'I know what it is like to lose your hair'

By Jane Elliott
Health reporter, BBC news

Christine offers support to women following hair loss

When Christine Wells lost her hair through cancer treatment she was determined it would not stop her working as a hairdresser in local hospitals.

Throughout her distressing hair loss she wore hats and scarves to cover her head and carried on tending to the hair of clients.

"It was like a bombshell for me, it was very traumatic," said Christine, 54, from Croydon.

Christine went completely bald as a result of her treatment, which included a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Hats and scarves

Now she has volunteered to help Breast Cancer Care's Headstrong service, which shows women who lose their hair through cancer how to make the most of themselves.

Headstrong, which has just opened a new service for London and the South, offers confidential support to women about hair loss.

I can do something that helps make people feel better Christine Wells

As well as offering practical tips and information on hair loss and scalp care, they also have a range of hats, scarves and wigs available for women to use.

Christine has been trained how to advise women on clever use of headwear to boost self esteem.

"I can sympathise with women who lose their hair. Your hair is so important to your self-image.

"And because I am a hairdresser I am used to working one-to-one and making people feel good.

"I can do something that helps make people feel better."

'Incredibly cold'

When Leila Burrell lost her hair she was devastated.

Although she had expected the hair loss she was still unprepared for the reality of losing her long locks.

"I just don't think anyone can prepare for it.

"For one thing it is incredibly cold without hair.

"Even when just popping out to the garage to get something my head would freeze, and at first I had to wear a hat in bed because even my husband's breath on my head made it cold."

Leila hated wearing wigs

Leila, 41, from Woking, Surrey, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and needed a wide local excision (lumpectomy), six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy.

Leila tried scarves and wigs but said she found they changed her appearance too radically and obscured her features.

"Once when I went on holiday I put a scarf on and my husband said 'don't wear that it makes you look ill'. I looked like a person with cancer.

"Some people have a good time trying on the different wigs and changing their appearance, but when I had a wig on I would not look at myself in the mirror. Unless your wigs are really expensive they can't replicate your real hair."

Emotional

Lynne Dowde, clinical nurse specialist for North and Midlands training for Breast Cancer Care, said: "Hair loss is extremely important for some people and for some is the most distressing part of their chemotherapy.

The service is open to women who have lost hair through any cancer

"A loss of hair can affect your self-confidence and your self-esteem and when you lose your hair it is obvious to everyone."

She stressed that the service was open to all women who had lost their hair through chemotherapy following cancer and not just those with breast cancer.

"As well as the emotional side of losing their hair, women also feel very vulnerable and cold without a head of hair.

"This service shows them alternatives for covering up their heads such as hats, bandanas and turbans.

"It is a service that is proving to be extremely popular."