The American Cancer Society: Women's Programs that Maintain Dignity

My mother was recently diagnosed with cancer at the age of 86. Chemotherapy treatments for her condition soon robbed her of her hair. Undaunted by her loss, she managed for a while to camouflage her nearly bare head with the artful use of hats, scarves, and turbans. I had called the American Cancer Society (800-ACS-2345) to ask some questions about further treatment options that had been suggested for her, and the wonderfully caring counselor not only answered all my questions, but told me of several services offered by the ACS that I was unaware of.

We were quite pleased to discover that a wig could be my mother's for the asking with a trip to our local ACS office. The counselor advised me to first consult the oncologist assigned to my mother and ask if he would write a prescription for a cranial prosthesis. This odd-sounding phrase is medical terminology for a wig. Then, we were to call and inquire if her insurance would pay for this item. If her insurance refused to pay, then the ACS would provide a wig at no cost. When I called, the insurance clerk did not seem to know what I was talking about, and said a cranial prosthesis would not be covered, so we decided to go for the free wig.

The ACS made it very simple for us. All we had to do was visit their office - no appointment needed - and choose a wig. There was a short form to complete, and that was it. My mother is now the proud owner of a beautiful Paula Young wig, which will serve her well while she recovers from her treatments and her hair grows back. Also, like the counselor we spoke to on the telephone, the staff we spoke with were very kind and helpful. Our local office had a private room filled with wigs and mirrors so that visitors could make their selections in a private setting, with helpful tips from a knowledgeable ACS employee to guide them. We were given a "magalog", a combination catalog and magazine, filled with many other wigs, turbans, and hats sold by the ACS at a very reasonable cost.

There are also other programs offered by the ACS that are very helpful. One program, "Look Good... Feel Better" is a group program where trained cosmetologists teach women how to handle the changes cancer treatments have caused in their skin and hair. The cosmetic industry donates many products, including free cosmetic kits, and women learn how to apply makeup to improve their appearance and make them feel better and more confident about themselves. They are also taught techniques to use with wigs and scarves to help disguise their hair loss. This is a great program. Hair loss can be devastating, and cancer patients have enough to cope with during this challenging time without having to worry about how they look. Learning makeup and skincare techniques, and having a stylish wig provided, all for free, an make a big difference in a patient's morale. For those who do not have these programs offered in their ares, you can also request self-help materials which include a video with skincare and makeup tips as well as wig information, from the ACS.

The American Cancer Society is doing an outstanding job in helping people to deal with their cancer and maintain their dignity. I was not even aware that they offered these programs, but I plan to spread the word about their availability.