o say that 2022 was a big year for Tess Hrezo, MS, OTR-L, is an understatement. She celebrated her 50th birthday. She got engaged to her now husband, Joe, and began planning for an October wedding. Tess had literally just sent out “Save The Date” cards and selected a wedding dress when everything changed.
Tess was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. With no family history of breast cancer or associated lifestyle habits, the diagnosis was unexpected.
“I had lost a friend to breast cancer and was acutely aware that it affects one in eight women during their lifetime. I also believed it could never happen to me,” Tess says.
Processing the diagnosis was difficult and learning that chemotherapy would be a large part of her treatment plan was overwhelming for Tess. She recalls, “When my surgeon mentioned the side effects, my first thought was, I’m getting married. I can’t lose my hair.”
Fortunately, scalp cooling therapy gives cancer patients like Tess a choice in whether they lose their hair during chemotherapy. It involves using a cold cap to lower the temperature and reduce blood flow to the scalp, protecting hair follicles and thus minimizing hair loss.
“Hair loss may seem like a small side effect in the face of cancer, but for many patients, it’s a deeply emotional one,” explains Dr. Vincent E. Reyes, Jr., Chief of Hematology & Medical Oncology at St. Clair Health and Chief Medical Officer at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
For many patients, the ability to preserve one’s hair is not merely cosmetic. It can impact their entire sense of self, improve their mental health, and enhance their recovery. Just ask Tess, who is particularly proud of the quality of life she maintained throughout her treatment.
Tess says, “You can still have a life while you’re going through treatment—look at me, I got married! Keeping my hair helped me to have a positive attitude and outlook on the treatment.”
A partnership between St. Clair Health and A Glimmer of Hope Foundation now enables breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center affiliated with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to hold onto their sense of self—just as Tess did—with Amma™ portable scalp cooling therapy.
St. Clair Health is the first hospital in Pittsburgh’s South Hills to offer this advanced technology thanks to a generous grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit focused on advancing breast cancer care. The St. Clair Health Foundation covers the cost of cold caps through its Breast Care Fund for patients whose insurance does not, ensuring that all breast cancer patients have access to the latest advancements in care. For Tess, the arrival of scalp cooling therapy at St. Clair Health is a welcome milestone. “If this had been available closer to home when I went through treatment, it would have made such a difference. It’s not just about keeping your hair—it’s about keeping your spirit,” she says.
Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one patient sharing, “I’ve just lived my life since receiving my diagnosis, and this therapy will allow me to continue doing just that.”
For women facing a disease that can often make them feel powerless, scalp cooling therapy offers a meaningful way to reclaim a part of themselves while undergoing breast cancer treatment.
To learn more about the world-class cancer care provided close to home at the St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center Affiliated with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, visit stclair.org/cancercenter [1].