Patient Experiences
Since forming in 2016, HairToStay has awarded subsidies to nearly 3,600 patients, each with their own unique story and experience with scalp cooling. Read about some of these inspirational stories.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 23 years ago. It was not invasive and I only needed a mastectomy with no follow up treatment. In February I was diagnosed with cancer a second time in the other breast. I was informed that treatment would require 6 rounds of chemotherapy because it was a different kind of cancer and then a mastectomy. I knew I could handle the mastectomy, I had done that before. Needless to say I was stressed about also losing my hair. read more

Ann
Hairtostay subsidy recipient
A friend of mine read about the Penguin Cold Caps in “O” magazine. I had been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the end of January, 2012, started Chemo Feb. 20th, and cut all my hair off on March 9th. I found out about the Cold Caps after that. My hair started falling out around March 4th. I started using the Cold Cap machine on Monday March 19th. I was not completely bald. I was very skeptical about the Cold Cap machine, as were both my doctors. My pillow had been full of them every day…. read more

Marci
HairToStay Subsidy Recipient
When I was told that I was going to have to undergo chemo, my first response was “NO”. I did not want to lose my hair, I did not want to lose my femininity. Panic set in. I know it seemed silly to some, but it was monumental to me. Chemo screams the unknown. Nobody could tell me what would happen to me. I wanted to at least look the same. The doctor assured me that my hair would grow back fine, but I read online that women who had my kind of chemo were… read more

Jacquie
Hairtostay subsidy recipient
I wanted to write and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind subsidy from HairToStay. I was diagnosed at age 31, six months before my wedding. If that wasn’t difficult enough, my doctor recommended four rounds of Taxotere/Cytoxan chemotherapy. She told me I would “certainly lose all of my hair.” This was so devastating to hear as a young bride! I have a lot of pride in my long auburn locks! I actually considered not doing chemo at all (I was a “borderline” case) because of this. read more

Tiffany
HairToStay Subsidy Recipient
As a wife and mother of two, finding out I had breast cancer at 33 was the scariest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. When my oncologist told me that chemo was recommended I immediately thought about loosing my hair. As vain as it sounds I couldn’t imagine it. It’s hard enough to go through chemo and feel sick, then you have to lose your hair and a little bit of dignity as well. I googled “how to keep your hair during chemo” expecting no results. read more

Carissa
Hairtostay subsidy recipient
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2013. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial at the University of California-San Francisco for DigniCap, an experimental treatment that cools the head during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss. The idea behind the “cold cap” is relatively simple and it wasn’t uncomfortable. I had no side effects and retained most of my hair. I never needed a wig during treatment and even went on national TV… read more

Deborah
HairToStay Subsidy Recipient
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