Pampering Yourself During Cancer Treatment
- English TV personality Charlotte Crosby's mother Letitia Crosby, 53, recently took to social media to show her fans she was styling her mom’s wig during a late-night pampering session.
- Ever since Letitia learned of her breast cancer diagnosis, the mother-daughter duo have been determined to find a "natural-looking" hair piece that she could look and feel good in. And it appeared they found one last month at The Wig Doctor in north London.
- Before you go shopping for wigs, make sure that you are going to lose your hair. Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect. If you do need to go wig-shopping, have fun with it! There are some fabulous options these days at different price points, and in some cases, your insurance company can help.
Now, as the MTV star is set to give birth any week now, she has taken time to pamper her 53-year-old mom Letitia Crosby.
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Charlotte appeared to be wearing pajamas as she enjoyed some one-on-one time with her mom.
The late-night hair session comes about one month after the mother-daughter duo was determined to find a "natural-looking" hairpiece that she could look and feel good in.
Last month, Charlotte also took to Instagram to share with fans a highly rewarding trip her mother had to The Wig Doctor in north London.
"Mom, the happiness I saw on your face yesterday has made me so content," Charlotte wrote. "After months and months of worry and pain and frustration to see you with a spring in your step laughing smiling and ready to take on the world has made me the happiest daughter in to walk the earth."
Letitia Crosby's Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Letitia found her cancer via a routine mammogram and has had a total of four biopsies even before her surgery. Currently, on chemo, she is exceptionally grateful for her daughter, who is set to give birth to her first child, a baby girl, any week now.
“It was just a routine mammogram, I have never missed one. When they told me it was cancer I was floored," she said of her diagnosis. "It was so difficult to tell Charlotte I had cancer. We had all the happy news a couple of months before that she was having the baby."
Thankfully, they are keeping their spirits up thanks to a special doctor … The Wig Doctor!
Getting Used to Wig Life During Cancer
Don't second-guess your feelings about losing your hair. Of course you're happy to be alive and know that there are other things more important than hair. But, that doesn't mean you can't mourn the loss of your hair. Hair loss is a very difficult part of cancer treatment. It's perfectly normal to feel low about it.
Complete Guide to Wigs for Cancer Patients Cost, Types and Where to Buy
"To look into the mirror and see a bald head is difficult for most people," Laurie Ostacher, a medical social worker at Sutter Bay Medical Foundation, told SurvivorNet. "There's a lot of grief that comes with a cancer diagnosis and losing your hair can feel like another loss. The more we try to push it away and say it doesn't matter, the longer it tends to stick around. Grieve that loss, so you can move on."
For many people who lose their hair during chemotherapy or radiation, part of moving on is getting a wig. Here's what you need to know about wigs, where to get them, what types you'll find, and whether you'll have to cover any of the cost.
Wig prices vary a lot. You can get a good basic wig, made of synthetic hair for as little as $30. Higher quality ones can go up to $400. And, wigs made of human hair can run up to $2,000. You may be surprised to know that some health plans cover some or all of the cost of a wig. Hair loss is a side effect of some cancer treatments, and health insurance covers treatment for those side effects. It's definitely worth looking into it to try to save yourself some money.
Ask your insurance company if you have coverage for "cranial prosthesis" or "hair prosthesis" for cancer treatment-related hair loss. Those are medical words for wigs and the terms the insurance companies use.
If your health insurance covers wigs, ask them what they need from you. The answer may be a written prescription from your doctor that uses the specific words "cranial prosthesis" or "hair prosthesis" and a code that shows you have cancer. You might also need to send them the receipt for the wig after you pay for it upfront.'
Some wig shops will file the insurance claim for you and not ask you to pay upfront. You can call around to shops in your area or contact online wig retailers to see who offers this benefit.
If you don't have insurance coverage for a wig or can't afford the out-of-pocket portion, some charities provide wigs for adults who have cancer. Your social worker, church, support group, or local chapter of the American Cancer Support may have advice.
Before you go shopping for wigs, make sure that you are going to lose your hair. Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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