One year after the launch of the Onco Hair initiative in Lombardy, 25 women undergoing treatment for breast cancer received a medical device completely similar to real hair for free (usable for adult patients and children, males and females)
The numbers frame the problem well: 75% of cancer patients cite alopecia as one of the most feared side effects of therapies, so much so that for this reason 10% of them even consider the option of refusing anti-cancer treatment. Hair loss has an important impact on patients’ lives, on their psychological well-being, on their emotional, social and working life. The consequences are heavy in the relationship with children, with colleagues, with all the “external” way because obliges to communicate the disease and aggravates the already onerous burden of the tumor and treatments. The project was born from these assumptions Onco Hairwhich donates hair to women who are undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, promoted by the Associazione per il Policlinico Onlus, Fondazione Cariplo and CRLAB.
A normal life
Exactly one year after the launch of the initiative, inaugurated on Women’s Day 2021, 25 women were able to use, instead of the traditional wig, the innovative CNC prosthetic system (Natural Hair in Contact) entirely made in Italy . “Only those who have not had direct experience with a neoplasm can think that hair loss is a corollary of little importance – he explains Dalila28 years old, one of the participants in the initiative -. Seeing yourself beautiful, without the obvious sign of the disease, gives you great strength. Do not allow the tumor to take possession of your face, avoiding the commiserating looks of those who superimpose you on the disease means a lot. Thanks to the trichological prosthesis, I continue to work in contact with the public, swim, go out with friends, run my hands through my hair as before. The others don’t see me sick and I forget it too ». In fact, the CNC prosthesis allows the wearer to have an absolutely normal life, becomes an integral part of the body, should not be taken off at night and allows you to swim, tie your hair and even have it pulled. The chemotherapeutic agents that most frequently cause alopecia, often temporary, are anthracyclines (such as doxorubicin, epirubicin), microtubule antagonists (paclitaxel, docetaxel) and alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, etoposide).
The trichological prosthesis
Since chemotherapy-induced alopecia cannot be prevented, the best way to live with the problem is to plan early on how to deal with the change in appearance. Unfortunately, however, to date, the reimbursement of a wig is not yet foreseen by the National Health Service, even if some Regions allocate funds to partial or total contribution for the purchase, and those of good quality are very expensive. “The CNC prosthetic system (natural hair in contact) is a medical device, which uses virgin, untreated human hair, inserted one at a time in a thin biocompatible polymer membrane covered by a patent – he explains Stefano Ospitali, CEO of CRLAB (in whose laboratories, in Zola Predosa, in the province of Bologna, hair prostheses are made) -. The production process, completely carried out by hand, is customized on the individual person. And, unlike wigs, it does not have to be removed at night and there is no risk of it moving during some activities. Only periodic maintenance is foreseen which lasts about an hour ». A pilot study carried out by the Salute Donna Onlus association and conducted at the National Cancer Institute of Milan also measured 10 points (i.e. about 33%) of improvement on the BIS scale (body image scale, which goes from 0 to 30) the positive impact for patients with relapsed breast cancer and relapsing alopecia who use this device instead of the wig.
Useful for all patients with alopecia
“In addition to the disease, even the treatment transforms the body – he explains Donatella Gambini, oncologist at the Policlinico di Milano who followed the Onco Hair project -. Each one, depending on character, age, social context, experiences hair loss in his own way, but being able to have a device that helps to reconstruct a situation, even aesthetic, of normality is of great help “. Several international researches have highlighted how much breast cancer undermines femininity and the psychological well-being of women. “We decided to start the project, thanks to the support of Cariplo and CRLAB, learning from the direct experience of women fighting against cancer how much the prosthetic device had a positive impact on psychological well-being, self-esteem, sexuality, social relationships and self-perception. – he comments Claudia Buccellati, President of the Onlus Polyclinic Foundation -. We think it is important to offer this help even to the most economically fragile people, even more defenseless in the face of a disease that affects everyone. At the end of this first pilot project, carried out in one year at the Milan Polyclinic, we hope to be able to continue the initiative in other oncology departments, to lend a hand to as many women as possible to fight this fight “. The medical device, in fact, can be used by all patients suffering from alopecia, adults and children, males and females.regardless of the type of cancer involved.
The role of the institutions
Sarah Maestri, member of the Central Commission of Charity of the Cariplo Foundation, explains the commitment of the Foundation in this project: “Being able to lend a hand to those who are facing the disease, offering support to those who cannot afford it is perfectly in the strings of the Cariplo Foundation , always attentive to fragility in all its facets. In particular, this initiative won me the effort to understand even the most intimate and profound needs of women engaged in a war that is unfortunately so common “. Underlining the commitment of Lombardy’s regional policy towards women facing breast cancer is Simona Tironi, vice-president of the III Commission for Health and Social Policies of the Lombardy Region and promoter of the appointment: «It is important that we institutions keep the right attention to better support those who are facing the path of treatment – he says -. In the wake of the actions for the quality of life and social inclusion of people undergoing cancer therapy, having been able to find the usefulness of the hair prosthesis for chemotherapy patients, through my agenda I immediately worked to ensure that it is made accessible to as many people as possible, because it is an innovative tool capable of restoring just dignity to women “.
In Lombardy the project continues
The hope of the organizers of the initiative is that this project is an example for other realities, which spread to other regions and be available nationally. Meanwhile, “the Lombardy Region and the Regional Council will certainly support this project in the future as well, a project of hope but also a concrete and real possibility of treatment and a better life” announces the President of the Lombardy Regional Council, Alessandro Fermi. “When, 13 years after the first diagnosis, cancer came knocking on my door, the post-surgery physical pain and the consequences of chemo were my greatest fear – concludes another of the women who participated in the project. , Silvia, 44, in her second battle against breast cancer -. One of the most painful memories of the first illness dates back to the day I lost my hair. You can’t make it clear to anyone who hasn’t tried it. You know they will grow back, but when you get up in the morning and see the shadow of yourself, you just want to cover the mirror and stop looking at yourself, you see yourself sicker than you feel. Now then there is also my son, who from an early age has the habit of stroking my hair to relax and thanks to the CRLAB prosthesis he didn’t have to give it up. I don’t hide my cancer experience, but I don’t want to show anyone my vulnerability at any time. In 2008 I had a very bad experience with scarves and wigs, I was always uncomfortable with myself. I don’t even have a photo from that period. Now I can not give up my life and all the opportunities to be in company, without feeling false and out of place: I look in the mirror and I feel beautiful, strong and sure of myself “.
March 7, 2022 (change March 7, 2022 | 19:01)
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