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Paxman Canada

Our page is a place to share Canadian experiences about scalp cooling and the Paxman system

When Sue Paxman lost her hair while receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer, her family shared her distress. Sue's husband, Glenn Paxman founded Paxman on the back of this experience and to this day we remain a close family business. Knowing first-hand the effects that both cancer and its treatment can have on patients, friends and families, our business is much more than just a job. We aim to ma

ke a difference to people’s lives by raising awareness about scalp cooling and establishing it as a common practice for all patients undergoing treatment. As the leading global manufacturer and supplier of scalp cooling equipment, we work in partnership with medical professionals, research centres, cancer support groups, charities and patients to continually improve our technology. Investing in scientific testing and development has allowed us to attain outstanding technical precision and the highest levels of clinical efficacy. We strive to gain further knowledge and understanding of hair loss prevention for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. We are committed to giving patients a degree of control during chemotherapy treatment. We have made it our responsibility to offer advice, support and access to scalp cooling for cancer patients no matter where they are based in the world. Having been through the same journey as many patients and their families, we are dedicated to empowering people by giving them the choice to keep their hair.

07/19/2023

When can I expect to see regrowth?

Regrowth will be faster, healthier and stronger after scalp cooling, you’ve protected your hair follicles through the process so hair is on its way!

The majority of people will see regrowth between 8 – 12 weeks post final chemo. But it’s important to remember, everyone is different. Depending on your regimen, it is possible to see regrowth before the end of chemo.

It’s important to remember you’ve done everything you can to protect your hair follicles and regrowth will happen, try to be patient, it can feel like a long time until you see those lovely new hairs.

Find out more about regrowth via the link in our bio!

07/12/2023

When can I dye my hair?

This is a question we get asked a lot! We would suggest waiting until shedding has returned to normal (somewhere around 12 weeks) to dye your hair, though it may be that you need to wait a little longer. Always seek the advice of an experienced hairdresser who is aware of your circumstances. They will give you an indication of what your hair can handle.

The concern isn't only the condition of your hair, but it can take a while for your scalp to not be reactive or sensitive to chemicals. It's really important that you patch test in advance.

Read more about post treatment hair care via the link in our bio!

07/05/2023

What is normal shedding?

When you’ve been through treatment and are hyper aware of the hair you are losing it can be difficult to understand what normal shedding looks like. When you are noticing shedding less, you will know it is back to normal.

Remember, completely healthy people will shed on average 100 hairs per day!

Take a look at our post treatment hair care blog via the link in our bio!

06/28/2023

Some people may experience patchy hair loss. One of the main questions that comes with this is how to prepare your hair to continue scalp cooling with patches of exposed scalp. There are a couple of options to consider, but whichever you choose it is important to protect your scalp from direct contact with the inner cap, as it will significantly improve tolerability.

💛 Comb your retained hair over the exposed areas of scalp. This can sometimes be the easiest choice if your hair is long enough
💛 Use a surgical cap on top of your prepped hair, under the inner cap
💛 Use gauze to cover areas of exposed scalp, though it can be tricky to get the gauze in the right place

Read more about shedding via the link in our bio!

06/21/2023

Shedding is normal!

Shedding is an inevitable part of the scalp cooling process. Everyone should expect shedding to a certain degree – even those with the highest rates of retention will experience shedding.

We ask you to go into the scalp cooling process with a positive mind, and focus on the hair on your head rather than the hairs you’re losing.

There are no guarantees, scalp cooling is different for everyone, but the vast majority of people who try it find it worthwhile.

Read more about shedding via the link in our bio!

06/14/2023

🚿 We recommend washing your hair in lukewarm water. 🚿

You don’t need to use cold water when washing your hair when you are scalp cooling. You should avoid very hot water, but warm water is completely fine, whether you are washing or rinsing your hair in a sink, in the bath or in the shower.

For more information on how to look after your hair during scalp cooling, download our common-sense haircare guide via the link in our bio!

06/07/2023

To understand which hair preparation, you need to follow for scalp cooling, you will need to identify which hair type you have.

Type 1 hair is straight, this means your hair dries naturally without a kink or curl.

Type 2 hair is straight to wavy hair. This means your hair dries naturally with a bend or wave.

Type 3 hair ranges from tight curly tendrils to light curls.

Type 4 hair is coily hair, this is very tight small curls or zig zags.

You can watch the tutorial videos for hair preparation via the link in our bio!

05/31/2023

Cooling times are really key when it comes to the best outcomes from scalp cooling, pre-infusion cooling is important to ensure your scalp can reach 18C/22C (65F /72F) – the optimum temperature for protecting your follicles, before the chemotherapy drugs are infused.

Pre-infusion cooling time is 30 minutes for all regimens and combinations. If you have thick or voluminous hair, this should be extended to 45 minutes.

Your clinical team will take care of the operating of the system, so please don’t worry too much about the logistics!

05/23/2023

Scalp cooling is tolerable for most people, but the first 15 minutes can be tough. Distractions can really help to make the first bit a little easier to handle. Here’s a few things we recommend trying:

Magazines
Books
Music
iPad/Phone to watch videos or series
Crafts/Knitting

Take whatever you enjoy to do, hang on in there!

Take a look at our treatment day guide via the link in our bio.

05/16/2023

We often get asked questions about what to do when it comes to washing your hair while undergoing scalp cooling.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

We recommend washing your hair less than you did before chemo, no more than twice a week. When it comes to washing your hair, you should find a balance between washing it often enough to keep it manageable yet not too frequently, as this could lead to removing your natural hair oils that help prevent your hair from getting really dry.

Most people find that they need to wash their hair less frequently as they go through chemo, as chemo will dry out your hair and scalp.

Discover what works best for your hair by finding a good compromise.

For more haircare advice and tips, visit our haircare blog via the link in our bio!

05/10/2023

When regrowth happens, some patients see a big difference in the colour and texture of their hair that has grown back and others see no difference at all. This change in hair texture is a result of hair follicles changing shape.

Hair regrowth can result in a lot more grey hair coming through, but it is possible that these grey hairs won’t be permanent and that your hair will become pigmented again.

If you haven't dyed your hair in a while, you may have had greys that you hadn’t noticed before undergoing chemotherapy.
For more information visit our Haircare blog to read about all things regrowth!

05/03/2023

Many people choose to scalp cool to keep their hair but often forget about the benefits of regrowth beyond hair retention. Regrowth has been clinically proven to enable faster, healthier, and stronger hair growth with scalp cooling.

The prospect of regrowth is incredibly encouraging for patients as it’s a sign of moving onwards, feeling like themselves again, and returning to a new sense of normality.

Regrowth is highly dependent on the drugs you are receiving. We recommend you educate yourself on your drug regimen and cancer type so that you know what to expect going into the scalp cooling process, as the outcome can vary among different people.

Although regrowth may not occur immediately post final chemo, it will be much quicker than if you didn't choose to scalp cool. If you want to scalp cool to promote regrowth, the choice is entirely yours.

05/02/2023

May is Oncology Nursing Month. Nurses are often at the forefront of chemotherapy treatment and are there to hold patients’ hands during the tough times.

Thank you for all you do for patients, including supporting them through chemotherapy and scalp cooling.

04/25/2023

Going through chemotherapy can take a humongous toll on people’s mental health. Wanting to give scalp cooling a chance to keep your hair during chemotherapy treatment shouldn’t make you feel like a burden on the hospital.

Many institutions and hospitals recognize the devastating effect hair loss can have on a chemotherapy patient and want to ensure their emotional well-being is being looked after just as much as their physical health. If that means giving them the opportunity to scalp cool so the patient has a better chance of keeping their hair and the ability to feel more confident, then they will do just that.

04/20/2023

‘Paxman allowed me to control my story and share it on my own terms. No one knew I had cancer just from looking at me.’

This quote from one of our patient pioneers shows how scalp cooling can impact a patient’s privacy, by allowing them to take control of their situation and share their cancer diagnosis on their own terms. This relieves the pressure off patients feeling like they must explain themselves to everyone.

It’s not just about keeping your hair, it’s everything else that comes with it.

04/13/2023

We’re at the CAPhO Annual Conference in Toronto this week!

The incredible Natalie Cabral, a previous patient, will be talking about her scalp cooling experience during a roundtable discussion.

“Although going into chemo, I knew that I was going to lose a good portion of my hair, if not all. The Paxman Cold Cap allowed me to go through this horrible process with confidence, which also helped me stay positive and get through this hurdle with courage.”

We can't wait to be a part of such a fantastic event that encourages patients to share their stories and experience, to educate and raise awareness of treatments such as scalp cooling - an effective side-effect management solution to chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

04/12/2023

What’s the best piece of advice we can give to someone about to start scalp cooling?

We always say - while there are no guarantees when scalp cooling, it’s important you approach each treatment session educated, confident, and with a positive mindset.

By choosing to scalp cool, you know you’ve done the very best thing to protect your hair follicles during chemotherapy. You should be able to trust the decisions you have made and remain optimistic for the duration of your treatment.

We understand this is easier said than done, but remember, you’re never alone on this journey. Should you need it, our Paxman scalp cooling community is here to support you every step of the way.

To be a part of our scalp cooling community, join our patient Facebook group: bit.ly/3kSq5US

04/03/2023

Paxman exists because of Sue.

Paxman was born out of a husband's desire to prevent his wife from suffering through the trauma of chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

By recognizing the devastating impact hair loss can have on an individual, the Paxman Scalp Cooling System was developed to help minimise hair loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Watch Sue's story below.

03/28/2023

People are often anxious about scalp cooling being a painful experience, but the truth is, this isn’t the case for everyone. Some individuals often find the first 15 minutes of scalp cooling tough but tolerable.

One of our patients who underwent scalp cooling explained:

“Although it is very cold (which it is obviously meant to be!), it was certainly not unbearable, and once my head was used to it, I didn’t even notice it was there.”

Bringing items such as a book, magazine, music, or watching videos on a phone/tablet can all help to keep you distracted throughout the process. Take whatever you enjoy doing, and hang on in there!

Take a look at our treatment page here: bit.ly/3wI35dT

03/23/2023

The best possible thing you can do for yourself before heading into your treatment day is to do your own research.

We always stress the importance of watching and re-watching our cold cap and hair preparation tutorial videos, to familiarise yourself with the processes and feel prepared for treatment day.

Watch our tutorial videos and read up on all the available materials we have on our patient website and haircare blog.

03/20/2023

Treatment day has arrived, and it’s understandable that you may be feeling a range of different emotions right now. But don’t fear – we will be there with you every step of the way!

We want to make the scalp cooling process as simple and stress-free as possible, so we’ve compiled a list of items you may want to bring with you when packing your chemo bag for treatment day:

- Towel
- Conditioner
- Spray Bottle
- Hairbrush
- Mirror

03/16/2023

The CTFOC podcast got involved in the International Scalp Cooling Registry, sitting down with Dr Corina Van den Hurk and Dr Maryam Lustberg.

The expansion of the Dutch Scalp Cooling Registry to measure further variables, gaps in scalp cooling clinical research, and what the future holds for collecting data are all drawn upon to make for an insightful discussion.

Catch up now here: https://bit.ly/402cGts

03/14/2023

Understandably, deciding whether or not you should scalp cool can be a tough choice to make. In order to make this decision a little easier for you, we have developed a decision-making guide that combines data from over 7000 patients within the Dutch Scalp Cooling Registry.

The decision-making guide is an extremely useful, easy to use resource for our patients. To see an indication of what hair retention you might experience when scalp cooling, simply enter information about your chemo type and dosage.

You can access our decision-making guide here: bit.ly/3Dse0fF

03/13/2023

A fantastic discussion about regrowth on episode 2 of the CTFOC podcast!

Dr Jyoti Bajpai and Professor Masakazu Toi discussed hair regrowth as a secondary endpoint in scalp cooling trials, and the importance of treatment sequencing to reflect each individual patient’s definition of success.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/402cGts

03/08/2023

In episode 1 of the CTFOC podcast, Rich sat down with Dr Maryam Lustberg and Dr Corina Van den Hurk to discuss whether the life-threatening nature of cancer means chemotherapy side effects are readily accepted.

Both guests shared their connections to scalp cooling and agreed that a better approach to symptom management is needed.

Listen to episode 1 here: https://bit.ly/402cGts

03/06/2023

It’s important to note that while the outcomes of scalp cooling - hair retention and faster regrowth - can be hugely beneficial, you need to be prepared for some of the changes you may face during the scalp cooling process. This includes: changing your hair care routine, dealing with patchy hair loss, and how to handle shedding.

So, ask yourself, ‘Will I be able to handle the scalp cooling process?’

To help, we have plenty of information available on our website, along with our designated patient Facebook group, where you can speak to others and learn how they dealt with the scalp cooling process - so that you’re never alone during your experience.

03/02/2023

The CTFOC podcast investigates how cancer treatment pathways can focus on patient-centric care, the barriers faced, and the steps the global oncology space is taking to integrate cryotherapy to improve quality of care for patients.

It features key discussions with renowned oncologists, clinical researchers and medical thought leaders. It discusses the development and practice of side effect management, such as scalp cooling, and challenges healthcare preconceptions.

Catch up on all episodes now here: https://bit.ly/402cGts

03/01/2023

At Paxman, our vision is to ensure that every eligible cancer patient, no matter where they are in the world, has the choice to scalp cool.

We are proud that the Paxman Scalp Cooling System is currently available in over 50+ countries across the world. Our cold cap locator is a fantastic patient resource, where you can locate a system near you and find out how to contact the provider to access scalp cooling.

If there are no available systems near you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and we will aim to help you in any way possible.

Visit our Cold Cap Locator here: https://bit.ly/3DsftT0

02/27/2023

Which cancers can you scalp cool with during your chemotherapy treatment?

After FDA Clearance in the US, scalp cooling has been indicated to reduce the likelihood of Chemotherapy Induced Alopecia (CIA) in solid tumor cancers. Scalp cooling is proven to be safe and efficacious for patients undergoing chemotherapy for the following solid tumor cancers:

- Breast
- Prostate
- Uterine
- Ovarian
- Lung

It’s always a good idea to speak to your clinical team to seek more information on if scalp cooling is right for you and your treatment plan.

02/23/2023

We often receive questions on the difference between mechanized and manual scalp cooling. We want to make sure you are informed of both options, so that you can make your own decision on which treatment is right for you.

Paxman scalp cooling is a type of mechanized scalp cooling. This form of scalp cooling is practical and convenient to operate. It only requires fitting your cap and plugging in the system, then the system will do all the cooling for you.

Manual scalp cooling differs, as it requires multiple scalp cooling caps to be kept at freezing temperatures and swapped out and changed once they’ve become warm and used.

02/21/2023

When does scalp cooling happen?

Scalp cooling takes place during your chemotherapy treatment. A medical professional will operate the Paxman system, ensuring you are receiving the appropriate cooling times during your chemotherapy treatment.

There are 3 stages of cooling:

Pre-infusion – You are connected to the scalp cooling system 30 minutes before your chemotherapy infusion. If you have thick hair, we suggest doing this is 45 minutes before your chemotherapy infusion. Pre-infusion ensures your scalp can reach 18-22 OC.

You then cool for the entirety of your chemotherapy infusion.

Post-Infusion – this happens 90 minutes after you complete your chemotherapy infusion. The only exception to this cooling time is single-agent Docetaxel (20 minutes) and Paclitaxel (60 minutes).

02/16/2023

What does the scalp cooling system actually look like?

Scalp cooling operates via a mechanised medical device, which is essentially a small refrigeration unit, containing a coolant which is circulated through specially designed cooling caps.

The cooling caps are available in different sizes and are designed to provide a close fit around the patient’s head. The most important thing you can do to achieve the best possible outcome with scalp cooling is to use the appropriate cap size and achieve the best possible cap fit.

To learn more about cap sizing watch our tutorial videos here: https://bit.ly/3GTblO7

02/14/2023

A common misconception is that scalp cooling freezes the scalp. This is not the case - scalp cooling does not freeze your scalp, it simply reduces your scalp temperature in order to protect your hair follicles during chemotherapy.

Some patients worry that the reduced temperature of the scalp will be a painful experience, however for most, it is just the first 15 minutes they find uncomfortable before it becomes tolerable. Many patients find distraction techniques such as reading a book, listening to music and watching TV extremely useful.

02/06/2023

How does scalp cooling help prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia?

Scalp cooling reduces your scalp temperature to 18OC – 22OC/64F – 72F. By reducing the temperature of the scalp, it causes a combination of biological processes to occur which in turn protect your hair follicles.

For more information on the science behind scalp cooling, you can watch our ‘How It Works’ video here: https://bit.ly/3CAq2mH

02/03/2023

Why do some chemo drugs cause chemotherapy-induced alopecia?

Chemotherapy drugs work by attacking rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, these drugs cannot differentiate between the rapidly dividing cells in your body. This means they may attack cells including your hair follicles, which in turn causes hair to fall out. Hair loss typically occur 2-3 weeks after the first round of chemotherapy treatment.

Scalp cooling helps protect your hair follicles during chemotherapy. This helps retain some of your hair during treatment as well as encouraging faster regrowth.

02/01/2023

Let’s start at the very beginning – what exactly is scalp cooling?

Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is one of the most traumatic side effects of chemotherapy treatment. Scalp cooling is an effective side effect management solution that has been clinically proven to help cancer patients retain hair during chemotherapy, as well as encouraging faster, stronger and healthier regrowth.

01/30/2023

Knotting, Tangling and Matting.

We often get concerns surrounding knotting, tangling and matting of the hair during the scalp cooling process. As we know, chemotherapy has a very drying effect on your scalp and hair, meaning damaged hair is particularly prone to tangling.

Here are a few simple ways you can aim to avoid knotting, tangling and matting, to improve your scalp cooling experience:

💛Brush your hair twice a day (if it is straight or wavy) or finger comb (if it is curly or coily). This will remove loose strands of shed hair to avoid knotting.

💛 Avoid circular movements and rubbing when washing your hair. The dryness of your hair in combination with shampoo and friction from rubbing can often lead to matting.

💛Try to keep your hair in the best possible condition - use lots of conditioner, and a detangling spray can help too.

💛 Sleep in a loose plait (if your hair is long enough) or try using a silk pillow case or sleep cap. Silk will cause less friction on your hair as you move around in your sleep, causing less tangling to occur.

💛If your hair is long and damaged, it may be worth considering cutting it to shoulder length or into a bob. By cutting away the damaged ends, it can make your hair a lot easier to manage.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3k1YD6J

01/25/2023

What are we aiming to achieve through hair preparation before scalp cooling?

It is important that your hair is properly prepared before the cap is fitted on the day of treatment. The biggest challenge for hair prep with types 3 and 4 hair is to reduce hair volume.

Why do we have specific hair preparation advice?

🧡 To reduce the volume of the hair and eliminate small pockets of air that can insulate the scalp
🧡 To aid conductivity, allowing heat to travel away from your scalp
🧡 To aid with easy removal of the cap after treatment

Full hair preparation videos for all hair types can be found here: https://bit.ly/3S1nOBC

01/19/2023

Identifying your hair type before you scalp cool is essential. This way, you can prepare your hair for treatment the correct way.

🧡 Type 3 is curly hair, including loose spiral curls to tight springy curls
🧡 Type 4 is coily hair, strands grow in very tight small curls, zig-zags or coils from the scalp

Full hair preparation videos for all hair types can be found here: https://bit.ly/3S1nOBC

01/16/2023

One of our highest priorities is making sure that anyone who wishes to scalp cool can. We know that everyone’s hair is different, particularly when it comes to scalp cooling hair care and hair preparation.

We firmly believe that scalp cooling is an efficacious addition to chemotherapy treatment for all patients, as long as the appropriate guidance is available.

We now have dedicated hair preparation for types 3 and 4 hair, allowing us to continue providing support for patients with curly and coily hair.

Full hair preparation videos for all hair types can be found here: https://bit.ly/3S1nOBC

Address

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Telephone

+16476329625

Website

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