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Bucks County Hospital Offers Free Wigs To Cancer Patients

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A local hospital has become the first in Bucks County to offer free wigs to cancer patients, thanks to the American Cancer Society.

The wigs are free and come in all styles and colors, according to Jeanette Stemen, director of the oncology program at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne.

"Being able to offer something for free and give that support to patients," Stemen says, "and also make them feel good while they're going through this treatment, which is not only life altering, but can be image altering."

A cancer patient makes an appointment for a personal fitting and walks away with a free hair piece.

"All the fittings are done individually," Stemen says. "And we gather from the patient what style, color, preference they have, and we pull wigs from our inventory to be prepared for the appointment.

She adds that wigs can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance, so getting one for free can be a huge benefit.

You don't have to be getting treatment at St. Mary or even in Bucks County.

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