Testimony

Testimony by Isabelle Messier

Vice President, Petit Coulou

Hôpital de St-Jérôme, 2 Cyclophosphamide and 2 Docetaxel treatments every 3 weeks

2022

If you are someone who likes taking on challenges, cold caps can be one of them. For me, it was one more victory in my journey.

Before

During

After

In 2022, when I received my second breast cancer diagnosis, I discovered cold caps… the very day before my oncology appointment. I did not even know yet whether I would need chemotherapy. We were in the middle of the pandemic. I met my oncologist on Monday, and by Friday, I had already started treatment. Everything happened very quickly. We had to find the caps in time, learn how they worked through instructional videos, understand the precautions and adapted hair care… all in a context of stress and urgency. At that time, having a loved one present at the hospital was prohibited due to COVID. Yet installing and changing the caps during infusion requires assistance. Thanks to [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiereis/](Sophie Reis), whom I was following on social media [https://www.instagram.com/uncancerencadeau]((@uncancerencadeau)), I received invaluable support. She took the time to write to me, guide me, and even contact the head nurse with whom she had been treated at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. The head nurse then contacted my team at Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme, where it was the first time they had used this type of cap. Because of these efforts, I was granted permission for my husband to accompany me to help install the caps during treatment. Without Sophie, this might not have been possible. I am deeply grateful to her. Cold caps require compromises: • washing your hair less frequently • using a very gentle shampoo • following adapted hair care routines But for me, it was worth it. Ten years earlier, during my first chemotherapy, I did not know this option existed. I wore a wig. I was younger, my children were small, and I did not want the look in other people’s eyes to constantly remind me of the illness. I wanted to continue my life “normally,” take my children to school and daycare without everyone knowing. At home, I removed the wig and wore a beanie… but outside, I looked well. This time, thanks to the caps, I lost about 40% of my hair. It was thinner, but I was not completely bald. People may have noticed a change… without necessarily associating it with cancer. For me, that was huge. Yes, it is a challenge. Yes, it is an adventure. But cancer is one too. If you are someone who likes to take on challenges, cold caps can be part of that journey. For me, it is one more victory. Today, I feel like a winner for having gone through all of it. Isabelle P.S. I also recommend reading the book [https://amzn.to/4tJXvUw](Un cancer en cadeau: apprendre, comprendre et s’outiller pour agir), which provided tools that I still use today.

Since 2023, anyone wishing to use the cold cap method may be accompanied, in all hospitals across Quebec.

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