Brave the Shave is a campaign to raise funds for Macmillan. Here I share what its like to go through hair loss.
For me personally hair loss has had a massive impact emotionally. I have grieved the loss of my life as I know it as cancer has taken so much. I didn't choose to have cancer. It chose me. I have no control over the treatment and side effects one of which is my hair falling out. As a woman we are defined by our hair. So when it falls out unlike a man who can be bauld and pass in society without too much problem for a woman it is hard. Wearing a wig in summer is hot and itchy. Wearing a scarf is a chemo uniform. And to go out into the world with your head hairless is to invite stares, judgement and a sure sign you are ill. Emotionally looking like an egg head has shattered my confidence, self worth and I have lost my identity. So the brave to shave campaign to me is one short of Macmillan using our plight for raising money. While they do this the images are of happy healthy people shaving their hair short...the reality is us who have cancer and loose our hair we don't have a trendy buzz cut....we have bear scalp and tufts....nothing to smile and rejoice about. The campaign does nothing to help people who don't have cancer understand how hard it is to have no choice over loosing our hair, the dreadful emotional price we endure. The loss of identity and how it forces us even more as a cancer patient as we are forced into the chemo uniform. I for one struggle so badly with how cancer has altered my life I have considered death. My world has fallen apart. And my hair falling out is symbolic of the total lack of control and the devastating impact cancer has had on my life.
I am saddened that this is a campaign to raise money and not to raise awareness of how hard it is to loose hair during treatment that bashes you. It makes it appear nothing, it trivialises it, it does nothing to support those of us going through it.
I personally have raised money for Macmillan with coffee mornings. I do appreciate the resources and support. However I would never sponsor anyone doing a brave to shave. It is wrong on so many levels. Macmillan please don't use our treatment side effects to bring money in there are plenty of other ways you can raise money.
