When Doris Jones began losing chunks of her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes during chemotherapy treatments in 2007, she felt almost as bad as the day she learned she had breast cancer.

“I didn’t want to deny I had cancer; I just didn’t want to look ill,” said Jones, who had shoulder-length blond hair. “When I would see that face in the mirror that person had cancer.”

Jones, who works at DeKalb Medical’s Cancer Center in Decatur, sought refuge at the center’s “Look Good … Feel Better” program that provides female cancer patients with free wigs, scarves, hats, turbans, and makeup and skin-care tools to help them feel better.

“When you’re standing in a shower and you see hair plugging up the drain, and you have to pick it up, it is very depressing,” said Jones, who has been a registered nurse for 18 years.

In the 20 years since the program’s launch, hundreds of women have received wigs and makeup tips to help them look and feel good, even in the face of cancer.

Susan Voss-Smith, the program’s coordinator since 2007, said they provide black, brown, red and blond wigs and makeup instruction free of charge to about 120 women annually in the program, which is supported by the American Cancer Society.

“The need is so great and we have many women taking advantage of it,” she said. “We are so thrilled.”

While many women can buy their own wigs, Voss-Smith said many low-income and uninsured women cannot.

She said that being able to offer the wigs at no cost helps ease one of the financial pressures on patients who are already paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer treatment.

“Many of our patients are so burdened by the expenses of cancer and the last thing they can afford to do is go out and buy a $100 wig,” said Voss-Smith, who is also a cancer survivor. “We are in a wonderful position to be able to offer free wigs.”

Jones did not get a wig from the program because her friends, family and co-workers donated enough money for her to buy her own, but she did learn how to apply eyebrows during a “Look Good” workshop.

And when doctors pronounced her cancer-free in 2008, she donated her $400 hairpiece to the program and now volunteers to help to secure more wigs for its “library” of wigs.

Jones said the “Look Good” program, which kicked off a wig donation drive in September, is in constant need of wigs so that it can have a wide selection of stylish wigs for the cancer patients it serves.

Voss-Smith, who battled cancer three years ago, held the center’s first wig drive shortly after she came on the job in 2007. She said they currently have 42 short and longhaired black, brown and blond wigs but that the supply can dip pretty quickly so they have to keep up the supply. She said the library is currently in need of black and brown wigs in modern styles.

DeKalb Medical’s “Look Good” program is part of a national initiative to help cancer patients feel good about themselves even as they manage their treatment and recovery.

During treatment, chemotherapy leaves the body’s immune system weak and renders the skin pallid. The program supplies wigs to cover a balding head and teaches women how to apply makeup safely.

In a culture where beauty is often tied to a full head of bouncy hair, Voss-Smith said hair loss is very depressing.

“You don’t even look remotely the same,” she said. “You don’t recognize yourself in the mirror anymore.”

Voss-Smith said getting a new head of hair can uplift the spirits of cancer patients and put a spring in their steps.

Kamilah Konrad, the American Cancer Society patient resource navigator assigned to the center, said patients try on different wigs and get feedback from other patients.

“It is a really big camaraderie,” she said. “Everyone in here is going through the same thing and everyone is connected.”

When their treatment is over, Voss-Smith said many of the women, like Jones, donate their wigs back to the library. The wigs are cleaned and sanitized before they are given to patients.

She said the program is open to any cancer patient, and not just those getting treatment at DeKalb Medical.

“If they are in need of a wig, we want to do it for them,” she said.

DeKalb Medical’s Cancer Center is at 2665 North Decatur Road, Suite 130, in Decatur.

For more information, contact Susan Voss-Smith at susanv .smith@dekalbmedical.org or call 404-501-3295.