Guardian Angel Caring Room

*Code Red Update* - The Guardian Angel Caring Room is taking virtual patient appointments only; in-person services are not offered at this time. Please call 204-787-4180 or toll-free 1-866-561-1026 for details. Items will be sent out by mail based on head size and preference. Laryngectomy covers for patients will be provided by mail.

Please note: wig and headwear donations are still being acepted at this time. Donations can be dropped off at the entrance of 675 McDermot Ave. A donation bin has been placed inside the doors for your convenience.


How we look can have an impact on how we feel. One of the side effects of cancer treatments may be hair loss and other appearance-related changes. CancerCare Manitoba’s Guardian Angel Caring Room is a place where you can receive help with this from compassionate, knowledgeable staff and volunteers.

For program information, contact:

Phone: 204-787-4180 or toll-free 1-866-561-1026
CCMBCaringRmMcDermot@cancercare.mb.ca

 

Wig Lending Service

The Caring Room offers a synthetic wig service, head coverings and laryngectomy stoma covers at no cost.

Patients experiencing hair loss can borrow synthetic wigs and other head coverings. All wigs are cleaned and sanitized before being loaned out. Patients are asked to return the items when they are no longer needed.

To make a virtual fitting appointment or for more information, please call:

Guardian Angel Caring Room

Phone:  204-787-4180 or toll-free 1-866-561-1026

Monday - Friday

St. Boniface Hospital *TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19.*
409 Taché Ave.
South Entrance, Ground Floor (orange door) 

 For additional information and a list of retail outlets, please view the Guardian Angel Caring Room Brochure.

Synthetic Wig Donations

The Caring Room accepts only synthetic wig donations as part of the loaning service for cancer patients. This is because synthetic wigs are made of a material that will not break down when a hospital-grade cleaning solution is used.  Real hair will be damaged by this cleaning solution. 

Look Good Feel Better Program

The Look Good Feel Better Program provides free workshops for skincare, makeup and head-covering techniques.

Promoted by CancerCare Manitoba, this initiative of the Cosmetics Alliance Canada is a national program to help women with cancer learn techniques to manage the appearance-related side effects of their treatment.

Due to COVID-19, all in-person workshops are suspended. Workshops can be taken online, please go to www.lgfb.ca.

For those without access to a computer, or if you have any questions, please call 1-800-914-5665.

Hair Donations

Over the last several years, synthetic-hair technology has vastly improved, giving synthetic hair wigs more of a “real-hair” feel, making them lighter, cooler to wear, and easier to style. With these advancements, synthetic wigs are now the preferred wig choice for cancer patients. This change in patient needs has resulted in decreased demand for real-hair wigs.

Due to COVID-19 we will not accept any hair donations at CancerCare Manitoba. Please search online for a charity of your choice, such as:

Preparation of Hair:
If you would like to donate hair please follow the requirements below:

  • Hair must be clean and un-processed. This means it must never have been dyed, permed, or had any other kind of chemical treatment.
  • Hair must have less than 20% grey.
  • Hair must be at least 12 inches long from the ponytail’s elastic.

If you are thinking of turning your hair donation into a fundraising event to support patients on a cancer journey please contact special.events@cancercare.mb.ca or 204-784-2777.

Headwear - Patterns

The Guardian Angel Caring Room provides copies of sewn, knit and crochet headwear patterns for patients and families.
If you would like to make and donate any headwear items, please contact the co-ordinator at 204-787-4180 before you start to discuss what is needed.

YARN REQUIREMENTS - Superwash wool, Merino wool, 100% cotton, and Pima cotton. Cotton-acrylic blend welcome provided it contains less than 50% acrylic.
Please avoid using 100% acrylic.

These patterns are also available electronically. Please click on this link to see the most popular patterns.