Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 | Uncategorized | No Comments
It has for many years been my belief that a persons hair is the one part of their appearance we have the most control over. It can be made long or short, light or dark, and even curly or straight. Imagine if you will the thought of losing your hair in just a matter of weeks. We are not talking about the kind of hair loss where you find a few hairs covering the shower drain. This is about really losing your hair, and in a big hurry, too.
In our community, many residents are going through, have went through, or will go through some type of treatment for cancer, rather it be for themselves, a friend, or a loved one. You may be surprised at the number of people I talked to about their cancer treatment whose first couple of thoughts were about losing their hair. I would never imply that at a time like this someone should be thinking about their appearance when they are beginning a battle with an oftentimes dangerous cancer. However, the fact remains that their appearance may be affected, and this may be a part of their treatment they would want to consider.
Most often the hair loss is caused by the effects of radiation and other very strong medicines introduced into the body to treat the cancer. An additional factor could also be the increased level of stress one would fall under during such a difficult time. Keep in mind that many of the treatments available today do not cause hair loss, while others cause total hair loss.
Of those who do suffer a near total loss of hair, many say that it occurs quickly and can lose 50-60% within just a couple of days. Rest assured that the hair loss is not permanent and will return with the completion of the cancer treatment. Many of those who do experience total hair loss could be in for a surprise when their hair makes its return. Sometimes the color is totally different than before, and even the texture can go from curly to straight or vise versa.
If you or someone you care about is currently going through cancer treatment that involves hair loss, there are many options available for what you could do with your hair. Hopefully you are fortunate to have an appropriately intimate relationship with your stylist who could offer both support and advice to help get you through this sometimes difficult period in life. There are also support groups that include others who are dealing with or who are cancer survivors that can offer both support and empathy.
A special thanks goes out to those who shared with me both their feelings and experiences during such a challenging time in their lives, and I wish them a full and speedy recovery.
The Village Salon
222 Village Square in Tellico Village
(865) 458-9332
