News

Cool heads prevail at MBH

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 07:55:00

An innovative method to avoid hair loss as a result of chemotherapy treatment is now available to Sunraysia patients, thanks to donations from the local community and the work of the Mildura Base Hospital Community Advisory Board.

Mildura Base Hospital (MBH) recently purchased the Loddon Mallee region’s first ‘Cold Cap’ machine, which can prevent or minimise hair as a result of chemotherapy drugs.
“Previously patients who wanted to prevent hair loss were forced to travel to Melbourne or Adelaide for each cycle of therapy,” MBH Medical Oncologist Dr Krishna Rachakonda said.
“With the purchase of this machine we can now provide this service locally, which allows patients to stay at home with family while they are undergoing treatment,” Dr Rachakonda said.
The $42,000 machine was purchased with money donated by individuals, organisations and businesses in the Sunraysia community, together with a $25,000 contribution from MBH. The
One of the major community contributors was the Mildura Lions Club, which today presented a cheque for $8000 towards the Cold Cap machine.  The Rotary Club of Mildura also contributed $2000, with contributions also made by the South Mildura Rotary Club, Fishers IGA Community Chest and the Greek Elderly Citizens’ Club.
The ‘Cold Cap’ is a silicon cap worn by patients before, during and after chemotherapy administration. A coolant solution passes though the lines within the cap, which in turn extracts heat from the scalp, reducing blood flow and minimizing the effect of chemotherapy on the hair follicles.
Dr Rachakonda said reducing the exposure to the chemotherapy agents reduced the likelihood of hair loss.
“Using Cold Caps to cool the scalp is effective only with certain chemotherapy agents and it isn’t suitable for all types of cancers,” he said.
“However, the impact on patients of hair loss during chemotherapy cannot be underestimated –  it’s very distressing for patients because it’s a constant reminder of their condition and can alter the perception they have of their own body image.
“So it can affect interpersonal relationships and sexuality severely and the prospect of hair loss can even be the deciding factor for some patients in refusing treatment.”
Acting Chief Executive Julia Morgan said MBH welcomed the generosity of the community, local organisations and businesses which allowed the Hospital to provide services and support which would otherwise not be possible.
“Our own Mildura Base Hospital Community Advisory Board did a fantastic job in identifying and working with the various donors in bringing this initiative to fruition,” Ms Morgan said.
“It really demonstrates the vital role our local community plays in supporting us, with generous donations coming in every year from individuals, service groups, companies and organisations who want to make a difference in the services we provide,” she said.
“The purchase of the Cold Cap machine is a great example of those donations making a big difference to so many people, because it is something we couldn’t have done without that fantastic community support.”
All donations to MBH are reported to the hospital’s Community Advisory Board and always go directly to the service for which they are intended.