Nicky's chemotherapy story

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept 2022 and told I would need chemotherapy which was devastating news. I started my chemotherapy in Nov 2022 was offered the cold cap to try and save my hair, but I was told that the best-case scenario is 50% of people keep 50% of their hair with the cold cap. The chemo drugs are so severe as they aim to kill off cancer cells but sadly also kill off any other fast dividing cells which affects hair loss, eyebrows and eye lashes. My hair was really thick and long and I was so scared of the impact the treatment would have on my hair. I treated my hair like baby hair throughout the first 2 chemo treatments, but it was coming out in handfuls and becoming really thin.

I had my hair cut short to minimise the distress and then a friend mentioned Lucinda Ellery as one of her close friends had gone through the same thing. I couldn’t sleep that night as I was so excited that there may be a solution to help me.I made an appointment to go to the London salon to discuss my options and was so excited to hear about the intralace system, they needed to see some hair loss before they could decide on the size of the system. I was booked in for my fitting just before my 3rd chemo. It took about 9 hours to fit but I was made to feel comfortable and special throughout the day.

"I couldn’t sleep that night as I was so excited that there may be a solution to help me. I made an appointment to go to the London salon to discuss my options and was so excited to hear about the intralace system, they needed to see some hair loss before they could decide on the size of the system."

I could have cried when I saw the final result, I had beautiful thick hair again, I just loved it. Throughout my chemo treatment on days, I felt so ill I could look in the mirror and feel normal, plus my family did not have to witness what was happening to my hair. I continued to use the cold cap throughout the remainder of my chemo treatment as it helps stimulate new hair growth.

I am now 14 months into the system and my hair is growing back underneath. It took a while to get used to the system and your scalp is sore for a few days after it is fitted and after the alteration appointments every 8 weeks. Every 6 months the system must be removed so your scalp can be washed and the system re fitted, and my hair is growing really well underneath and I do not need to witness it.

I am so grateful to the Lucinda Ellery salon

Nicky