A few years ago, I discovered a new found love for my curls. I decided to go natural and began a hair journey that gave me very beautiful and healthy curls.
Two years later, the curls are gone and I have no hair on my head.
I was diagnosed with stage 0 ductal carcinoma in-situ, March 2019. After a plethora of tests, the diagnosis changed to stage I/II aggressive breast cancer. My treatment plan consists of six cycles of chemotherapy, three weeks apart.
On week one of my first cycle, I decided to cut my beautiful curls off. My sister, niece and nephew were physically present, and my husband and best friend Mel were present via FaceTime (thank God for technology!).
During this process, I did not cry or become emotional. By the time it was finished, my husband and best friend couldn’t get enough of me.
They loved my new look!
I actually felt free!
The style grew on me and I fell in love with it!
After all, it’s just hair and it will grow back. By the time my second chemo cycle came around, it started to fall off on its own.
I have four more chemo cycles to go and I can’t wait for them to be complete because I have tons of plans for my new hair. I honestly thought that cutting my hair would be hard on me, but it was a breeze. I’m actually looking forward to experimenting with different styles and colors when it grows back.
I have to admit, cutting off my hair is not something I would have done on my own, ever!
For us women, our hair is our beauty. Most of us are under the belief that we would look horrendous with short hair so we never take the plunge.
I was one of those women.
When you are left without much of a choice however, that changes everything. The only other option I had was cold capping, and for me, it wasn’t something I cared to do. Many women fighting cancer do make that option, and it’s a good thing.
While losing my hair was not a bad experience for me, for many women it can be very traumatizing, and it’s good to know that they have the option to do a cold cap.
There are also other options such as wearing hats and head wraps, and wigs. There are lots of resources where free wigs and head wraps are given to women who are battling cancer. Check with your local American Cancer Society or with your cancer center for more information.
For me, beauty was my curls.
I was wrong.
My beauty lies within me and in the strong woman that I am.
Beauty is in the mother that I am, the friend that I am, the wife that I am; it is everything that I am and more!
My life has changed and continues to change.
My hair, however, is just hair and it does not define me!
