"Like many life-changing experiences, cancer can bring complex emotions and perspectives, whether you are ready for them or not. My first bout of cancer was in the Fall of 2014, and my hair was long and down past my shoulders. At that time, I would routinely get my hair relaxed (chemically straightened) and colored at a salon by a close friend. As with anything appearance related, it was partly an aesthetic choice and partly a form of self-expression and self-care. Although I can confidently say I had a feeling that I already knew I had cancer before I was diagnosed by my oncology team, I still went in the day before my mammogram to get my hair done just like usual. I still wanted to look like me."
A common understanding amongst women, especialy those undergoing cancer treatment, is that self-care positively impacts your outlook and your sense of self. Even with her second diagnosis, Patrice refuses to forget this.
