Having read all the stories of peoples ‘wig journeys’ I thought I’d like to share my ‘wig’ story with you.
6 years ago last month I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. You can imagine the shock to my system.
I’d found the lump myself and been quickly sent to the One stop Breast Care Centre. I had a lumpectomy in Christmas week and unbeknown to me the biopsies were sent to America for a new kind of testing.
The results came back showing I had a stage 3, 3.5centimetre cancer with a 50% chance of recurrence, so would require the usual 6 rounds of chemo and a course of radiotherapy, plus oestrogen limiting drugs for 10 years.
I was offered the ‘cold cap’ which I tried for 3 sessions but by then my hair was already fallingout and so thin – I thought, as I was not happy with the state of my hair now I might as well stop the ‘cap’ treatment [ which took nearly all day. ] and wear my wig
My chemo journey was tiring and painful – admitted to hospital twice with infections etc However, my treatment was good with the support of fantastic staff attached to the Macmillan Centre and the constant back up of my daughter. Pre chemo I was given the usual prescription for an NHS wig and directed to a small local hairdressers/wig shop in my nearest town. My daughter and I went along one snowy afternoon in January [ a day just like today!]
It is there the trauma of my hair loss situation really hit me for the first time
A very small cubicle, with no privacy when talking about everything. No space for someone to accompany you.- they had to sit in the main shop area, So you had to try wig / open curtain and show!
– Of course everyone in the hairdressers turned to see you in all your uncomfortable glory! Strong bright lights with no natural lighting. You had to go outside the back of the shop to see it in natural daylight. Very little choice of wigs – style or colour, and had to be ordered from a catalogue.
WOW, just what I needed. You can imagine how I felt?
I was devastated at the most vulnerable time of my life! I was persuaded to choose a couple of wigs from a catalogue and my daughter and I left – She was very angry and I was very upset vowing never to go back!. We trudged through the snow to the nearby carpark and my daughter ‘googled’ other suppliers in our area. We found a private salon and he saw us both in the same week and in such a comfortable studio and such a positive attitude.
What a difference – Just what I needed and to be honest he saved me emotionally.
Ok -so he didn’t accept the NHS prescription, but the Tova wig was a fantastic colour and he cut and thinned it so beautifully – giving me time and a little normality at a difficult time of my life. I then got a number of texts and phone calls to remind me I hadn’t been back to review the other wigs , -even a message from the Macmillan centre telling me I could choose any of the wigs I wished.
Sadly a friend of mine died of cancer and after attending her funeral, I decided I was brave enough to go back and I plucked up all my courage to return alone. I tried to explain to her how much she had upset me – she seemed surprised? To ‘cut a long story short ‘ I chose a wig she had got in for me and asked her to trim it – ‘You do realise it won’t grow back’! she said.
It was a quality Sentoo wig and I took it back to the Private salon for a fantastic cut. – it served me well for the 6 months I had my treatment. I waited then for my own hair to regrow. BUT – my hair only started to grow in a few places -thinly with gaps across the crown and my scalp was itchy . I too tried all the usual shampoos, lotions and even an expensive electronic comb through machine [luckily on a 60day trial ] all to no avail.
Thin, wispy hair with bald patches and receding hairline. My hair had always been thick and stylish – and I’d taken it for granted.
Oh no – what was happening here – nobody had ever warned me this was a possibility-
Had they? When I saw others who’d had treatment at around the same time, they were so happy their hair was growing back – maybe a different colour or curly. I’d have been ok with that. Following an oncology review I was sent to see a Dermatology Consultant who did biopsies, took photos and said it was post chemo Lichen Planopilaris Aloepecia and sadly would not improve much.
Although, I am in receipt of annual NHS prescriptions for wigs, I supplement these with purchases from Simply Wigs – particularly their Friday offers!
At first I was very wary about buying online, but having I found Simply Wigs I have bought a number of wigs and their service/ordering process is excellent. Particularly, during these difficult Covid times, I have been shielding and not able to travel to get my NHS wig in person.
I must admit the Lizzy Wig by Rene of Paris in Silverstone is my go to every day wig but I have others I wear eg Flip Mono in the beautiful colour of Pearl Blonde Rooted. A few close friends know about my ‘hair journey’ but most simply comment on my hair having grown back so well??? – Do I really suffer from from post chemo aloepecia?
– I’m glad to be alive & well AND I look like me again!
Reading this back I realise how widely my experiences varied – improved greatly by most and marred badly by a few I’d met along the way.
But hey, that’s life?
Stay positive and safe everyone,
Pauline x
Comments
5 thoughts on “I’d like to share my ‘wig’ story with you”
Hi the story’s.are truly inspiring as I just can’t stand being Boulder no matter how I try the wigs itch and make my head so very hot.
I haven’t bought a wig from simple wig and where I live there isn’t anywhere close.
I keep looking at the wigs I am a petite head and 71yrs but what I really want to know is when the wig you pick comes through the post how do you shape it and get it right to wear I live in Bristol so can’t come to try any on or get advice can anyone give me some help.
What a bad experience for a person going through hell had to experience, very pleased she found the kindness Simply Wigs offer. .I have often read peoples horrendous experience looking for a wig and I write straight back and tell them my story and how I found simply wigs
I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer three years ago, I had already been treated for stage 3 breast cancer 28 years previously, both times had a mastectomy chemo, radiotherapy and ongoing drug therapy. this time loosing my hair, I thought well it will grow back, it’s a small price too pay too be cancer free again. However my “hair” that has grown back can not really be referred too as “hair” it’s completely damaged, it’s frizzy, brittle and breaks very easily, also my hairline has receded so much because very little hair grows there, the small amount that does grow just breaks off even with gentle brushing, I will not allow anyone too see me without a wig on as I feel so embarrassed, I find that when I put my “fake boobs” in my bra I can cope with that fine, but when I look in the mirror at my hair there’s no way I could go outside without a wig because I feel I look like a freak, I hope I don’t sound like a vain person, because I’m not, I just want too feel normal again. I know that I will have too wear wigs from now on, my favourite wig is ‘Sandra by Jon Renau’ I find I can tie it up and make it look like the way I used too wear my hair before I developed my “freaky, patchy frizz”, however as you will all know it’s expensive, and I find it hard getting the money together too buy wigs, that’s why I love the fact that “Simply Wigs” have their 20% off in January, that makes it more affordable and I try too buy a few at that time, although I stick too buying the Sandra wig, there is such a great variety of wigs too choose from, and the staff at Simply Wigs could not be any more helpful.
Pauline you look great. I to like Lizzie.
That was a hard story to read but it had a happy ending. I remember taking my mum to The NHS wig supplier and it was a dreadful experience. I was to upset to challenge their attitude. Sadly my mum died but I need to wear a wig myself now as my hair has become so thin but worst thing to contend with is receding hairline at front. I have three wigs now from Simply Wigs. I love them all. The staff are truly amazing so helpful and friendly
Hi the story’s.are truly inspiring as I just can’t stand being Boulder no matter how I try the wigs itch and make my head so very hot.
I haven’t bought a wig from simple wig and where I live there isn’t anywhere close.
I keep looking at the wigs I am a petite head and 71yrs but what I really want to know is when the wig you pick comes through the post how do you shape it and get it right to wear I live in Bristol so can’t come to try any on or get advice can anyone give me some help.
What a bad experience for a person going through hell had to experience, very pleased she found the kindness Simply Wigs offer. .I have often read peoples horrendous experience looking for a wig and I write straight back and tell them my story and how I found simply wigs
I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer three years ago, I had already been treated for stage 3 breast cancer 28 years previously, both times had a mastectomy chemo, radiotherapy and ongoing drug therapy. this time loosing my hair, I thought well it will grow back, it’s a small price too pay too be cancer free again. However my “hair” that has grown back can not really be referred too as “hair” it’s completely damaged, it’s frizzy, brittle and breaks very easily, also my hairline has receded so much because very little hair grows there, the small amount that does grow just breaks off even with gentle brushing, I will not allow anyone too see me without a wig on as I feel so embarrassed, I find that when I put my “fake boobs” in my bra I can cope with that fine, but when I look in the mirror at my hair there’s no way I could go outside without a wig because I feel I look like a freak, I hope I don’t sound like a vain person, because I’m not, I just want too feel normal again. I know that I will have too wear wigs from now on, my favourite wig is ‘Sandra by Jon Renau’ I find I can tie it up and make it look like the way I used too wear my hair before I developed my “freaky, patchy frizz”, however as you will all know it’s expensive, and I find it hard getting the money together too buy wigs, that’s why I love the fact that “Simply Wigs” have their 20% off in January, that makes it more affordable and I try too buy a few at that time, although I stick too buying the Sandra wig, there is such a great variety of wigs too choose from, and the staff at Simply Wigs could not be any more helpful.
Pauline you look great. I to like Lizzie.
That was a hard story to read but it had a happy ending. I remember taking my mum to The NHS wig supplier and it was a dreadful experience. I was to upset to challenge their attitude. Sadly my mum died but I need to wear a wig myself now as my hair has become so thin but worst thing to contend with is receding hairline at front. I have three wigs now from Simply Wigs. I love them all. The staff are truly amazing so helpful and friendly