How we compile our information and sources used

We produce independent, expert and person centred information for people affected by hair loss due to cancer treatments. We do not provide medical advice. We do our best to write our information in plain English with a friendly and compassionate tone. Our information is not meant to replace that of other guidance available but to enhance it and offer insights from people who have been affected by cancer alongside expert views. We are not a medical organisation and do not offer medical advice. However, due to the subject matter of hair loss due to cancer treatments, we have to refer to various medical terms.

We encourage people to seek other information and opinions. We try to make our information accessible to the widest range of people as we can. Please get in touch if you have information to share for our panel to consider.

Our information is reviewed approximately every 1-2 years. However we make on-going updates when appropriate.

We deliver information in a number of ways:

• Our website
• Booklets
• Videos
• Articles
• Leaflets
• Media
• Social media
• Face to face services
• Zoom, Face time and other media’s
• Telephone services
• Educational talks and training
• Professional reviews
• Clinical setting
• In partnership with other organisations

Sources used

We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. As well as the experiences of the people who use our service and people with a lived experience of cancer and hair loss we also connect with medical professionals, hair loss specialists, hairdressers and our in-house experts, to whom we are very grateful. We also use medical, research, studies, trichology, dermatology and relevant textbooks, journals and publications. If you’d like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us.

A sample of the types of sources used can be found below. If you would like further information about the sources we use please get in touch.

With special thanks to the people who have been affected by hair loss and cancer, who have kindly shared their stories, feedback and experiences with us so that we can share them with others.

Oncologists, nurse and healthcare professionals – Cancer Hair Care regularly consult with cancer professionals to discuss best practice when offering guidance. We are the only hair loss charity to run clinics within NHS hospitals. We also provide NHS nurse education. We are delighted to have award winning nurse Amanda Shewbridge as one or our nurse advisors. NHS senior nurse joins Cancer Hair Care. 

Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy, 6e 6 by Thomas P. Habif MD (ISBN: 9780323261838)

NHS website. www.nhs.uk (accessed March 2022)

Disorders of the hair and scalp R. Sinclair and V. Jolliffe. Second edition (ISBN: 9781908541376)

The Hair Bible by Philip Kingsley 2012 (IBSN: 9781854109064)

Cancer Hair Care website: www.cancerhaircare.com (accessed March 2022)

Macmillan website: www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/side-effects-and-symptoms/hair-loss (accessed March 2022). We have also held a professional review for Macmillian to offer our unique expertise and guidance to their publications.

Neals Yard Natural Remedies 2011 IBSN 978-1-905830-008

Macmillan Coping with hair loss booklet  (accessed online March 2022). We are delighted to have been a named source to the content of this booklet.

Gupta, Jasmin: The Chemo Hair Loss Coach. Specialist hairdresser & founder of Cancer Hair Care with Extensive Clinical experience and working practice with women, men and children presenting with physical and emotional issues related to hair loss.

NHS  – Guys Cancer Centre, Innovation Centre and nurse/patient input/project input  – From June 2019  to current day Cancer Hair Care has run a pivotal hair loss service, unseen in any other UK hospital. This project has helped to shape the way we deliver service.

NHS clinical practice – We operate a number of clinics and services within NHS hospitals across the UK. The experience we gain shapes all of our service.

BAME Inclusivity projects. Cancer Hair Care are innovators in BAME within cancer care. Our projects have shaped the way we offer services. The NHS has made a video about our work (video uploaded January 2020).

Cancer Hair Care: Booklet – Understanding the hair loss & regrowth cycle due to chemotherapy treatment first published 2015 reviewed yearly.

Cancer Research UK website: www.cancerresearchuk.org (accessed March 2022)

Paxman Scalp Cooling www.paxmanscalpcooling.com (accessed March 2022)

Digni Cap www.dignicap.com accessed March 2022

Breast Cancer Now UK Breastcancernow.org  (accessed March 2022). We are also delighted to have given our professional input to their current hair loss guidance and booklet.  

Cancer Hair Care – Independent scalp cooling advisory board. Group made up of people who have experienced scalp cooling alongside scalp cooling hair care experts.

Cancer Hair Care Panel – Cancer Hair Care regularly consults and co-creates information and services  with a panel of people who have experienced scalp cooling and hair loss during a broad range of different cancer treatments.

Images and information graphics

We use a number of images and information graphics. Some of our photo’s are of people who have themselves experienced hair loss and cancer, experts and supporters and individual keen to help. Some people request us to not use them or to change their name for privacy reasons. Additionally we also use some photos are of models or stock photography.

Suppliers

When we offer ideas of suppliers e.g. specialist headwear, we try our best to offer a minimum (when applicable) of three suppliers (more if we can). During COVID-19 (from March 2020) we have had to update how we work with suppliers to ensure suppliers are active.

Videos

We work with a number of organisations to produce videos that we hope will be helpful to you. Additionally we also signpost to other videos that we think may be beneficial. We do not necessarily share the options of the individuals in the videos. Our role is to share with you a range of ideas and opinions that may be helpful and offer insight. If you would like to recommend a video please get in touch – our panel will be happy to hear from you.

Product and service recommendations

A vital part of the information we provide is helpful, independent product and service recommendations that are appropriate for people during and after their cancer treatment. There are thousands of hair care and hair loss products available on the open market and many services. We can’t possibly review them all. What we do at Cancer Hair Care is make recommendations of products and  services that we have reviewed and believe may be helpful. Our team of experts, panel members, people with lived experiences of cancer and hair loss along with input from nurses, cancer specialists, product manufacturers all have a vital role to play in shaping our information.

We know that safety and appropriate product usage is a huge priority for people before, during and after hair loss. We take into consideration many aspects including: product claims, price ranges, life style, performance, suitability to a range of hair types and hair loss situations, environmental impact, inclusivity and most importantly the voice of people who ask us to make recommendations. Any partner, donator or grant provider can not have an influence on products recommended by us.

For example we do not recommend a brand on the basis that they donate funds or give sample products. A brand will not have any influence on content or information provided by charity Cancer Hair Care.

Please remember that in regards to any health concerns you have related to products usage, services you will need to speak with your healthcare team.

We hope that our product and services information, recommendations, Directory, consultations and guidance offers you support and ideas so that you feel empowered to make safe and appropriate choices.