Chemotherapy - Breast Cancer - HAIR LOSS & WIGS.

It’s a good idea to make the appointment first so they can see your natural hair and you can talk about exactly what you want. It takes time to custom make a wig (as well as being expensive, of course)

Are they about £2,500 (or more?)?

You will be entitled to a voucher that funds a wig, or most of the cost of a wig. There’s no need to spend £2500! Unless you want to, of course. 

It all depends on the chemotherapy you  receive, I was on the strongest Chemo. This was my fear when I started my chemotherapy with stage 3 breast cancer. I loved my hair and it took me years to grow. I was told I would loose my hair and my family did not think I would cope with this. I started loosing my hair quite quickly when chemotherapy began. Much to my surprise it didn’t upset me like I thought it would. I am completely bald now but change between lovely head scarfs and wigs. I didn’t pay for my first wig as I got a voucher from NHS and believe it or not it was perfect and looked just like my original hair. Please don’t get too upset about loosing your hair as fighting the cancer is the most important thing and your hair will grow back in time. I honestly think that if you do loose your hair you will be surprised at how unimportant it  is.  I didn’t want family to see me without hair also but it doesn’t bother me now as it’s out of my control. You seem like a strong lady and i know exactly how you are feeling, sending love..

There is a place in Ware, Herts. It is called Hair To Ware. They are fantastic and  make you feel really at home and really comfortable. It is run by a lady who actually has alopecia so there’s not much she doesn’t know about wigs. All sorts of wigs, including real hair and fibre ones, shapes and sizes and colours. 
To be honest I was so worried about my hair and getting wigs. I now wish I hadn’t bothered. It’s been far too hot to wear one and I am happy just walking around in a scarf and there are loads on Amazon and in Next and Marks & Spencer’s. Children adapt very quickly and wigs are expensive. 

Real hair wigs are but not fibre ones which can look just as good

Mine was quoted at less but I didn’t get it in the end. Human hair would have been much more but the artificial can be very good. Why not go along to someone who does it and have a chat and look at the wigs?

I definitely would not get a real hair one, they are very difficult to maintain.  You have to wash and style them like your own hair.  The synthetic ones are better just swish around in soapy water, leave to dry and no need to style.  I think mine looked very real.

I had short but thick hair, all of which I lost.  I decided against a wig as likely to be too hot and/or itchy.  Most successful headgear turned out to be a Nepalese smoking cap.  Hair growing back now, but at what I think of as the gooseberry stage - very short and fine.  By all means look at wigs, but I'd also consider hats, wraps, scarves, bandanas etc.  You might find something that really suits you, and is a lot less trouble and expense.

For me, losing my hair seemed the hardest, as it made it real on the outside. My hair started to fall out after my first treatment, and by the third, I wanted to shave it off as it was falling out everywhere and was very unpleasant. Before I started the treatment, I went to a few wig places where they literally offered to duplicate my hairstyle and color. If you have long hair, I would recommend having it cut first and letting people see your new haircut, as long wigs are so much more expensive. Yes, I spent a lot of money on my wig, but six months after chemo, I'm still wearing it. I wear it for work every day, and no one has noticed. It has given me so much confidence; I don't leave the house without it. Good luck with your journey; it is not easy, but you've got this. My biggest tip for chemo is sucking on ice during treatment; this really avoids mouth sores.