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Former cancer patient Donna Haggart from Lanarkshire tells of her experience of dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy and how Rhona Weir, Beatson Cancer Charity hairdresser helped make the difficult situation of getting a wig a bit less daunting.
On the 27th December 2018, at the age of 57, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer with a grade 3 tumour. This shocking diagnosis came just 20 days after my daughter Dianne had finished chemotherapy treatment for exactly the same type of breast cancer.
I was told that I would need to have chemotherapy and that normally after the first session my hair would start to fall out. Prior to my first treatment I made an appointment at the Beatson Wellbeing Centre to meet Rhona to see about getting a wig. That first appointment was fantastic. Rhona made me feel so welcome and at ease and although I tried on several different wig styles it was the very first wig that I tried on which was the one I picked.
I had my first chemotherapy treatment and a week later my hair started coming out in handfuls, so I got my partner Robin to shave my head and I wore head scarves until I got my wig. Although upsetting to lose my hair I can honestly say the main reason I was keen to get my wig was because I was going to an Elvis Festival and I felt it would be upsetting to see all my friends dressed up with their hair looking good and me in a headscarf.
I got a call to collect my wig and when I first tried it on I knew something wasn’t quite right so I made another appointment to see Rhona and when she fitted my wig I was so happy and so pleased to look like myself again. Rhona even said that the smile on my face lit up the room. I also went along to the Elvis festival looking a million dollars!”
Rhona, Beatson Cancer Charity hairdresser commented “Losing your hair, whoever you are, is definitely a traumatic experience and wearing a wig can be daunting but our job at the Wellbeing Centre is to put patients at ease and help them to choose a style of wig that they feel confident wearing.”
Beatson Cancer Charity’s hairdressing service, located in the Wellbeing Centre, offers a wide range of hairdressing and wig-fitting and supply services. Our experienced stylists can offer advice on hair loss issues and can provide patients with emotional and practical support.
For help and advice call 0141 301 7667 or find out more about our Wig-fitting Service here.
Read more on Hair Loss Advice or about all of our Wellbeing Services
