It looks like the latest addition to the sleek swimwear Olympic athletes used to power through the pool in Sydney.

But the close-fitting cap actually helps solve a common problem for cancer sufferers.

Filled with frozen medical gel, it helps women keep their hair during chemotherapy. The technique, called cold-capping, is being used by specialists at Worthing Hospital.

Clare Dikken, senior sister on Edburton Ward, said: "The majority of women have already had a mastectomy or lumpectomy which has affected their body image. Hair loss can affect body image too. So if we can stop that, that's great."

The diagnosis of breast cancer can fill women with despair. Many not only worry they might die, they also can't bear the thought of the chemotherapy.

The cold cap placed on women's heads has been frozen at -24C. It is fitted during chemotherapy.

The intense cold stops blood carrying chemotherapy drugs from reaching the scalp.

Instead of falling out in clumps, hair tends to thin and for some women the loss is barely noticeable.

Some women say although the procedure can be intensely uncomfortable at first, their bodies adjust to the sensation and discomfort subsides as the skin becomes numb.

Women who have already had cold capping during chemotherapy agree if they look better, they also tend to feel better.

Jackie Heather, a 34-year-old mother of twin boys from Littlehampton, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

She complements her regular chemotherapy treatments at Worthing Hospital with cold-capping.

She said her hair had only thinned and she felt as if she had managed to keep a fairly full head of hair.

She said: "When they told me I had to have chemotherapy, hair loss was something else I didn't want to have to cope with.

"I had heard about cold-capping and women who were keeping a full head of hair.

"The procedure did bring tears to my eyes at first because it was so cold, but then I got used to it.

"I would say I have only lost about 15 per cent of my hair."

Mother-of-two Lisa Holliday, 27, from Tarring, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July.

She too opted for cold-capping during her chemotherapy sessions.

She has tried to stay extremely positive from the moment her diagnosis was confirmed.

She said: "In my mind I just wanted to get the chemotherapy started so I knew it was working against the breast cancer.

"My sister-in-law is a hairdresser and I decided if my hair fell out in clumps I was going to have it shaved off.

"But the cold-capping is working."