Purchasing a Cold Cap for Oncology Patients

In December 2024, a new oncology-hematology center was opened at the hospital, following an investment of approximately 8 million NIS. Spanning around 1,800 square meters—three times the size of the previous facility—the new center is equipped with the most advanced medical technology, comfortable and personalized treatment stations designed for prolonged care (both seated and reclining), state-of-the-art examination rooms, and all necessary amenities to support both medical treatment and patient comfort, as well as the well-being of their families.

Our goal is to provide the many oncology patients in our region with the most advanced medical care and comprehensive support services to help ease the challenges of their illness and improve their quality of life during this difficult time. To achieve this, we aim to acquire a Cold Cap, a specialized system designed to prevent or significantly reduce hair loss caused by chemotherapy treatments.

Scalp Cooling

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells in the body. While cancerous tumors consist of fast-dividing cells, so do hair follicles, nails, the mouth’s mucous lining, and other areas. Because chemotherapy cannot distinguish between healthy cells in the hair follicles and cancer cells in the tumor, it damages both, leading to hair loss.

Beyond the physical toll of treatment, cancer patients often experience significant emotional distress, not only from the illness itself but also from its side effects—especially hair loss, which can impact self-esteem and well-being.

The Cold Cap (Scalp Cooling System) is an innovative, FDA-approved treatment designed to prevent or significantly reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. It also helps support healthier hair regrowth after treatment, particularly among breast cancer patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy.

How It Works

The cap is connected via tubes to a machine that continuously circulates a cooling liquid at temperatures as low as -4°C. This reduces scalp temperature to 18-20°C, compared to its normal temperature of around 36°C. As a result, blood flow to the hair follicles decreases, minimizing their exposure to chemotherapy drugs.

The Cold Cap consists of two layers:

1. An inner silicone cap through which the cooling liquid circulates. 
2.  An outer insulating cap made of spongy rubber to maintain the cooling effect.

This treatment is an important service that significantly aids in the emotional and psychological well-being of patients, helping them maintain a sense of normalcy and improving their quality of life during a challenging period.

Why Is This Needed?

Currently, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center does not have a Cold Cap system, leaving our oncology patients to face hair loss as a severe side effect of treatment. Some patients resort to purchasing private cold caps, which are expensive, cumbersome, and lack machine connectivity. For example, manually cooled caps require around 40 kg of dry ice per chemotherapy session, and a caregiver is needed to assist throughout the process.

Our Goal: Acquiring a PAXMAN Cold Cap System

We aim to purchase a PAXMAN Cold Cap System, which allows two patients to be treated simultaneously.

The cost of the system is approximately 200,000 NIS.

This advanced system will provide our oncology patients with an essential service, reducing the psychological burden of treatment and enhancing their overall well-being.

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