A NEW free advice service for cancer patients who have suffered hair loss has been launched.

Patients will have access to confidential hour-long appointments every week in Hairmyres, Wishaw and Monklands hospitals.

The service was set up with £20,000 funding from the Bank of Scotland and is the charity Breast Cancer Care and NHS Lanarkshire.

Volunteers will including women recovering from breast cancer

Every year around 4400 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Scotland.

Mhairi Simpson, nurse consultant in Cancer Care for NHS Lanarkshire, said: "Chemotherapy can affect the condition and growth of your hair.

"Some people find that their hair becomes thinner and in some people, it falls out completely.

"For many people, this can be very distressing and can affect their self image.

"The HeadStrong service is here to support patients and help them feel more confident in coping with their hair loss."

John Pentland MSP for Motherwell & Wishaw, who will launch the service, said: "I'm quite sure that the volunteers involved in the service will also give much needed moral support and help to restore confidence in those people who use the service."

Email sco@breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0141 353 8330.