There is nothing humorous about breast cancer. This is based on my own personal experience and how I chose to navigate my way through this journey. Let’s talk about “hair loss” or going bald. When I was told I would be going through chemo, I know I asked the question of many before me:
“Will I lose my hair?”
“Yes”
“Is it possible it may not fall out.”
“No” OK, no Ok ,no room for discussion. How bad could it be?
I thought of all the beautiful bald women in the world. For instance, Sinead O’Connor, Sigourney Weaver in Alien 3,Demi Moore in G.I. Jane,Natalie Portman, Miss Tanzania 2007, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Now it was my role coming up.
I even prepared for the event by cutting my hair very, very, very, very short and waited for the rest to fall out….what was left didn’t fall out. OMG! I was that one person in the world whose hair wasn’t going to fall out.
I’m sure you’ve seen the picture above, need I say more.
I was ready to be a gorgeous bald women. It didn’t take long to realize that “hair loss” actually meant losing my hair, all of it . Including those face enhancing ones like eyebrows and eyelashes. My eyebrows were quite voluminous pre chemo so they became somewhat normal looking. Not the eyelashes though,they hit the floor or I guess somewhere on my body on their way down. I pampered them, right up until that last single lash. When they finally started growing back I found myself batting my eyelashes at everyone. Without a magnifying glass people just thought I had something in my eyes.
I did start with a plan for my bald head .I would wear a wig. Wigs are tricky business. First :you have to get an accurate measurement of your head.
Is this with or without hair?
Second: pick one out. It’s kind of like picking out a bathing suit, everyone looks great in the catalog.
The wig was a disaster.
My family was not blessed with thick, voluptuous hair. It’s more on the wispy / fine side except for my father and brother who don’t have any hair at all. More beautiful people. Needless to say the wig had more hair on it than my entire family’s heads put together. The wig didn’t work out, although it was quite sassy looking. I gave it away.
When my hair started growing back it came with a vengeance. Wavy, soft, shiny, pretty. It was brand new. It was kind of like a gift for enduring, coping, persevering and keeping ones dignity.
I always tried to remain in good spirits and be happy. I’m glad to be able to look back and laugh. I can’t change anything that’s happened just my perception .
