Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 24
The first ever ‘Hair for Hope India’ hair donation event in the North East region, will be held at The Lighthouse Church in Dimapur, Nagaland, on Saturday, May 26 at 3:00 pm.
The campaign encourages people to donate 12 inches (31cms) of clean and dry hair, which is then converted into wigs and donated to economically-challenged chemotherapy patients.
Amen Jamir, who is a pledged lifetime donor, and who has already donated her hair twice, will be hosting the event on behalf of ‘Hair for Hope India’. Having lost her mother to cancer 12 years back, Amen is determined to make sure others do not lose their moms to cancer.
Four women and two little girls will be donating their hair at the event. Aben Longkumer, a hair stylist, will be supporting it. The donors are college girls, and a 6-year-old girl, who is the youngest donor. The donors said they heard about the hair donation first time through Amen Jamir, and they felt that the hair donation is a noble cause protecting moms and cancer patients and decided to donate.
Over 10 lakh new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in India. However, due to late diagnosis, over 7 lakh people die from the disease each year. Projections by the Indian Council of Medical Research show that India is likely to have over 17.3 lakh new cases of cancer and over 8.8 lakh deaths due to the disease by 2020.
In western countries, 89% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis, which is due to detection and treatment (Parkin 2008). The low survival rates in less developed countries can be explained mainly by the lack of early detection programmes.
It is also estimated that every year 500,000 people lose their lives just because they detect breast cancer too late. Early detection can increase survival rates to 98%. One out of eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer.
For treatment, chemotherapy becomes the only option for women and it comes with the price of losing strands of hairs just three weeks after the first chemotherapy session, sometimes within a matter of as little as two days.
Though the hair loss is painless and usually temporary, it is often one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy and lowers the self-esteem of sufferers, making them withdraw into a shell. Wigs with natural hair are a luxury for most chemotherapy patients especially after expensive treatment. Many of them get confined to their homes without the courage to face society and might even lose the will to live. A wig gives them the confidence to face life as a normal human being without being subjected to pitiful looks.
‘Hair for Hope India’ was started in June 19, 2013 by Premi Mathew to create awareness about hair donation as part of the ‘Protect Your Mom’ campaign which creates awareness about breast cancer. ‘Protect Your Mom’ is a campaign to educate mothers to check for tiny painless stones and early signs of breast cancer. Breast cancer kills 5 Lakh women every year just because women ignore the signs until it is too late. A simple self-exam at home, which costs nothing, could actually help find the signs early.
You can also donate
Anyone with 12 inches of clean and dry hair can come forward and donate. Those willing to donate their hair can come to the venue on the day of the programme. The requirements for donors are: the hair must be 12 inches long and chemical-free. However, black and brown coloured hairs are accepted.
Actual survivors will be also sharing their stories about how early detection helped save their lives. Amen will also be organising a pink glove dance and encouraging everyone to take a pledge to make sure moms take a self exam every month.
