Where can I get a free wig?
Q: Where do I go for financial help and free wigs? My hair is all gone and I can't afford to buy one.
A: Several groups can help. Y-ME, a national organization that offers free counseling to those with breast cancer, gives wigs, prostheses, and mastectomy bras to women with limited financial resources. Contact their 24-hour hotline (English: 1-800-221-2141; Spanish: 1-800-986-9505) for information.
Many local chapters of the American Cancer Society have wig banks that provide free wigs to patients in need, regardless of the type of cancer. Find your local chapter here. In addition, check with hospitals near you. They often have similar programs.
If you buy a wig or hairpiece due to cancer treatment, you may be able to take a tax deduction for it as a medical expense. Read your health insurance policy—it may pay for all or part of the wig’s cost. Have your doctor write a prescription for it before you buy.
--Bernice Crook, RN, OCN
Discover other sources of financial support.
This content was last reviewed
August 15, 2010 by Dr. Reshma L. Mahtani.