Wigs for Cancer Patients

Almost everyone knows someone or has a friend or family member that has had chemotherapy, or lost their hair to cancer. When this happens a wig can play a very important roll in their life. The loss of one’s hair, especially for a woman, is usually unbearable. Having cancer makes them physically ill, not having any hair because of it can add emotional damage that is detrimental to the patients recovery.

Wigs for cancer patients are more expensive than traditional wigs. The reason is they are made slightly different than the a wig you might see at the hair dresser, local salon, or beauty sales shop. Most of the difference lies in cap construction. Medical wigs have a cap made from monofilament. This  material allows the hair strands to be sewn in more precisely. Cloth material can be itchy to those with sensitive scalps, but monofilament material is a thin gauze-like, nearly transparent material which can be much more comfortable to wear.

The material is much tighter so the cap doesn’t stretch very much resulting in a slightly smaller fit, but also more secure, so you won’t have to worry about it sliding around. The hair fibers are attached one at a time by hand-knotting them to this material, hence the term “mono-filament”. This makes an ideal wig for a cancer patient.

While hand-tied wigs are the best, there is another alternative. These are called Mono-top wigs. Which means just what is says. The monofilament is only in the top of the cap, not all over. The rest of the cap is wefted and machine made. This gives a very natural appearance where is matters most, right on top and up front. Without the cost of a hand-tied all over wig.

Wigs for cancer patients also come in natural hair, synthetic hair and a combination of both. The human hair wigs are always more expensive, but when it comes to wigs you get what you pay for. Human hair gives a more natural look and can be cut, colored, or styled like you would your own hair. The next choice is a synthetic wig. They dry quicker, are easier to maintain, and are not as expensive. They also don’t usually last as long as human hair. There is another choice, which is a combination of natural and synthetic, they give you the best and worst of both of the above.

This is why most doctors recommend getting a wig as soon as you are diagnosed. There is no way to know when you will lose your hair. It could happen after the first day of chemo, or the very last. In any case, its best to be prepared. We talk to women on a daily basis that are sad and depressed because they waited too long to do it, and now have no hair and no wig.

The good news is that a successful treatment usually means the patients hair will grow back in three months to a year. During this time is it vital that they be surrounded by people who are positive. Depression is common after going through an event such as cancer, and while wigs help, they aren’t the only answer. Cancer patients need to be surrounded and supported by positive mental energy and love, that is the best cure for depression.

If you have any more questions, please let us know in the comment thread and someone will get back to you. Thanks for reading.