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Hair, Hair, Everywhere

7/20/2014

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I had really long hair before chemo started.  I think the hardest thing I heard during my discussions about treatment was that I was going to lose my hair.  I know that might sound silly, I am fighting a disease that is deadly and I was concerned about my hair.  It was estimated that I would start losing my hair around day 10 after my first chemo.

My now husband, then fiancé, and myself had been planning our wedding for June 28th for about a year.  I had the realization at this point I would be bald by the wedding day.  I had a boudoir sessions scheduled to get pictures and make a book for a gift to my fiancé, at that point I decided to cancel it.  I couldn't justify the money, was losing my hair, didn't know how I was going to work, and just had a flood of emotions going on.  Well, my fabulous (now friend) Cindy told me to come on in and get pictures.  I really wanted to get some pictures of me in my wedding dress with hair, I got my fiancé to join me for pictures and we were able to get some pictures together in my wedding dress while I still had my long hair.  Below are three of my favorite shots from the wedding dress shoot, taken by Cindy Johnson Boudoir Photography, please check her out if you are in the Indianapolis area, she dose fabulous work!
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While I was in the hospital, I started losing my hair.  The day was May 27th, I had planned to have a "hair party" as I decided once it started to go I was going to shave it off.  The hospital stay was interfering with those plans.  I had to put off my plans for another day and deal with the hair falling out in the shower, on the pillow, and every time I touched it.  On May 29th I got out of the hospital and on May 30th I head to southern Indiana to my hometown, New Albany, and went to my hair appointment.  I was happily surprised to find out we were having a mini-party at the salon for my hair cut.  My son was able to help with cutting my hair by making the first big cut.  We cut off my pony tail so we could donate it.  He also got the opportunity to help with using the clippers on my hair which he loved!

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As the next week went on, my hair continued to fall out.  I decided on June 6th it was time to shave it the rest of the way off.  Below is a progression of the hair loss.  I have decided to embrace it, I wear scarfs sometimes but have found them hot so you can normally find me out without a scarf or anything.
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May 29tth
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May 30th
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June 5th
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June 6th
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    Author

    Erica is a 32 year old cervical cancer advocate who is out living cancer for the third time. When she isn’t advocating for cervical cancer and HPV awareness as a Cervivor Ambassador, she previously oversaw the STEM program at the school where she was an educator; she now helps coordinate the robotics program. Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their Indianapolis neighborhood, as well as pursuing new and adventurous hobbies. She can most recently be found fawning over kayaks and daydreaming of returning to whitewater kayaking with First Descents, an organization for young adults impacted by cancer. 

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