Social media: Trolls target cancer survivor over wigs

A cancer survivor and YouTuber says troll comments she received on social media about the wigs she wears made her feel "tiny".

In 2008, at the age of 17, Aimee Bannister was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, but was declared cancer free later that year.

Since receiving the all-clear she has continued to wear wigs even though her hair has grown back.

She said the wigs were now part of her identity.

"When I lost all of my hair I didn't recognise myself, I felt strange," said Ms Bannister, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

"I didn't want people to look at me, and I didn't want anyone knowing. So I knew I needed a wig, and everything changed after that first one," Ms Bannister said.

"I do have hair now, I just couldn't grow it as fabulous as it is now, so I just love to wear wigs as they are now part of me, part of my identity."

Replies left under a recent social media post include: "Stupid wig, got something to hide?" and "Your wig is a joke".

"I've been online for about 10 years and usually I don't get bad comments, which is why they hurt more when I do, and a lot are about the wigs," Ms Bannister said.

"They don't know my backstory, they don't know how hard I take those words.

"These people do make you feel tiny, they make you feel like you need to stop wearing wigs," she added.

Many people wear wigs while going through chemotherapy treatment for cancer, or after suffering from conditions like alopecia.

In Wales, the NHS provides wigs to patients through health boards, which make provision for their supply for people who meet their criteria. But wigs can also be bought.

"The prices of wigs that I buy can range from £35 to £700, it depends what budget you've got," she said.

Rebecca Morgan-Brennan, who owns Morgan's Hair, Beauty and Wigs, which has salons in Prestatyn, Chester and Cardiff, described the trolling as "disgusting".

Ms Morgan-Brennan said: "It's barbaric that people think it's ok to comment about the way people look.

"People change their clothes every day, so why can't people change their hair every day?" she said.

"It is a common thing, when people come to see me. Their main anxiety is how they're going to feel when they get reactions from people," she added.

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has spoken about struggling with losing her hair to cancer treatment, admitting she could not bear looking in the mirror.

The reaction is something Ms Morgan-Brennan recognises.

"I hear of people that won't have a relationship with anyone because they've lost their hair," she said.

Her business was given an NHS contract in 2017, and her three salons now see about 60 clients a week.

Cerys Morris, counselling services manager at Tenovus Cancer Care, said: "We are sorry to hear about Aimee's experience which must have been extremely traumatising for her on top her cancer diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent hair loss.

"Our counsellors work with the impact that hair loss due to treatment can have, the loss of self-esteem, the loss of identity.

"We work together with the person listening to the impact this has on relationships; it can sometimes increase anxiety and isolation."