GONZALES, La. (WAFB) – There’s a new cap in town. However, it’s not the sort you wear on a night out; it’s really helping humans through difficult instances.
Wendy Fruge’s ordinary is easy. She leads a regular existence with her family in Gonzales. Like many, she doesn’t look like what she’s been thru
“I went in for the recurring mammogram that I’ve carried out each yr on account that I turned into 40,” said Fruge.
But that habitual manner turned into a second experience to peer her doctor, Dr. Mindy Bowie, at Woman’s Hospital. Fruge is living with breast cancer.
“She did no longer have a palpable mass in her breast, which is the importance of having your yearly mammograms,” Dr. Bowie said.
“I changed into no longer systematic. I didn’t experience a lump. It literally becomes picked up from the mammogram,” Fruge stated.
Fruge and Dr. Bowie at once began speaking approximately remedy alternatives: a lumpectomy, chemo, then radiation.
“The important thing is… Oh my gosh… Chemotherapy,” Fruge stated.
Hair loss is carefully recognized with chemotherapy.
“That can be very traumatizing for the affected person. I even have had sufferers that refused chemotherapy definitely because they were going to lose their hair,” stated Dr. Bowie.
In truth, that become Fruge’s son’s first idea, asking his mom if she changed into going to lose her hair.
“But this time, I turned into like, I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m going to lose my hair,” she said.
She didn’t realize due to the fact now; sufferers have options.
“The cooling cap is a device that’s placed on the scalp and reduces the temperature, thereby decreasing blood glide to the scalp,” stated Dr. Lauren Zatarain, a medical oncologist.
“I virtually didn’t have whatever to lose at that factor. However, I had a lot to gain. Like, what if it works?” Fruge stated.
Fruge confronted six rounds of chemo and whenever she wore the cap. Doctors say whilst chemotherapy isn’t going to the scalp, the hair follicles aren’t damaged as an awful lot, increasing the chances of a patient retaining their hair.
“By the fourth, I became like wow, I suppose this is operating,” Fruge said.
Despite the visits to the medical doctor, Fruge says she felt regular. She had most cancers, went through chemotherapy, and still has her hair. She credits the cap.
“I like with a purpose to have that type of confidence that allows you to continue on after which share my tale if I need to percentage it, versus someone going, oh… Negative her,” she stated.
Fruge doesn’t want sympathy. She battled most cancers the only way she knew how.
“We’re all the time changed while we get the diagnosis, but this became probably going to present me the opportunity to appear within the replicate every day and see that acquainted face,” she said.
Fruge’s recurring is quite tons again to every day with just a few extra infusion remedies beforehand.
“I experience like our bodies are gonna’ heal without or with us for the most component, but it’s the emotional component. This kinda’ permits you to hold more of a fantastic angle,” said Fruge.
Patients have to be the use a specific treatment to use the cool cap. The pleasant manner to find out if you’re eligible is via talking along with your doctor.
