Like it or not, humans are vain creatures. One of the top fears of a cancer patient, beyond the thought of losing life, is the concern over losing hair. Since cancer treatment is half medicine and half attitude, overcoming the vain concerns is key in most treatment plans. Here's where good wigs can come into play, but for many, the expense is great.



Through American Cancer Society sponsorship programs and even through agencies like Locks of Love, anyone can get involved in helping make sure high-quality wigs get to the patients who need them. Wearing a wig is maybe not the same as having a full head of one's own hair, but if a high quality wig is offered, the only one who is likely to know the difference will be the person wearing it. Plus, wigs can even be fun, whimsical and fantastic for those who don't face treatment.

Wigs of today are not the same as they were in years gone by. High quality wigs look natural, mimic genuine colors and are fitted correctly to a person's head so a natural appearance is presented. Super high quality wigs can cost hundreds of dollars though, so for the cancer patient, the expense can be prohibitive.

Youngsters who have faced hair loss can be helped through organizations such as Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids. Locks of Love provides wigs made of human hair for optimum natural appearances. There are even programs tailored especially for adults and those who face hair loss for other medical reasons.

Supporting agencies that provide wigs to those in need is fairly simple for anyone to do. Most American Cancer Society branches, for example, take donations for their wig programs. The branches provide fittings and wigs free of charge to patients who cannot afford them. Everything from a $1 to $1,000 and beyond helps and just about every penny donated stays local, and monies can even be earmarked for set programs.

Locks of Love takes donations of money and hair. Donors of hair all over America and beyond give to this program by growing their locks to a set length and having them chopped for the wig creation organization. The hair is then shipped to the agency, which processes it for use in wigs for youngsters who need them.

When people look good, they tend to feel good. For the cancer patient, attitude can be half the battle. The horrors of the disease alone can be hard for some to face, but the hair loss that goes along with it can be a blow that's hard for many to take. To get involved in donating full wigs, hair or money to the cause, check with agencies such as Lock of Love or the American Cancer Society for programs in your region.

A wig might seem like a simplistic thing to give a cancer patient, but it's not. In fact, the little bit of self-esteem it returns to the person can make all the difference in the world.