Monica wants to help cancer warriors restore lost hair
SHE MIGHT not have a doctor’s certificate, but Monica Shakespeare believes that her role is just as important when it comes to treating women suffering from cancer. In an interview with The Gleaner, Shakespeare, a certified hair-loss specialist, said that she would be using her platform to cater to cancer patients in the hairrecovery process, especially as the country recognises Breast Cancer Month. “I said to myself that I had to go back to Jamaica and give back. I have learnt so much overseas. I’ve done hair shows, and I know so much about hair loss, thin hair, breaking hair. People with cancer don’t know what to do, so I said I would like to focus on this. I am targeting the people who have problems. I like to solve problems, so once you fall in that category, feel free to get in touch with me,” she said.
“People love their hair, so can you imagine a person with cancer losing their hair? It’s devastating. I make a variety of hair pieces. If you want it in a braid form; if you want curly or straight hair, you can get it,” she said.
October is being observed as Breast Cancer Month, and The Gleaner has partnered with the Jamaica Cancer Society to raise awareness about the disease through a number of features, including a special edition of The Gleaner, which we invited guest editors to help produce. Among the concerns of women featured in this publication were the cost of cancer care and hair loss.
Shakespeare said that a major goal of hers was to see how insurance companies could get involved in hair treatment and restoration.
“I have been getting so many phone calls already. I didn’t even know so many people were having problems. The next thing I would like to do when I speak with people is to see how we can get the insurance companies to pay for hair care as well. That is part of the healing process. They do it abroad. People don’t feel comfortable walking around with no hair on their head or a scarf, or sometimes they get a wig, but it doesn’t look good. You still want to look fabulous,” she declared.
WE NEED TO STOP EATING SO MUCH SUGAR
In giving recommendations for how cancer patients could cope, she said: “With the hair loss and cancer issues, people need to change the way they eat. Cancer cannot dwell in an alkaline body. We also need to use less sugar. We need to stop eating so much sugar.”
“People can call me anytime. It would be nice if every October, we could give back this way. We will see how this one goes,” said Shakespeare, who operates her Moneaques’ Beauty Home in Central Plaza, St Andrew.