The Paxman Scalp Cooling System has now been installed at Gustave Roussy, one of Europe’s leading cancer hospitals and ranked #4 in the world by Newsweek. This milestone is particularly meaningful, as Gustave Roussy treats patients with every type of cancer, including rare and complex tumours, and has long been a centre for innovation in oncology care.
Scalp cooling during chemotherapy is more than a cosmetic intervention and can have profound effects on patients’ quality of life. Hair loss remains one of the most visible and emotionally challenging side effects of treatment. By helping patients retain their hair, scalp cooling can protect their sense of identity, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. Now, for centres like Gustave Roussy in Paris, offering scalp cooling provides an additional tool to support holistic patient care.
The Paxman system has already been making a huge difference to patients. A patient at Gustave Roussy, who participated in their pilot programme, recently shared her experience:
"I'm so happy to report that at just shy of three months post-chemo, I have great density of normal adult hair, and the post-chemo greys are being replaced with brown hair. It is a completely different experience to my fellow patients who did not have access to the Paxman.
I'm off to a fabulous wedding next weekend and I want to rock the Sinead O'Connor look now that I have good density, and my eyebrows and eyelashes are all back. Since it's already so short, I thought why not try this look once in my life? It's quite empowering/healing somehow to actually choose this.
The post-treatment period is really challenging. On one hand, you lose the community you made at the hospital, but you’re not fully ready for your old life. For me, having my hair density return over the past month has had an extremely positive impact on my mental health. I know I keep saying it, but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!"
There is no doubt, from this experience, that the patient who scalp cooled at Gustave Roussy is in a much better place both physically and mentally. Their words show the difference scalp cooling can make, not only in preserving hair, but in helping patients feel happier, more empowered, and ready to re-engage with life. Instead of focusing on loss, they are choosing confidence, gratitude, and recovery.
The installation at one of the most renowned cancer centres in the world establishes another benchmark and beacon for others to follow. For clinicians, the value of integrating scalp cooling into treatment pathways is clear:
“Today, Gustave Roussy strives to provide the best care for our patients, whether that’s through research or standard treatment. In the same vein, we try to offer the best supportive care for our patients. And that’s the purpose of this initiative: using the latest equipment to provides significant comfort to our patients.” - Dr. Bianca Cheaib, Head of Department, Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre
At Paxman, we work closely with hospitals to ensure that scalp cooling is seamlessly integrated into chemotherapy routines. Our systems are designed to be efficient, easy for staff to manage, and can be used for a range of solid tumour cancers.
The installation at Gustave Roussy is a significant step toward expanding access across France and Europe, helping more patients maintain confidence and dignity during chemotherapy. It also offers healthcare professionals a clinically validated, patient-focused option that can be incorporated into modern oncology care.
Explore our website to discover how you can follow in the footsteps of Gustave Roussy or get in touch.
