Lindy Thackston Shows Off Post-Chemo Hair
- Lindy Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020, and recently finished her chemotherapy treatment.
- Chemotherapy side effects like hair loss have taken an emotional toll on Thackston, but she recently showed off her new haircut with pride on Instagram despite having some detractors in the comments.
- Hair loss is generally a side effect of chemotherapy, but there are options like wigs and scarves to help camouflage the hair loss if that will help your self-esteem. Ultimately, a patient should do whatever will make them happiest, whether that be rocking a bald look or donning a stylish hat.
Her new look frames her face with an edgy, short hairdo. Her stylist swept her dark blonde locks up in a longer pixie-style cut with good volume on the top and short sides. It’s a definite contrast from the long blonde haircut we’re used to seeing, but the new look carries a sort of sophisticated swagger. In short, she looks like a cancer-beating tough cookie with style to spare.
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She made sure to thank her hairstylist Cristopher Caudill for “making an emotional thing so easy.” Although most of the comments under her photo shared nothing but glowing praise, Thackston still had to deal with some negative feedback. On her Instagram story, she shared a comment that someone left saying “Omg…….fail.” In response, she wrote on her story saying, “You think I wanted to get cancer and cut my hair John?”
And while she admitted the negative feedback got her down for a moment, she posted a second picture on her story reminding fans of what’s truly important: informing the public about colorectal cancer. Thackston said she had two upcoming interviews to “spread the colorectal cancer word” with a sassy shot of her showing off her locks.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
Hair loss can be a very challenging side effect of chemotherapy both physically, and mentally. Chemotherapy targets quickly-dividing cells throughout the body which includes cancer cells, but also hair cells. As a result, women may lose the hair on their scalp as well as their eyebrows and eyelashes, too.
Dr. Yvette Williams-Brown explains what cancer patients can expect when it comes to hair loss
"Despite many claims that there are ways to prevent that from happening, it is a side effect unfortunately that cannot be stopped," says Dr. Yvette Williams-Brown, a gynecologic oncologist at the LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at UTHealth Austin.
Going bald can take a heavy emotional toll on a person, but Dr. Williams-Brown says that the hair will typically grow back once treatment ends. Although some women, she notes, may experience some changes to hair color and texture when it begins growing back.
But while the hair is gone, there are options. Wigs, scarves and hats can help to camouflage the loss if that’s something that’s important to you. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of a wig, and women can often find one that resembles their original hairstyle. Some cancer patients choose to embrace their new look, and, ultimately, it up to each person to do whatever they see fit. Having good self-esteem, like Thackston showed in her social media post, is a crucial aspect of a person’s cancer journey.
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