In Pontivy, student nurses donate their hair for cancer patients

And if your visit to the hairdresser allowed people with cancer to benefit from a natural hair wig. It is the good idea of ​​the Institute for the training of health professionals (IFPS) of Pontivy in the Morbihan who set up this hair donation awareness day.

Organized in collaboration with the hospital group of Center-Bretagne and the League against cancer, this operation called All parten’hair invited the students to have their hair cut. That day in a room at the Pontivy nursing school, around sixty students signed up without hesitation. Like Jade, a third-year student who wanted to support cancer patients. “Anyone can be in this need, so it was useful for me to participate”, she assures.

Whether curly, straight, brown or blond, in all, twelve meters of hair were collected for this single day. They will then be sent to the only hair prosthetist in France who manufactures natural hair wigs.

Behind the scissors, nine professional hairdressers cut the hair of young girls free of charge. Among her, Lucile Auffret who finalizes the cut of a participant “Cancer today is part of too many people’s lives and you have to know how to remedy it and bring them beautiful natural hair on their wig and not just synthetic”, reports the hairdresser very involved in the operation. In her living room in Saint-Caradec, she voluntarily accompanies cancer patients.

Even before starting the treatments, Lucile advises women on choosing a wig. This is the case of Isabelle who will soon start her chemotherapy and already knows that, in a few weeks, her hair will start to fall out. “We need to keep femininity during all these treatments that will affect us physically. Morally, it’s important for me and for those around me”she says.

The cost of a medical wig ranges between 350 euros and 1500 euros in specialized shops approved by Social Security. A significant price difference which is explained by the device used on the hairpiece.

When prescribed by a doctor, synthetic fiber wigs are fully reimbursed by Social Security up to 350 euros. For wigs made of at least 30% natural hair, or synthetic hair, the maximum sale price for reimbursement is set at €700, of which €250 is reimbursed by Health Insurance. Mutuals cover the rest.