How do we plan, organize the cooler and install our cold caps on our heads?

To guide you in planning, organizing and installing your cold caps, the <a href="https://gardetescheveux-staging.netlify.app/ressources/" target="_blank">Resources</a> section of our site is packed with valuable resources, including a sample schedule, a timing sheet and many useful videos : for assembling cooler, for putting cold cap on head and many more. You'll find detailed information to help you prepare before, during and after each stage of the process. The use of cold caps is divided into three essential phases: 1. Before (pre-cooling ): This step is designed to prepare your hair follicles by putting them into a dormant state before the chemotherapy infusion begins. 2. During: Cold caps are worn during the administration of chemotherapy drugs. It's crucial to follow the instructions scrupulously during this phase. 3. After treatment: The length of time you will continue to use the cold caps after the end of the infusion will depend on the specific chemotherapy protocol you are following. For example, if you choose manual cold caps from Penguin Cold Caps, their team will recommend your individualized optimal period of cold cap use based on the data you provide in your order questionnaire. Some chemotherapy protocols begin with the administration of "pre-medications" through your infusion. It's important to understand that pre-medication time does not count as the start of the chemotherapy infusion. You should allow about 50 minutes (up to an hour) of pre-cooling before the start of your chemotherapy infusion, not before your catheter is inserted, nor before you start pre-medication. Find out from your health-care team how the pre-medication will be administered and how long it may take, so that you can work with them to estimate the scheduled start time of your chemotherapy infusion. During the pre-cooling period, cold caps should be changed every 20 minutes to maintain optimum temperature. From the start of your chemotherapy infusion and for the next few hours, you'll need to change cold caps every 25 minutes. It's vital that the cold cap is at the right temperature before fitting. A cold cap that's too cold can cause burns, as they can initially come out of the cooler at extremely low temperatures, sometimes below -58 degrees Fahrenheit (-50 °C). We therefore recommend removing them from the cooler slightly ahead of schedule, warming them with towels, and even sitting on them if necessary. It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes for the first cold caps to warm up, after which the warm-up time decreases as the cold caps become less cold on removal from the cooler. A protocol will be provided by your supplier to guide you, but it is important to check the actual temperature of the cold caps using an appropriate electronic thermometer, and to adapt to the reality you encounter when using the cold caps. When replacing a cold cap, promptly remove the used cold cap from your head and replace it immediately with the next cold cap whose temperature you have previously checked as adequate. Make it a priority to change cold caps quickly, so as not to leave the scalp uncovered for more than a few seconds. Once the cold cap has been fully installed, you'll have time to replace the used cold cap in the dry-ice cooler. While one cold cap and headband are in place, the other two cold caps and headbands are cooling in the cooler. Retrieve the cold cap from the bottom of the cooler and put it back on your head. Place the last cold cap used between the two layers of dry ice at the top of the cooler. Cold caps should continue to be used after discharge from hospital, on the way home and at home, for a minimum of 3 to 5 hours after the end of the chemotherapy infusion, according to the protocol provided to you by the supplier. Some people prefer to extend this period to 6 to 8 hours after the chemotherapy infusion, to maximize the benefits of the cold caps and increase their chances of success. Chemotherapy is gradually eliminated from your body via urine. The aim is to keep the scalp cool for as long as possible while the body eliminates the chemotherapy. Drinking plenty of water during and after the chemotherapy infusion can help to eliminate it quickly.