Victoria Derbyshire discusses wearing a wig after losing hair to chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer

'I have got used to wearing a wig, which is something I never thought I could say'

Victoria Derbyshire says the impact of losing her hair at the hands of chemotherapy has been particularly “distressing” but she is now used to wearing a wig, something she has been doing for a while on the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

Derbyshire disclosed her diagnosis of breast cancer in August, writing on Twitter that she hoped to continue presenting her programme as much as possible throughout the course of her treatment.

She has since kept viewers updated with her progress through a series of video diaries on Youtube. According to the BBC News Youtube channel, the aim of the diary is to “try and help demystify some of the procedures and treatment”.

At the start of October, the 46-year-old documented her mastectomy and recovery.

Her latest update, which was posted on Monday discusses the impact of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy, something she says personally affected her more than the mastectomy.

“I was prepared for it, obviously it’s a side effect of chemotherapy, but it’s slightly disconcerting nevertheless,” Derbyshire explains.

After washing her hair the presenter showed the camera the amount of hair that had fallen out following the treatment.

Derbyshire, who mostly remains remarkably positive throughout the diary, is emotional at points telling the camera that one of the most difficult aspects of treatment which she is “struggling to come to terms with” is losing her hair.

“I would say I have lost about 30-50 per cent of my hair… and I’m finding this hard,” she says before taking off a wig to show her thinner hair.

Derbyshire then discusses wearing a wig, which she said she has been doing while presenting her current affairs programme and has now gotten used to it.

“The idea, a few weeks ago, of wearing a wig absolutely horrified me. It represented stress, it represented something peculiar and not me. And now, I can put it on for five minutes in the morning.

“I have got used to wearing a wig, which is something I never thought I could say.

"It lets me just crack on and get on with things which is absolutely great.”

Derbyshire is now half way through chemotherapy, which will end at the end of February, followed by a short course of radiotherapy.

She advises others that are going through similar situations: “Keep on keeping on because it will pass”