Lakewood, NJ-Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at RWJBarnabas Health southern region hospitals Community Medical Center in Toms River, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, and Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus in Lakewood can now control their hair loss thanks to a new, groundbreaking scalp cooling treatment.
RWJBarnabas Health and Community Medical Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.
The Paxman Scalp Cooling System helps reduce hair loss typically associated with chemotherapy treatment through scalp cooling technology that was developed more than 25 years ago. The clinically proven cold cap system was developed in England and has helped more than 100,000 cancer patients in more than 25 countries worldwide to retain their hair during chemotherapy.
The Outpatient Infusion Departments at the three hospitals, where chemotherapy is administered, are committed to personalized, quality care and education, and state-of-the-art technology such as this advanced Scalp Cooling System, according to medical oncologist David Sharon, M.D., medical director of the Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth Medical Center, and a member of Barnabas Health Medical Group.
“Chemotherapy works by targeting all rapidly dividing cells in the body, and hair is the body’s second-fastest dividing cell, and this is the reason why many chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss,” Dr. Sharon says. “Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is widely recognized as one of the most traumatic side effects associated with cancer treatment, and yet it has until recently been one of the least explored. We are committed to providing cancer patients with individualized care that meets not only their medical and physical needs, but psychological needs as well, and are proud to be among the first centers in the country to be able to offer this scalp cooling technology.”
Dr. Sharon explains that during chemotherapy, the hair follicles in the growth phase are attacked, resulting in hair loss approximately two weeks after the commencement of the treatment. The damage that chemotherapy causes to the hair follicle can be alleviated by using the scalp cooling treatment, which works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy.
To learn more about scalp cooling, visit www.PaxmanUSA.com, a website that features detailed information about what scalp cooling is, how it works, video demonstrations and includes testimonials from patients who have used scalp cooling. Cancer patients should discuss the treatment option with their oncologists. Oncology nurse navigators are available at all hospital locations to assist patients with the process. For more information on the infusions services at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, go to rwjbh.org/BeatCancer, or call, (732) 961-2396.
About Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC) is a fully accredited acute-care hospital located in Lakewood. An affiliate of RWJBarnabas Health, Monmouth South is a sister hospital to Monmouth Medical Center, a teaching hospital located in Long Branch. MMCSC introduced the first of its kind James and Sharon Maida Geriatrics Institute to the region, which provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for elders. MMCSC also offers convenient access to an array of outpatient services as well as the services of the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center. RWJBarnabas Health and MMCSC, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.
For more information about Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, visit www.rwjbh.org/monmouthsouth.
CONTACT:
Laurie Zalepka
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
(732) 886-4590
lauriea.zalepka@rwjbh.org