With many who battle and beat breast cancer, losing a part or all of your breasts or losing your hair can be difficult as it is the very essence of what makes you a woman. For breast cancer survivor Anna Eustaquio, the wig room was an opportunity to look good and feel better. She said that wigs help give chemotherapy patients some semblance of normalcy and make them feel and look like themselves, even for a few hours a day.

Marisha Artero Perez is the associate director for the state program for the American Cancer Society here on Guam.

"We're actually really proud to be able to offer these services to our community," she said. "As you may know, it's not easy to find in the community if you are a patient experiencing those physical-related side effects like hair loss after you've started chemotherapy, but we've been really blessed to be able to provide within our field office, a special room that allows women to come in with their caregivers, their friends or family members to try on wigs, hats, and scarves things like that...and all of that is provided at no cost to the patient."

And these are wigs that are created specifically for those going through cancer treatments.

 

"We also take a moment for folks to walk through and understand the best way to care for a wig for example, making sure they know how to hand wash it and dry it things like that," Perez. 

And although the bulk of the head coverings are typically for women, Artero Perez said it is not uncommon for a male patient to come in looking for a hat. So how is the wig room able to be kept well stocked?

"Through private donations, through fundraising, and also by us seeking out grand opportunities that allows us more flexibility to add more items to our wig closet," she said. 

No one plans for a cancer diagnosis. And it is something that is emotional with numerous ups and downs, as a caregiver, Artero Perez said it's something she can relate to not knowing what the next day will bring.

"You can imagine losing your hair would be something most women would associate with being emotional, and coming into the field office and being able to try on different wigs and being able to leave with a little more self-confidence, whether they are choosing to take home a wig, a scarf, or a hat...we're just glad we're able to provide those services," she said. 

It was about five years ago when the Guam office was able to offer a room dedicated to the wigs and coverings.

 

"It gives women the privacy to sit down, take their time, try on the wigs, and find something that works best for them," she said. 

And if a patient doesn't find anything to their liking.

"For some reason, we aren't able to find something in our inventory locally, that we do have a resource called TLC," Artero Perez said. "Our TLC catalog that allows patients the opportunity for us to find something through a stateside catalog and have it shipped to them as well."

The field office also has a breast cancer gift closet.

"That really ensures that a woman that has had surgery has the opportunity to come in and receive a free breast prosthetic or if they are opting not for reconstructive surgery, we offer post-surgical bras, that are easier to take on and off after surgery," Artero Perez said. "Through a partnership with the community, we also offer comfort pillows.... A little comfort pillow."

If you are a patient and would like to avail of the wig room and schedule an appointment or find out more information, you are asked to call (671) 477-9451.