If you have had a family member, a dear friend or colleague or you have faced the news of cancer it can come as a huge shock.

There are so many wonderful charities that offer help and support to anyone dealing with a cancer diagnosis including family.

My name is Maggie (Margaret Hodd), and I have recently been diagnosed with Grade 3 breast cancer which has spread to my bones and lymph nodes and is incurable. I am luckier than most who are given their diagnosis as my cancer is treatable and the doctors and consultants at Whittington

Hospital are going to do their very best to stop the cancer from spreading. I am very pleased to confirm that Chemo along with Anti-HER2+ (Phesgo) injections will be starting for me on Friday, 24

January 2025, with bone treatment starting 6 weeks later.

For anyone that knows me, will know that I hate messy hair, especially my fringe, I think I have spent a fortune on hair products especially hairspray over the years. I’ve also been dying my hair since I was 17. I have loved being a blond or going a bit darker and I was up until recently attempting to go back to my natural hair colour which was auburn. I’ve tried big and bouncy curly, straight, flicked out like Farrah Fawcett-Majors. I mean who didn’t want to be a Charlies Angel in the 70’s, yes me a freckled red head.

Now I never really thought about not having hair before or the importance of having hair. Did you know that the hair on your head not only protects your scalp, but it also insulates your head and protects us from the environment. No matter what your hair type is, it is a symbol of health, beauty, and personal identity. So, when I received my cancer diagnosis my second thought was OMG, my hair is going to fall out and I’m going to look like my two sons-in-law (bald with a hairy chin). My first thought was my two beautiful girls.

Now the important part, I did mention to my sister Chris that I thought that I should get a hair cut before my hair actually fell out, but was a bit shocked when she suggested a pixie style, I don’t think I have the face or cheek bones to carry that off lol. But I always thought that I would have my hair shaved off if I ever got cancer and try and raise a few pounds for a cancer charity. Mind you I didn’t ever think I would get cancer, how naïve of me! The charity I would like to raise funds for is Maggie’s (www.maggies.org), my name sake.

On Saturday, 1 st February 2025, @ 5pm, my sister will be hosting an evening where I will be havingall my hair on my head removed. I would be absolutely delighted if you would or could donate money

to the mentioned charity. I would be so thankful for all the support and the charity will earn a few more pounds to continue the good work that they are doing.