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Case Study: Linda wasn't going to let chemotherapy stop her from looking lovely
Linda Woods may be enduring gruelling sessions of chemotherapy, but she has decided this is no excuse to let her standards slip.
Linda Woods may be enduring gruelling sessions of chemotherapy, but she has decided this is no excuse to let her standards slip.She is a woman determined to always be turned out well, and at the centre of this is making sure she always has a fabulous head of hair – even if she does have to fake it.
As soon as she was diagnosed and found out that she would more than likely lose her hair, she started looking into getting herself a wig.
Related feature: What would you do if it was hair today, gone tomorrow?, Hannah Gray, 4 August 2008.
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Linda (59), from Peterborough, had already been a client of Tracy's after becoming concerned about thinning hair when she was on HRT.
So she knew exactly who to call when she wanted some help to maintain her dignity through the trauma of chemotherapy.
Linda was diagnosed in April, had a lumpectomy and was started on a course of chemotherapy.
She said that being told her hair would fall out was one of the hardest parts to deal with.
"It was a big shock but I dealt with it straight away and prepared myself before the chemo started.
"I knew my hair would start falling out more or less straight away.
"They wanted to start the chemo as soon as possible and I asked them if I could have a week or two to get prepared, which really was to get wigs in readiness."
Tracey visited Linda at home and took samples of both synthetic and human hair wigs.
Linda relied on Tracey to help guide her to the wigs which most suited her.
"Tracey is a very honest person and although she leaves it to you, if you ask her she will give you her honest opinion," she said.
Linda chose a wig which was very similar to her own hair, but thicker, and a shorter one for hot weather, as well as one made from human hair.
She said that they are all very comfortable to wear, and crucially, they have helped her maintain pride in her appearance.
"In a nutshell, I can say that it has helped me immensely and given me confidence.
"When I go out I still wear my make up and have everything co-ordinated," she said.
Linda is seeing a reflexologist and even though she is well aware of Linda's condition, even she has been taken aback by how well her patient is looking.
Linda believes that a desire to keep looking fabulous at a time when you may feel exactly the opposite is a common feeling among cancer sufferers.
"Every woman I've spoken to who's going through the same thing says the same, they want to maintain a certain standard in their appearance," she said.
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