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Hair cryotherapy in Irati could become a new care alternative for patients facing cancer treatment. The municipality is among the four contemplated in an initiative to acquire and donate equipment intended to reduce hair loss caused by certain chemotherapy treatments. The information is contained in a document published in the Official Gazette of Paraná on Thursday (5).
The project was presented by the State Secretariat for Women, Racial Equality and the Elderly (SEMIPI), during a meeting of the State Council for Women’s Rights of Paraná (CEDM/PR).
According to the publication, the initiative involves a partnership with Volkswagen, through the Paraná Competitivo program, for the acquisition and donation of four hair cryotherapy kits intended for hospitals in Irati, Paranaguá, Pato Branco and Guarapuava.
The proposal seeks to expand the humanization of cancer treatment, especially for women who face the physical and emotional effects of chemotherapy.
How does hair cryotherapy work?
Hair cryotherapy is a technique that uses the cooling of the scalp during certain chemotherapy sessions.
The procedure seeks to decrease the exposure of the hair follicles to the drugs used in the treatment, reducing, in some cases, the intensity of hair loss.
The technology does not guarantee the complete preservation of the yarns and its results depend on factors such as the type of drug, the treatment protocol and the characteristics of each patient.
The indication should be evaluated by the medical team responsible, since the procedure is not suitable for all types of cancer or chemotherapy treatments.
Although hair loss is not the main clinical risk faced during cancer treatment, it can have a significant impact on self-esteem, personal identity and emotional well-being of patients.
Partnership provides equipment for four cities of the Paraná
According to the minutes of the State Council for Women’s Rights, the partnership was articulated with Volkswagen through the Paraná Competitivo program.
The proposal contemplates the acquisition and donation of four cryotherapy kits for hospitals located in Irati, Paranaguá, Pato Branco and Guarapuava.
The document informs that the initiative was in the final phase of formalization, with an expected donation until the beginning of November 2026.
The inclusion of resources for the maintenance of equipment is also planned, an important measure to ensure the continuity of its use in the units benefited.
Despite the forecast presented, the publication does not confirm the effective delivery of the devices, nor does it identify the Irati hospital that should receive the technology.
Personal experience motivates initiative
During the meeting of the State Council for the Rights of Women, the president of the collegiate body, Mariana de Sousa Machado Neris, shared her personal experience with breast cancer, diagnosed in 2022.
She reported that she used hair cryotherapy during chemotherapy and that the procedure contributed to the preservation of her hair.
According to the official registry, the experience motivated efforts to expand access to technology in the public health network.
The president also stressed that hair loss can cause important emotional and social impacts during cancer treatment.
The proposal, as presented to the council, seeks to offer more humanized, dignified and comprehensive care to patients.
The project could be extended to other hospitals.
The presented planning foresees that the results of the initiative be monitored to evaluate a possible expansion to other hospital units of the Paraná.
The publication also mentions that the technology had not yet been incorporated by the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies in the Unified Health System (Conitec), a context that led to the articulation of the partnership for the acquisition of equipment.
This means that the announced initiative does not, in itself, represent the universal availability of hair cryotherapy by SUS.
The possible extension will depend on new decisions, assessments and conditions of implementation.
What remains to be confirmed about the arrival of the equipment at Irati?
The inclusion of Irati in the project represents a perspective of extending the care offered to cancer patients in the region.
However, important points still need to be clarified, such as the identification of the hospital benefited, the effective date of delivery of the equipment and the forecast of the start of care.
The individual investment per unit, the capacity of care or the access criteria of the patients were also not disclosed in the document.
This information will be essential to clarify how technology will benefit women in Irati and other municipalities in the region.
The initiative reinforces the discussion on the importance of considering not only the clinical treatment of cancer, but also the quality of life and emotional well-being of people during chemotherapy.
Source: Official State Gazette of Paraná, issue no 12.263, of 5 November 2026, page 118, minutes of the State Council of Women's Rights of Paraná.
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