A Bounce In Her Step
- English TV personality Charlotte Crosby’s mother Letitia Crosby, 53, is unfortunately going through breast cancer. The MTV star, 32, shared news of her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis just last month.
- Ever since the heartbreaking news, the mother-daughter duo have been determined to find a “natural-looking” hair piece that she could look and feel good in. And it looks like they found a winner from 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.
English TV personality Charlotte Crosby’s mother Letitia, 53, is unfortunately going through breast cancer. The MTV star, 32, shared news of her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis just last month.
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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 32 months pregnant with her first child, a baby girl.
‘”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.”
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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.
"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."
Related: The Courage to Be You: Meet Survivor Ericka Hart
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
Complete Guide to Wigs for Cancer Patients Cost, Types and Where to Buy
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.
Related: Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity After Cancer
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 by SurvivorNet staff.
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