PIEDMONT CANCER INSTITUTE NOW OFFERING DIGNICAP® SCALP COOLING SYSTEM TO HELP CANCER PATIENTS AVOID CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED HAIR LOSS

ATLANTA, Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Piedmont Cancer Institute, one of the leading oncology practices in Atlanta, announced today that it is now offering The DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System to patients at four locations across the Greater Atlanta area. This new state-of-the-art technology is the first of its kind to receive clearance by the FDA for use in breast and other solid tumors to help chemotherapy patients avoid hair loss related to their treatment.

Recognized internationally as a major quality-of-life medical advancement for cancer patients, these treatments allow Piedmont to offer the latest in patient-centered cancer care, while addressing one of the most dreaded side effects of today's most advanced treatment options.

"Scalp cooling systems are changing medical oncology," said Dr. Trevor Feinstein, a hematologist/ oncologist with the Piedmont Cancer Institute. "With use of a scalp cooling system, about two out of three women treated with a non-anthracyline based chemotherapy will have minimal hair loss. Piedmont Cancer Institute physicians are excited to be the first site in Georgia to offer the DigniCap®, the first FDA-cleared scalp cooling system. Previously, we had been using cold cap systems which require a large freezer and changing of the cap every 30 minutes. We are enthusiastic about the transition to the DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System."

The following are now contracted to offer the DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System:

• Piedmont Cancer Institute – Atlanta
• Piedmont Cancer Institute – Fayetteville
• Piedmont Cancer Institute – Newnan – Coming 2018
• Piedmont Cancer Institute – Stockbridge – Coming 2018

"We are thrilled to be the first oncology practice in the area to offer the DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System to our patients, said Dr. Ha Tran, a hematologist/oncologist with the Piedmont Cancer Institute. "When patients receive a new diagnosis of cancer and embark on complicated treatment plans, their lives can become overwhelming and chaotic. Having the option of using DigniCap® to reduce their risk of chemotherapy-induced hair loss can give them a sense of control during a time when most things are out of their control."

The John N. Goddard Foundation has generously provided a grant of $25,000 to the national non-profit organization HairToStay (www.HairToStay.org), to help qualifying Atlanta area residents with financial need pay for the treatment. The John N. Goddard Foundation is an affiliate of the Alston Family Foundation that grants funding to Metro-Atlanta charities and organizations that primarily serve Atlantans. 

HairToStay is the only national nonprofit organization that offers need-based grants to offset the expense of scalp cooling systems for chemotherapy patients being treated in the United States. Through its partnership with Dignitana, a Qualified HairToStay Supplier, and utilizing funds from the Goddard Foundation, HairToStay will provide subsidies of up to $1,500 for patients who are up to four times the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Applications and further detail can be obtained from Piedmont Cancer Institute physicians and www.HairToStay.org.

"To be able to offer Atlantans in need a chance to avoid the trauma of hair loss as they go through chemotherapy is a meaningful and very special privilege," said Bethany Hornthal, co-founder of HairToStay. "We are grateful to the John N. Goddard Foundation, and to Dignitana, for helping us help so many others."

About Piedmont Cancer Institute

Piedmont Cancer Institute, P.C. is a medical practice specializing in diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer and blood disorders in Atlanta, Georgia.  With four convenient practice locations around Atlanta, the practice provides patients and their families with the most current medical knowledge and treatment available; education about your specific treatment; psychological and emotional support; access to community resources and support groups; and access to clinical trials and research protocols. The center is also a member of the Georgia CORE Research Network, a statewide network of academic and community-based oncologists and researchers.

About The DigniCap^® Scalp Cooling System­­

DigniCap^® is a patented scalp cooling system that offers cancer patients the ability to keep their hair during chemotherapy. DigniCap^® provides continuous cooling with high efficacy, safety and acceptable patient comfort. www.dignicap.com

Media Contact:Caren Browning, King + Company, 212-561-7464, caren.browning@kingcompr.com

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SOURCE Piedmont Cancer Institute