Have you read the story or saw on Ellen, Kellie Pickler with her head shaved in support of her friend with breast cancer?
http://www.ellentv.com/episodes/bethenny-frankel-kellie-pickler-an-amazing-dog-rescue-and-sytycds-top-four/
It is a brave, courageous and supportive thing to do, add in she is a celebrity, it is amazing. Her friend is going through chemo and they made a pact to shave their heads together. Together they decided to do this and Kelly would use her celebrity status to support breast cancer awareness.
There are 2 things that are really important to me from the Kellie Pickler story. The first is she and her friend did it together. They agreed to do it for a reason.
I take issue with people who shave their head to show their support for their Mom or sister or friend without discussing it first. Since I am active in the breast cancer community I can say many women have mentioned to me and other survivors that they did NOT want anyone to shave their head because of them. Not everyone wants this! What is important is to discuss it first with the one going through chemo.
The second thing about this story that I like is Kellie saying “It’s just Hair!”
It really is just hair and hair grows back. Those of us who have lost our hair to chemo all have hair stories. Coming back curly is usual as is not coming back as thick. My hair is not as curly or thick. My friend Marilyn’s hair came back curlier, while my friend Joanne’s hair is straighter and coarser.
The point is that hair is not a defining attribute. There are great wigs, hats and scarves that can be worn if the bald look for a few months is not your style. The reason anyone has chemo is to save her life. A beautiful head of hair on a corpse is not the goal!
Last weekend I did Race for the Cure. As always it was empowering and sobering. It is a great reminder that living is more important than just great hair! Who knew that Kellie Pickler would gain so much of my respect?
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Hello Haralee,
As a cancer survivor, three years in remission, I agree that being alive is more important than a full head of hair.
However, when my hair fell out following the first course of chemotherapy, it was devastating and I strongly resented comments such as "It's just hair" or "It will grow back."
Hair loss was one more alteration in my changed body image. I responded to the mutated hormones produced by the esthesioblastoma and high doses of Decadron with weight gain, a moon face and fat pads at the shoulders. I am 5 ft 3 inches and never weighed more than 128 lbs, except during pregnancy. I weighed 200 lbs during this ordeal.
We all respond differently. This experience has taught me to respect the individual's responses and to be sensitive.
Maryann
September 18, 2012 - 3:48pmThis Comment
Maryann, you are so very correct. At the time, comments like 'It's just hair' were like salt on a wound to me too although I knew it would grow back. I thought I looked like Uncle Festus from the Adam's Family! I too gained weight during the treatments and that was a bigger obstacle for me because I wasn't sure it would come off after treatments. Those not touched with breast cancer just don't understand that either!
October 1, 2012 - 7:08pmThis Comment