Hannah turns dad’s cancer shock into fundraising spur
Mark Stott from Exeter discovered he had cancer in February and three weeks later had his stomach removed. It was…
A cancer diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose your hair but some chemotherapy treatments can cause considerable hair thinning and others lead to complete hair loss.
This can happen as soon as 3-4 weeks after treatment starts.
At FORCE Cancer Charity, we understand that losing your hair during treatment can be distressing.
That’s why we offer a range of services to support you including a free fitting service for pre-loved wigs.
We launched the FORCE pre-loved wigs service in May 2024. Clinics run every Wednesday with trained volunteers.
We sell headwear and scarves, both new and pre-loved. We also sell specialist wig products like shampoo, conditioner and hairspray plus wig trees and brushes.
Natural Image and Browns More Hair Now are the RDUH approved retailers for new wigs and you may be able to receive a subsidy towards one if you would prefer a new wig.
If you have any questions about coping with hair loss, please call us on 01392 408535.
FORCE offers a pre-loved wig service run by trained volunteers.
We have a wide selection of wigs, which are all lovingly cleaned, repackaged and available without the high price tag of a new wig. The suggested minimum donation is £30 for each wig.
As the service is run by volunteers, all of your donations will help support FORCE Cancer Charity.
For more information and to take a look at our collections, please click the link below.
Read more
Your clinic nurse will explain the process of getting a wig and generate a form to subsidise the cost.
They will also give you written information on the wig suppliers approved by the hospital.
To start the process, you need to call the RDUH appliance officer on 01392 404257. They will check your details and issue you with an order number.
If you receive treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital which causes hair loss and have not opted to try the cold cap, the cost of your wig will be subsidised by up to a maximum of £100 (excluding VAT).
The appliance officer will advise you if you will be invoiced for the nationally-approved NHS appliance prescription charges, which is currently £80.15.
If you choose a more expensive wig, the difference in cost will be charged direct by the company and you will pay the additional amount to them.
If you are being treated at another hospital, you will not be eligible for funding from the RDUH Trust.
Natural Image can be found at John Lewis in Exeter and Browns More Hair Now are based in Tavistock.
Technicians from both companies are fully trained in fitting, cutting and styling wigs and can provide advice and tips about wearing and caring for your new hair.
To book an appointment with Natural Image, please contact John Lewis on 01392 270020
To book an appointment with Browns More Hair Now, please contact Rebecca on 01822 660347
FORCE has also reinforced links with the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people under 25 who have lost their own hair through cancer.
FORCE is recognised as the South West centre for sufferers from cancer and alopecia – LPT works closely with a trusted network of accredited wig fitters to ensure that young people needing their support never have to travel far for their fitting.
More information about the Little Princess Trust is available at littleprincesses.org.uk
Mark Stott from Exeter discovered he had cancer in February and three weeks later had his stomach removed. It was…
Two former long-serving police officers from Devon will team up next month to tackle what’s been described as the most…
Mark Durk will be taking part in his first Nello ride this year, cycling 60 miles to ensure that cancer…
A young mum from Devon she has channelled her experience of an incurable cancer diagnosis into writing a book. Charli…
FORCE Cancer Charity is offering an overseas fundraising challenge – trekking along Great Wall of China – for the first…
Team FORCE has again pulled out all the stops at this year’s Great West Run. Nearly 450 people ran either…
FORCE Cancer Charity’s largest annual fundraiser – The Nello bike ride – is less than two months away and…
Twelve months ago, Amy Martin could barely run at all after a tough regime of cancer treatment. But on Sunday…
Lauren Pezzani (pictured above) is taking part in the Great West Run this year to raise money for FORCE Cancer…
Exeter-based recruitment agency Konker raised vital funds for FORCE by organising a charity padel tournament. The event brought together 12…
Sign up to receive our newsletter or information about FORCE. We will never sell on your data - your privacy is very important to us.
Sign up today
The latest FORCE Matters magazine is out now with news about our support for local people dealing with a cancer diagnosis, stories from patients and their loved ones whose lives we have touched and from the communities we serve who find wonderful ways to raise money.
Read more