Wigs and More for Women with Cancer

Help breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer patients with limited financial resources purchase wigs, breast prostheses, and other related needs.

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, through its program of Patient and Family Support Services, helps needy patients to better cope with the physical challenges that come with cancer treatments. You can reach out to patients by removing the financial barriers to self-esteem and comfort during their fight with cancer.

You can help! This Gift That Gives More™ helps a woman with the expense of a wig, wig fitting, breast prosthesis, or other similar need.

Report from the Field

March 2017

Donors like you supported two patients who got fitted for wigs. One such patient was a 48-year-old woman who, before her cancer treatment, was excited about an upcoming family wedding. Her excitement quickly turned into stress. It was apparent that hair loss would be a side effect of the treatment she needed to recover from cancer. She worried about going to the wedding with less/no hair, and how she’d talk about her cancer to her friends and family. She was so grateful that the Wig Bank could fit her with a wig that she wore proudly to her event.

Another patient helped as a result of GreaterGood.org’s gift is a young woman who had been feeling down for a few days. Her nurse recognized that a wig might be just what this patient needed. Taking a few moments to focus on feeling normal and feeling beautiful, the patient requested a red wig. The nurse brought up all the red wigs we had and took the time to help her try on each one. When she tried the last one, she started to cry. It was exactly what she wanted, and she couldn’t believe how much it looked like her real hair. All the nurses in the room were very excited for her and her husband pulled the staff aside to personally thank them for doing this for her. Her husband shared with the nurses that his wife hadn’t received any good news in a while and her new hair really brightened her day.

The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center provides its patients diagnostic, treatment and support services in a collaborative environment, focused on excellence in patient care. Drawing on the strengths of the University of Michigan faculty, the Cancer Center has assembled a team of specialists who are leaders in their fields to unravel the threat of cancer and to provide care and comfort to those it afflicts.