Cancer patients to get hair loss advice

By LYNDSAY BUCKLAND
Published on 11/02/2013 01:46

A NEW service to help cancer patients cope with losing their hair during their treatment is being launched in Edinburgh.

The HeadStrong service at the Western General Hospital will offer practical and emotional support for patients who lose their hair – a common side effect of many cancer therapies.

The service will offer support in preparing patients with any type of cancer who may lose their hair, as well as advice on how to tie scarves and use hats and hairpieces to reduce the ­impact.

TV presenter Amanda Hamilton will launch the service, run by charity Breast Cancer Care and Macmillan, today after the service received £20,000 funding from the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s volunteering grants programme.

Campaigners say losing their hair can be of the most distressing parts of cancer treatment.

Angela Harris, services manager at Breast Cancer Care, said: “Losing your hair can be a traumatic experience, but one which we believe people shouldn’t have to face on their own.”