MedCity News March 14, 2025
Breast cancer survivor Kate Dilligan is the CEO of Cooler Heads, a company that sells a portable and self-administered scalp cooling device. The system helps chemotherapy patients retain their hair, as therefore their self-esteem and privacy.
Up to 8% of cancer patients refuse chemotherapy because they don’t want to lose their hair. Of course, hair loss can cause immense damage to a person’s self-esteem — but it can also strip patients of their privacy, making their illness immediately visible to others.
“It’s not about beauty. It’s about privacy. Think about the times that you’ve walked into the grocery store or been in an airport and seen somebody who clearly is bald and clearly doesn’t have their eyebrows. You’re like, ‘Oh,...