LETTERKENNY University Hospital is being urged to provide treatment to help cancer patients reduce hair loss.
Green Party Senators have put forward a motion calling on the government to extend scalp cooling technology to all people receiving cancer treatment.
The motion is calling for Letterkenny University Hospital to have the hair retaining service extended to the facility.
Currently, only seven hospitals in the country offer scalp cooling treatment, which is an increasingly effective method of preventing hair loss for those undergoing certain types of chemotherapy.
The motion calling for an extension of scalp cooling services across all public hospitals came before the Seanad on Wedesday last, having been put forward by Green Party Senators Pauline O’Reilly, Róisín Garvey, and Vincent P. Martin.
Senator Pauline O’Reilly said it is important to many people going through cancer treatment that they retain as much hair as possible. She said it was “essential” that the serviceis extended to all 26 public hospitals providing anti-cancer therapies in Ireland.
She said that keeping your hair during cancer treatment shouldn’t be a “matter of geography”, adding that people living in Donegal or receiving treatment there “shouldn’t be at a disadvantage to other areas”.
She said: “Losing your hair through cancer treatments is often one of the most difficult side effects that people have to deal with. For many people, and women in particular, their hair is an important part of who they are and retaining it can help them retain their dignity during a very difficult time.
“When given the option, many people will choose to use the ‘cold cap’ treatment and what we want is all hospitals who treat cancer to offer this service.
“We hope the government will look positively on this proposal.”
Scalp cooling is a hypothermia treatment which can help minimise hair loss for those undergoing chemotherapy, this involves using a ‘cold cap’ machine during chemotherapy to reduce blood flow to the scalp.
Studies of scalp cooling have found that it is an increasingly effective method to prevent hair loss, particularly for specific types of chemotherapy and for those undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
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