NY Law Preserves Hair, Dignity for Cancer Patients

According to a story from ABC, New York is leading the country with a new law that requires private insurers to cover scalp cooling treatments for chemotherapy patients. This move is designed to ease one of the most emotional burdens of cancer treatment: hair loss.

The law, set to take effect this year, comes after six years of advocacy led by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, who represents Manhattan’s West Side. “I heard about scalp cooling, and I said, ‘Well, why shouldn’t everyone have access to it?’” she told ABC. The bill was co-sponsored by state Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and faced considerable pushback before passing.

Rosenthal emphasized that cancer patients already endure overwhelming challenges, and being able to preserve their hair can make a real difference. “If you can go out there and feel just like yourself, and not have to think all the time, ‘Oh, I look like I’m sick,’ then that really matters,” she said.

Scalp cooling, often referred to as cold capping, works by lowering the temperature of the scalp before and during chemotherapy. This restricts blood flow to hair follicles, limiting the amount of chemo that reaches them and helping to reduce hair loss. The FDA has cleared multiple scalp cooling systems, and some have shown success rates of up to 65 percent in clinical studies.

Maureen Green, a breast cancer patient who opted for scalp cooling, told ABC the treatment gave her something she hadn’t felt in a while — control. “With everything else that’s going on, this gave me some control over something I didn’t have control over before,” she said.

Andrea Smith, a nurse leader at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Breast Service program, told ABC that the new law will change lives. “Having legislation that requires insurance to pay for it, that’s a game changer,” she said. While side effects like headaches and nausea can occur, Smith noted that many patients feel the emotional benefit outweighs any temporary discomfort.

Some patients even choose less effective treatment options to avoid hair loss, Smith added, which underlines how important appearance can be to self-esteem during cancer care.

The law’s passage marks a major step toward more compassionate, patient-centered cancer care, with New York setting the example for others to follow.