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Beauty tips for cancer patients

Beauty tips for cancer patients

Your skin, hair and nails may be affected by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Here is a list of little things you can do to better cope with these side effects.
Table of contents

Your hair

Before starting your cancer treatments, you could opt for a short haircut. This could help make losing your hair a little less stressful.

It is very important not to use chemical or permanent hair colour if you are receiving chemotherapy because you might have an allergic reaction. Vegetable dyes, however, are tolerated.

Use a mild shampoo and conditioner for a scalp weakened by cancer treatments. It is also recommended not to rub your hair; comb it gently and let it dry in the open air if possible.

Once your hair has fallen out , it will begin to grow back after a period of three to six months, but each case is different.

Wigs

When should you buy a wig?

To avoid unnecessary expense, it is best to wait for confirmation from the oncologist about whether you are likely to lose your hair. If you want to buy a wig, make an appointment as soon as possible with a professional so that she knows what your hairstyle was like before the hair loss. You could also show her a photo.

How to choose your wig?

Synthetic wigs are less expensive, easier to groom and more comfortable to wear than those made of real hair. Since the hair loss is often temporary, a synthetic wig is often preferable to a natural hair wig. A short hair prosthesis generally looks more natural and more flattering than long hair on most women. It is best to choose a wig that you like, avoid radical changes and make sure it is comfortable.

How much does a wig cost?

Synthetic: between $350 and $700

Natural hair: $700 and up.

Where can I buy a wig?

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Stores or professionals specializing in hair prostheses can provide you with useful advice and ensure a proper fit.

The Quebec Cancer Foundation has a wig rental service at minimal cost in Quebec City and Lévis, and the Info-Cancer Line (1-800-363-0063) has their  Resource directory — across the province — and can direct you to a location near you that sells or loans wigs.

Some precautions to take…

  • Avoid sources of heat at all costs!
  • Avoid placing the wig on a polystyrene head when you are not wearing it; place it on a specially made wig stand.
  • A synthetic hair prosthesis requires little maintenance, except for washing with a shampoo specially designed for the fibre. You can restore the styling in a few brush strokes.
  • If you purchased your wig, you can donate it to the Quebec Cancer Foundation when you no longer need it, so that someone else can benefit from it.

Headscarves

Headscarves are a great alternative if you don’t want to wear a wig. For special occasions, you can choose very chic ones, clip on a brooch or put ribbons all around. Several tutorials are available on the Web showing you how to tie a headscarf in many different ways. Choose one that suits you!

Skin care

Sunscreen is essential year round, since the treatments increase the sensitivity of your skin.

A good regular moisturizer is also strongly recommended. Also recommended are mild hypoallergenic products for sensitive skin, without perfume. If you are receiving radiation treatment, it is advisable to get your doctor’s approval before using any skincare product.

 Makeup tips

To improve your complexion, regular use of a self-tanning product can be very effective.

Put together a small makeup bag with products suited to your weakened skin: a moisturizing foundation, a concealer, an eyebrow pencil and eye shadow to add a little sparkle, a light blush to add roundness to your cheeks, or a dark blush to make them slimmer, and lipstick or gloss to add a touch of color.

Fashion advice

Choose colorful clothes! This will help improve your mood. Blue and green might soothe you, but red, yellow or purple will give you energy.

 Beauty Resources

To support and equip women with cancer, the Quebec Cancer Foundation offers the Look Good Feel Better workshops in Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Gatineau regional centers. For beauty tips, visit the Look Good Feel Better or the Maison du cancer website.

Live with cancer

Choc de recevoir un diagnostic de cancer : femme et médecin compatissant

The shock of diagnosis

The verdict is in: “You have cancer.” Your reaction: “Why me? What will happen now? How do I announce it to others?” The word “cancer” is still frightening, taboo and equated with death. It is seen as an invisible enemy to be eradicated. In this word there is the idea of something bad inside, the belief of being responsible for the illness and the notion of a disease without a cure. So what is it, exactly?
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Cancer therapies that complement cancer treatment

Whether they benefit the body, such as massage therapy, or the mind, like art therapy, these are activities that everyone with cancer, depending on their interests and needs, could include within their journey with the disease
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Parenting with cancer

Being diagnosed with cancer turns your life upside down. This is even more so when you are a parent of young children or even teenagers. You probably want to protect your children from this trial and the upheaval it can cause.
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Life habits

You don’t need to have been physically active prior to your cancer diagnosis to start moving. It only takes a few minutes of physical exercise a day to enjoy its many benefits: increased energy levels, better stress and anxiety management, fatigue reduction, alleviation of certain side effects, etc.