A WOMAN from York who has not cut her hair for more than 25 years has decided to shave it off for charity before she begins chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Defiant Mandy Broome, 41, says she will lose her hair “on her terms and not cancer’s” after learning last month that the cervical cancer she beat in 2008 had returned.
Mandy, of Spalding Avenue, Clifton, is offering people the chance to help remove her lengthy locks, if the price is right, when she has her head shaved on Saturday in a fundraising event at Burton Stone Community Centre from 1pm. Speaking of her battle with cancer, she said she the second diagnosis came “out of the blue” after undergoing an ultrasound scan.
She said: “I went to hospital originally with a lot of pain from a kidney infection. Because I had previously had radiotherapy they decided to run a CT scan to make sure there had been no damage to my kidneys.”
Mandy said it was then that doctors discovered a lump on her cervix. She is due to begin chemotherapy on Tuesday.
She said: “I am extremely grateful to the casualty doctor who that admitted me. If he hadn’t done that they wouldn’t have found it. I consider myself extremely lucky.”
Mandy, whose hair reaches down to the base of her back, said: “I am losing my hair on my terms not on cancer’s terms.
“I have damn well beat cancer once and I will damn well do it again.”
Other than a number of minor trims to tidy up the ends, Mandy said she has not had short hair since she was 15 years old. The hair cut from her head on Saturday will be donated to the Little Princesses charity, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.
If you would like to donate money to the event, go to justgiving.com/Mandy-Broome
Mandy really is a cut above
MANDY Broom is a remarkable woman. She battled cervical cancer in 2008 and thought she had it beaten. But now Mandy has received the distressing news that her cancer is back.
Despite her ordeal, Mandy’s thoughts remain with others. Before embarking on another round of chemotherapy, she has decided to have her long hair cut, not only to raise money for cancer charities but to donate her tresses to the Little Princesses charity, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.
This must be a big deal for Mandy. It will be the first time in 25 years she has had her near-waist-length hair cut and she hasn’t worn it short since she was a teenager.
But she says she is going to lose it on her terms – not on cancer’s terms.
Mandy is a fine example of someone who puts themselves before others, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
And she deserves support for her head-shaving stunt on Saturday. If you’re near Burtonstone Community Centre at 1pm, pop in and donate to her worthy cause.
