Even if you don’t know me personally, if you’re over 18, I bet you know at least one person who has (had) breast cancer. One in ten women will get it at some point (and a handful of men). This means that if you have 100 female friends on facebook, 10 of them will probably get breast cancer at some point. It’s the most common type of cancer in women (accounting for almost 25 %), is largely due to bad luck (or bad genes) rather than choice of living, and the treatment regime (in Norway at least) makes you eligible for sick leave for 12-24 months.

Of those 10 facebook friends of yours, I bet that one will tell the world, two will let their facebook friends know but write as little as possible, one might be an attention whore (OMG I have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow and I am really scared but please don’t ask me why), two will let you know after they’ve survived the treatments and are getting back to a semblance of normalcy, two won’t tell you at all and two will desperately try to hide the fact that they have (had) breast cancer.

Unfortunately, breast cancer is a bit like a boob job. It’s difficult to hide the hair loss that comes with traditional treatments (ie chemo) and most women get “cancer hair” after they’ve finished the treatments. In most cases the chemo leads to weight loss and a sad complexion. Wigs are a great substitute for hair loss, but in most cases – the wig itself is more obtrusive than really short hair.

When I first got the diagnosis, I decided to shave it all off before summer, get the scalp used to some sun. If I was going to lose it all I decided it was better to be the one making the decisions rather than wait for it all to fall off. I’d made a deal with a friend that she was to shave/cut it and make extensions of my hair – why waste it? – but as I realised that I wouldn’t be losing it, I needed a good reason to get rid of it all. After a week of waking up drenched in sweat and feeling that my hair was greasy and yucky from the night sweats, I had my reason.

I’ve done just about everything to my hair – had it short, long, permed, bleached, highlights, dreads, a mohawk, and just about every colour there is (even fluorescent and silver) – just never pink. And since pink is the breast cancer colour, there was no excuse not to go there.

The response has been quite interesting. People I know think it’s really awesome (or at least they pretend to). Strangers I strike up conversations with are inquisitive and when I explain, they think it is brilliant. Some jerks just stare rudely – I stare back – and if possible, I just say “This is my breast cancer hair, do you have a problem with it?” at which they look rather embarassed.

Apparently, 40-somethings aren’t supposed to have bright pink hair.

So for all the women (and men) out there who seem to be ashamed of having breast cancer – this one’s for you.

Oh. Colour is Directions Flamingo Pink. It fades rapidly even if you don’t wash it – so if you want to be bright and colourful for a special event, dye it the same day! And use gloves!