PRO Hair Safe Study: The Patient’s Perspective on the Effects of Scalp Cooling on Hair Preservation

Christine Brunner,1 Daniel Egle,1 Magdalena Ritter,1 Ricarda Kofler,1 Johannes M Giesinger,2 Lisa Schneitter,1 Monika Sztankay,2 Miriam Emmelheinz,1 Samira Abdel Azim,1 Verena Wieser,1 Anne Oberguggenberger2 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; 2Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Medical Psychology, Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, AustriaCorrespondence: Christine Brunner, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria, Tel +43 512 504 81194, Email c.brunner@tirol-kliniken.atPurpose: Alopecia has been reported a distressing side-effect of chemotherapy for breast cancer patients (BCP) that is highly relevant for quality of life during treatment. For the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, scalp cooling (SC) has been reported to be an effective and safe intervention. However, data on the patient’s perspective on effectiveness and applicability of SC in a clinical routine setting are scarce. In this comparative study, we aimed at a longitudinal assessment of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data on the effect of SC on alopecia and its effect on symptoms and functional health when applied in clinical routine in BCP receiving taxane or anthracycline-based chemotherapy.Patients and Methods: Study participants were allocated either to the intervention group receiving SC or to the control group based on patient preference (non-randomized study). All patients completed PRO-measures on hair preservation (EORTC Item Library items on hair loss), symptom and functional health measures (EORTC QLQ-C30 and -BR23) and the Body Image Scale (BIS). Outcomes were assessed at chemotherapy start (baseline), mid-chemotherapy, last chemotherapy cycle, 3 months follow-up and 6– 9 months follow-up.Results: Overall, we included 113 patients: 75 patients underwent SC (mean age = 51.3 years, 52.7% premenopausa