Manufacturers can agree – scalp cooling caps are successful at retaining hair for those undergoing chemotherapy. But what do the users have to say, particularly women undergoing treatment for breast cancer?
That’s what Ali Plocha, associate professor in the Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work, sought to learn with her latest research work.
“We know the manufacturers say if you keep up to 50 percent of your hair, the scalp cooling treatment is considered effective,” Plocha explained. “No one has asked women who are using it what may make it effective for them, what led to their decision and how it was to use it.”
In her study, Plocha asked survey participants open-ended questions on whether they felt their scalp cooling treatment was effective. Effectiveness, according to their responses, was mainly determined by hair retention, the ability to maintain privacy of diagnosis and treatment and the quality of regrown hair.
“With this knowledge, we can better support women in making a decision if this is right for them,” Plocha explained. “Over 90 percent considered it very or moderately effective, but the reasons for that were different than how the manufacturers operationalized effectiveness.”
A breast cancer survivor herself, Plocha has a research background in trauma, emerging adulthood, bereavement among college students, resilience and post-traumatic growth. This is her first study looking into the experiences of those receiving treatments for breast cancer.
“I’m interested in adding what’s needed to the research on helping women through the treatment process,” she explained. “Treatment is its own trauma and I’m looking for what we can do to support women through that.”
Last year, Plocha presented her findings at the American Counseling Association Conference in Orlando, Fla.
“My graduate student, Gianna Cormier M’26, went with me to that conference,” she recalled. “She was my fellow last year and helped develop the study with me. She was there every step of the way, and so I gave her an opportunity to speak alongside me. She did a really good job.”
Plocha will present her work as the Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work representative at the McQuade Library’s annual Tolle Lege event. The Tolle Lege collection catalogs published works by Merrimack students, faculty and staff. In 2025, 108 Warriors published 204 pieces.
“My talk is going to be a bit about this study and how it feeds into a much bigger line of research that I hope to follow for many, many years,” she explained. “Hopefully, my next study will be looking at the trauma associated with diagnoses. The way that news is delivered is not congruent with how we best receive information during a trauma.”
