Hope, hair and healing through cold capping

When she was first diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease which often requires chemotherapy, Kim Alexander’s focus was on survival – not the potential loss of her hair.

That was until a post on social media led her to a resource she didn’t know she needed.

“I saw someone mention ‘cold capping’ in a Facebook group,” Kim said. “I had never heard of it. I didn’t even know it was an option during chemo.”

Cold capping restricts blood flow and reduces chemotherapy exposure to hair follicles, which helps prevent hair loss. Kim soon learned the scalp cooling treatment was offered at Baptist Health through a partnership with Paxman, the company that makes cold caps, because of support from generous donors.

Kim’s oncologist, Dr. Mounika Mandadi, explained the treatment plan in detail, and at first, she said, it felt daunting; she would need the ACT regimen, a standard approach for more aggressive types of breast cancer, and the addition of cold capping could be overwhelming. But that night, Kim came across a story online that helped her see what was possible.

“It was a black woman who had gone through the same treatment, and she kept her hair,” Kim explained. “Her hair looked like mine. That gave me hope. I knew I had to try.”

The experience was a lot to take in, and didn’t come without moments of fear and uncertainty, like the day she lost a larger amount of hair. But Kim found a way to get through it, and washing her hair became a small reminder that she still had some control over her future.

“Your hair isn’t who you are, but it’s a part of you,” Kim shared. “Everything else in your cancer journey is out of your hands. Cold capping gave me something I could choose for myself. It was something I could hold on to.”

Thanks to donor support, Baptist Health can offer this option to more patients facing breast cancer. It’s not just about hair – it's about dignity, confidence, and the ability to face each day with a little more strength.

“I’m so grateful I had the option,” Kim said. “It mattered more than I can say.”