A DONATION of hair has been made to The Little Princess Trust by one woman hoping to make her cancer diagnosis less traumatic.
Langholm resident Kim Hanson was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer in June after going for a routine mammogram check-up.
After being told she would need chemotherapy and having discussed hair loss as a consequence, Kim decided to donate her hair to the LPT charity – a charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer.
“I was told I had breast cancer in the summer after several mammograms, biopsies and more tests and it was quite a shock as I did not have a lump,” she said.
“It was hard to process, especially when I was told I would have chemotherapy and lose my hair.
“Talking to the nurses at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary and thinking about it for a while I decided to donate my hair to the LPT and do something with it before I have the chemotherapy.”
Kim, who is a senior lecturer in nursing at the University of Cumbria, had a mastectomy in August, following which she needed to have chemotherapy.
This is due to begin this week.
“I was told losing my hair wouldn’t be so traumatic if I donated it, so I thought some good could come of it,” said Kim.
“It’s untreated and uncoloured and long and it’ll be put to good use – for me, being able to donate it is a privilege.”
An anxious Kim went to hmc2 for her haircut, but after 30 minutes under the expert hands of hairdresser, Rhyan Hope, she was extremely pleased with her new short bob.
She thanked Rhyan for her support.
“I feel good and really pleased that I’ve done it and got my hair ready to donate,” she said.
“Putting it in an envelope feels weird but it’s for a good cause.
“As well as donating my hair, I hope by telling people that I did not find out about my cancer by finding a lump that I can raise awareness that you can still have cancer, we’re lucky to live in a country that has breast cancer screening and I’d advise people to go to them when they can.”
Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71.
Letters are automatically sent to anyone who meet these.
- To find out more, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-screening-mammogram/.
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