Kenra Professional & The Rapunzel Project

02/07/2022

"Starting January 2022, Medicare will begin reimbursing chemotherapy facilities for the cost of scalp cooling. This is a major milestone for those in the cancer treatment community."

New classification enables reimbursement to cancer centers providing DigniCap to chemotherapy

01/20/2021

Our Story

The Rapunzel Project is very personal to its founders, Shirley and Nancy, because they are both breast cancer survivors. Their own experiences with cancer inspired them to help make the journey easier for future patients.

When Shirley learned that she needed to undergo chemotherapy to limit a cancer recurrence chance, she immediately set out to purchase a wig – anticipating the loss of her hair. In the process, she inadvertently heard about cold cap therapy or scalp cooling. She began to investigate and ultimately connected with Frank Fronda, the scientist who invented one particular type of cold cap that is now widely used. Shirley learned that it would be possible to rent the cold caps and potentially save her hair. She then approached her oncologist, who was extremely supportive. The biggest obstacle appeared to be that the caps have to be used at -30° centigrade (-22° F), a temperature that normal freezers do not reach. The alternative to having a suitable freezer would be to cool the caps with dry ice, making the process a more difficult one.

At this point, Nancy recognized that this was a huge opportunity for Shirley and many chemotherapy patients like her. She started fundraising among Shirley’s wide circle of friends to purchase a suitable freezer. Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis was exceptionally receptive to the project and offered to let the donations go to its Foundation, which then purchased the freezer for the hospital.

Shirley’s first chemotherapy treatment was done with the caps on dry ice. Subsequent treatments were done using the newly arrived freezer. Shirley did not lose her hair!

What was once a fantasy – that patients could keep their hair during chemotherapy – is now a reality. This was the inspiration for the creation and naming of The Rapunzel Project.

10/05/2020

As you all know, October Is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and while awareness should be year round, we want to take this time of renewed focus and reach out to you-- our amazing friends and family-- to be able to continue spreading the good news that your hair does not have to be a casualty of chemotherapy thanks to Cold Cap Therapy. Please join us in the fight against this nasty disease and help to make Cold Cap Therapy more affordable and accessible. Help us make a beautiful difference in someone's life with your donation, whether it be $1 or $1000. We are forever grateful and won't stop the fight until there's a cure.

10/09/2019

In the Ft. Myers, FL area? Come support this amazing event courtesy of Mandy and the team at Citrus Salon along with Liberty - Culinary Workshop on October 21st with lots of goodies, pampering, and more. A portion of the proceeds will go to support The Rapunzel Project.

10/01/2019

As October brings a renewed awareness around finding a cure for cancer, Kenra Professional has created a video with the founders of The Rapunzel Project to shed some more light around their amazing cause and how you, knowing this information, can help make a beautiful difference in someone’s life.

Please watch and share to spread awareness of Cold Cap Therapy while the world continues to search for a cure. 💕

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, losing their hair during the process can be frightening. Breakthrough technology called "Cold Cap Therapy" offers chemo...

05/14/2019

DIGNICAP makes major progress in requiring scalp cooling to be covered by insurance!! Please encourage your legislators to take a stand!

Dignitana AB (publ), manufacturer of The DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System, announces that HB3984,

04/11/2019

Thank you to SurviveMiss.org for sharing the message that you can save your hair while undergoing chemotherapy!

A mother and daughter share their powerful story of survival. Sherling Werner was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 25 years old. Her mother was diagnosed only three months later. This is their inspiring story of love, courage and perseverance. "No matter what you have to go through to beat....

12/19/2018

At the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 4 prominent physicians held a very enlightening panel discussion on scalp cooling.

Professors Hope Rugo, Debu Tripathy, Nadia Harbeck and Dr Steven Isakoff meet in San Antonio at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2018 annual conference for an educational breast cancer panel discussion. Their talk covers scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy induced alopecia in breast cancer....

11/27/2018

PAXMAN Scalp Cooling has launched the “Sue Paxman Fund for Mothers” in collaboration with the non-profit HairToStay (www.hairtostay.org). This fund will allow some ultra-low income mothers with children at home to access PAXMAN scalp cooling completely free of charge.

The fund will offer free scalp cooling treatment (for the duration of their chemotherapy) to two qualifying women every month, to help them keep their hair during chemo.

To be eligible, mothers must have children living at home, have a household income no greater than two times the Federal Poverty Level and use the PAXMAN Scalp Cooler during their chemotherapy treatment.

The project has been set up to honor the memory of Sue Paxman – the legacy behind the PAXMAN Scalp Cooler. With this fund these women will no longer need to worry about how they will pay for any amount of scalp cooling costs.

Here to… help financially challenged cancer patients save their hair by making scalp cooling affordable. Apply for a Subsidy Here to… share other people’s experiences with you. Patient Testimonials Here to… help you understand what scalp cooling can do and the options open to you. About Scal...

11/02/2018

Cold Caps on the Ellen Show! ❤️

Ellen's favorite beauty expert Kym Douglas was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, and before her last round of chemotherapy, Kym stopped by to talk with Ellen about her journey. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ellen had a big surprise for Kym, thanks to Ulta Beauty.