A Degree of dignity

Date: 03/06/2020

Robin Ball had decided it was time for her hair to go. “The minute she started losing some hair, she’s like, ‘I’m taking it off.’ And boy, did she,” says Carrie Meo, Robin’s best friend and business partner, as she described Robin’s freshly-shaven head.

Robin was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and the chemotherapy had started to thin her hair. Robin approached her journey with incredible determination and grace, yet in private, she confided to Carrie that losing her hair really affected her.

“She was married, she was still young, and her hair was a big part of her identity,” says Carrie. “When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, a lot of things are going through your head. You may lose your breast, and then you’re losing your hair.”

An estimated 1,400 Maine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and many of them will lose their hair, which could affect their attitude toward treatment. In fact, some research shows that women may even decline treatment because they’re afraid of losing their hair.

When Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer, Carrie learned as much as she could about the disease so she could better support her friend’s journey. Carrie found that for some patients, hair loss isn’t inevitable, thanks to new technology that cools the scalp while a patient receives chemotherapy.
This FDA-approved technology is available at many large cancer centers, but not in Maine. After seeing Robin and others in her life struggle with hair loss during treatment, Carrie decided that it’s time to change that, so she approached the Northern Light Health Foundation with an idea: a fundraising effort to bring hair preservation technology to the Lafayette Family Cancer Institute in Brewer, in memory of Robin. The $250,000 campaign is now underway and under Carrie’s leadership is off to a great start.

Cancer took Robin’s life in 2016, and while Robin couldn’t avoid losing her own hair, Carrie knows that Robin would be enthusiastic about helping women gain a sense of control over a side effect that can be devastating.

Caption:
Darling’s Auto Group recently presented a $10,300 check to the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Foundation to support the campaign to bring technology to Northern Light Cancer Care that will help women keep more of their hair during chemotherapy treatment. Darling’s donated to the campaign on behalf of customers who bought vehicles on certain days in October of 2019.