Testimony

Testimony by Christine Truesdell

Christine Truesdell, retired lawyer, and administrator of *"Garde tes cheveux."*

Charles-Lemoyne Hospital, 4 TC

2019

I remain convinced that there is no age limit to preserving, as far as possible, one's body image!

I was 74 years old. What appeared to be 'a small tumor' in my breast turned out, after post-operative analysis, to be more aggressive than expected. Hence the need not only for radiation therapy but also for 'only four treatments' of chemotherapy, as my surgeon pointed out, to make it easier to swallow... But at the same time, he informed me that these four treatments would be enough to make me lose all my hair. I must admit that, at first, I was tempted to accept this sad fate. After all, we're talking about a serious illness, and considerations of aesthetics can seem trivial then... And at my venerable age, was it still time to worry about the appearance of my head? Was such concern not a somewhat ridiculous vanity? It was my daughter who set me straight. For her, why lose your hair for 'preventive' treatments when there was a way to keep them? So, I decided to use the 'cold caps' procedure, just as she had done three years earlier to preserve her beautiful long red hair despite (very long) chemotherapy treatments. And it was she, with the help of my husband, who set up and changed these icy caps every 20 minutes before, during, and after the chemotherapy treatments. I want to emphasize that during this process, we received valuable collaboration from the professionals at Charles-Lemoyne Hospital who adapted to the tight schedule of the procedure. And we did it all with good humor, even though we had to focus on the changes and storage of the caps. We were busy and focused, so there was no time to develop anxiety and dark thoughts... And the results of the experience? Yes, I lost some hair (about 25%), but it didn't seem like much, and after a few months, it had all grown back evenly. And I never had to wear a wig, headband, or other head covering to hide my head. Throughout my treatments, I continued my usual activities with my usual appearance, without displaying a 'cancer at work' head and, above all, without having to explain the ins and outs of this apparent cancer to everyone. Yes, these -35°C caps are cold on the scalp! But you get used to it pretty quickly. Moreover, it is common in the hospital, during treatments, to encourage us to wear cold gloves (to prevent nail damage) and equally cold stockings (to prevent neurological issues in the toes). So, by that point, one more frozen extremity... Yes, this procedure is quite expensive: renting the caps, buying dry ice, purchasing or renting a cooler. We hope that financial assistance may eventually be possible for those who have fewer means. Yes, this procedure is physically and mentally demanding for the patient, especially for the caregiver who changes the caps. This person must be skilled, focused, and dedicated. In this regard, I will have eternal gratitude to my daughter <a href="https://gardetescheveux-staging.netlify.app/en/sophie-truesdell-m%C3%A9nard/" target="_blank">Sophie Truesdell-Ménard</a>, who managed it all expertly. Finally, and this is not trivial, the fact that I retained control over a part of my body (in this case, my hair), despite the cancer and treatment, brought me a certain psychological comfort, like 'not all is lost, and I can act to limit the damage.' And it helped me get through this difficult period with positivity and a certain serenity. I remain convinced that there is no age limit to preserving, as far as possible, one's body image!" *- Christine"* [https://gardetescheveux-staging.netlify.app/en/christine-truesdell/](**See Christine's profile**)

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