We prioritize patients in the chemotherapy line

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19/5 Why do cancer patients refuse to keep their hair

Cold therapy to the scalp during chemotherapy can prevent some patients from experiencing the side effects of temporary hair loss. At Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we do not offer treatment with the new cryotherapy machine because it increases the treatment time for typical chemotherapy from one hour to three hours.

Right now, we have a waiting list for chemotherapy. One of the reasons is that research and development has provided more and better treatments for cancer than before, while there is a shortage of nurses capable of providing these treatments. We also need to consider limited access to treatment rooms.

At Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we do not offer treatment with the new cryomachine because it increases the treatment time for typical chemotherapy from one hour to three hours.

In the end, it is political decisions that determine the resources we have. We in the medical profession are charged, in addition to providing quality and equal care on the basis of need, to judiciously supervise the resources we receive. We take responsibility for the patient in front of us as well as for the patients on the waiting list.

Many patients tell us how difficult it is to temporarily lose hair during cancer treatment, but also how frustrating it is having to wait to start vital cancer treatment. Therefore, we continued to provide traditional snow cover, but in the foreseeable future we will not buy the new refrigeration machine. It is simply not a priority.

Lena Solitander Specialist Nurse in Medical Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Carolina LarsonOncologist and Director of the Breast Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Joanna SvensonHead of the Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital