Diagnosis: Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer
Drug regimen: 6 rounds of Carboplatin and Taxol
Ashley says: “I am very happy and thankful and would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Ashley is a busy 36-year-old mom, balancing family life with her career as an instructional coach within her local school district in Canton, GA, where she lives with her husband and two sons, aged 17 and 16 months.
Ashley’s diagnosis and treatment
When Ashley was diagnosed with stage one Ovarian Cancer, naturally, her first thoughts were for her family. “My biggest fear was I might miss out on watching my sons grow into men and that I wouldn’t grow old with my husband.”
After being prescribed six rounds of Carboplatin and Taxol, administered every three weeks, Ashley’s oncology team explained the side effects she should expect from the treatment – one of which was complete hair loss.
Why was it important for you to save your hair?
Ashley, a young woman with a public-facing job, found the prospect of hair loss challenging to face.
“I’m 36, a mother with a young family – I know my worth is not found in my appearance, but it does make going through something like this a little more manageable,” explains Ashley. “Saving my hair meant I could retain some sense of normalcy at an extremely turbulent time in my life.”
How did you find out about cold capping?
Ashley was alerted to cold capping by a friend who’d previously used the caps to save her hair on chemo. “As soon as my friend told me about cold capping, I started researching,” says Ashley. “I found so many inspirational women online who had shared their experiences, and I learned so much from them. They gave me the confidence to go ahead.”
Cold Capping with Penguin
Ashley only had a small window of time from the moment she was diagnosed to the date of her treatment, so she needed to act quickly.
“I chose Penguin Cold Caps, partly because they were able to get the caps to me and provide me with the necessary training in time,” recalls Ashley. “I found the ordering process simple and convenient, and they managed to turn around my order very efficiently.”
Ashley recruited her family and friends to help her with caps, “I was fortunate to have the support of my husband, my dad, and a few close friends to help me freeze and switch the caps during my treatment, although by the end, I was able to do it myself.”
“It was cold,” Ashley stresses, “but after the initial shock, it does become manageable.”
Ashley’s advice is to wear warm clothes and bring extra layers. She suggests a heated blanket and a neck pillow to help support the excess weight of the caps. “And drink all the warm coffee you want!”
What were your results?
Ashley’s hair is blonde, very long, and thick. “I did shed throughout the six rounds of my treatment,” explains Ashley, “but I’ve saved enough hair that I don’t need to wear a wig or hair covering, and that was my main objective.”
She adds, “I am very happy and thankful and would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Get in touch
If you’re about to undergo chemotherapy and want to find out more about cold capping, why not request a call back. Our reps can provide more information, and answer all of your questions. Just click here, complete the form and your local rep will be in touch.