Loving hands from the hairdresser: Helping women through the cancer journey
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Suzy Hamilton, The Nelson Daily
Hairdresser Megan Simpson knows wigs inside and out.
She helped her mother find the right one when she went through her chemotherapy. And two years later, she found herself wearing a wig as she waged her own battle with cancer, and won.
Now her life’s work is providing and tailoring wigs for other women during their cancer treatments.
”I was diagnosed at 30 with stage 3 breast cancer, “said the owner of The Lil’ Lid shop on Vernon Street in Nelson.
“I found out I have a genetic mutation (BRCA1) which makes me high risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer and can be passed down to my children…. it was a heavy time in my life, but it opened my eyes to see life in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise…it was very humbling yet enlightening.”
Since opening shop three years ago in Nelson, she has sold more than 200 wigs, mostly to women with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
The journey began when Megan had her own hair salon in Calgary. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Megan went to the wig shop to help her mother select a wig.
“I was so in awe of the owner and her comforting ways with her clients. I loved to see how she made her clients smile in a time of struggle.”
Two years later Megan received the diagnosis that she, like her mother, carried the genetic mutation. She underwent chemo, surgeries and medications and went back to the wig shop.
“I decided to buy my wig and take it home and custom cut it myself. This made all the difference in the world and made my wig appear much more natural.”
People complimented her; not knowing it was a wig. “I decided once I was well, I wanted to make others feel beautiful and confident like I did.”
She wanted to offer the service of customizing, “so women would have one less thing to worry about during their cancer journey. That way they could focus on the important things, like being with family and getting well.”
Simpson says that loss of hair in a woman’s cancer treatment is significant. A bald head is a symbol that she is sick. “It’s a visual image. They are exposed.”
She said she wore a wig to “blend in.”
“I didn’t want pity. Some days I just wanted to go in and grab the milk. And some days you’re dealing with things internally.”
Wigs can be a personal thing, she said. There are many different types and many elements. “I specialize mainly in high quality synthetic, though I have worked with some human hair also.
“The wigs that I sell are very low maintenance wigs to take care of. They are meant for busy people, elderly, sick or people who just don’t want to fuss…I give a lesson and a small list of instructions with each wig I sell. It’s very basic . . . easy wash, style tips and “not to dos….such as staying away from candles, or very hot oven doors or stoves.”
Most of all, she respects the private journey each woman is on. “Some people don’t want to talk about it at all and me asking is going to make no difference what wig they pick out.”
When asked for advice, though, she will say:” I think the fear is usually the worst part of anything. The more positive one can be, the better off one will be, though it is ok to have sad days too.
“Trust your body and trust your path. Take it all one day at a time. If that seems too much, take it one hour at a time, or minute at a time . . . it’s amazing what the body and mind can do.”
One of her new clients was totally inspired by Simpson’s approach: “You know, you’re going to lose your hair. She made it seem lighter…and that was one thing I didn’t have to worry about. I knew she was going to make me look beautiful.”
It would be a perfect world for Megan Simpson if she could help wig clients all day, everyday. “But I have to remember, as much as I love my work, I cannot forget what my cancer diagnosis taught me, and that is, to not work too hard. I must take time for me, too, and my family. . . balance is key.”
The hardest part for her is not knowing if she will see her clients again. “Part of me wants to stay connected to each person I see, and be their personal cancer assistant . . . but that’s not my job, my job is to help them only during that one part of their journey.”
According to the BC Cancer Society, an estimated 3,000 BC women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. It is the leading type of cancer in women followed by lung and colorectal cancer. An estimated 1,500 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 1,250 women with colorectal.
A support group meets at the Community First Health Clinic the fourth Tuesday of the month.
For more information on Lil’ Lid Shop and Solace Wigs, go to www.solacewigs.com or contact Alice Strand, 250-352-6223
