Coping with Cancer Related Hair Loss: Buying a Wig

When I was diagnosed with cancer, nearly fifteen years ago, I had an excellent team of doctors, who took over my life for several months of treatment.

I can still remember sitting in the oncologists office with his team and nurse while they explained the treatment plan to me. They told me about how the chemotherapy to kill any microscopic cells that weren't visible on the various and numerous scans they had taken of my tumor. The treatment protocol included chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor before the surgical excision.

The doctor explained that they could control a lot of the adverse side effects to the strong course of chemotherapy they planned for me. The doctor then said "Surely, you will lose your hair."

Oh my, not my beautiful hair! Considering the options though, there was no choice in the matter.

My excellent nurse, who was terrific at communicating with me, suggested that I shop for a wig before I actually lost my hair. It's less traumatic that way.

I started a rigorous regiment of treatments. Once treatments started, I was in the hospital all day every day. It was like a full time job. My particular chemotherapy required that I be hospitalized for a week at a time, with a two week break. When I wasn't an inpatient I was still at the hospital all day, every day getting two radiation treatments daily and getting various tests.

After my first week long session of chemotherapy, I was extremely weak. My hair was still there though, and I thought maybe I wouldn't lose it. Not so lucky though, the hair became very dry and started to fall out. It turns out that the hair loss can take up to three weeks, which was how it was for me.

One day, my best friend picked me up, as I was too weak to drive. The nurse had given me references for places that specialized in wigs for cancer patients. We made a day of it, visiting two wig salons and going out to lunch in between.

The first shop did not have a huge selection of wigs, but she did place a long blond wig on my head that looked absolutely gorgeous. It was too gorgeous for how I felt, although I have later regretted not getting the glamor wig.

The second shop had a large selection of wigs. The adviser suggested that I take the opportunity to experiment with a whole different look. I didn't though. I got a wig that looked pretty much like my own hair. The wig shop person cut the wig to a length a little longer that my own hair. It was a good wig. Very few people even realized that I was wearing a wig.

I feel that I had received good advice for my wig purchase. It was definitely a good idea to get a wig before losing the hair. I went to wig shops that specialized in chemotherapy patients, although I had a friend who went to a regular shop, purchased a variety of wigs, and was happy with the results.

In retrospect, I am sorry that I didn't get the more glamorous blonde wig when I had the chance. However, I did what made sense to me at the time, so it was probably the right thing to keep close to my usual look. I was very lucky to have a friend go along with me to buy the wig. Her support helped a lot.

Some health insurance plans will pay for a wig for cancer patients. The doctors can write a prescription for a "hair prosthesis". I paid for my wig up front and was reimbursed by the insurance company.

Hair loss due to cancer treatment is a traumatic event. It may sound shallow, but the dramatic change in look is a constant reminder that all is not well. Getting a good wig and learning to enjoy it is a healthy step to recovery.

Having said that, as soon as a stubble of hair reappeared on my head, I cast off the wig. At the time the look was cutting edge trendy. I received a number of compliments on my daring hairdo. I didn't tell people that it was chemo-hair. I just said "Thank You."

Information in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical condition, consult a physician.