal women, bone mineral density at four femoral sites was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, a scan commonly used to measure bone strength and fracture risk.
The analysis found that mortality risk was significantly higher when femoral bone mineral density reached the osteoporotic threshold or when osteoporotic fractures were present.
After full adjustment, osteoporosis was associated with a 47 per cent increased risk of mortality.
A stronger inverse association between increased bone mineral density and mortality risk was seen within specific ranges, suggesting bone mineral density could serve as a prognostic marker of wider health.
The relationship appeared especially notable within the range of 0.46 to 0.71 g/cm² for total femur bone mineral density.
Previous research has shown that postmenopausal women face a significantly higher risk of death within one year of hip or vertebral fractures.
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