Why my shaved off hair did not cure cancer

It is now three weeks since I had my hair cut off for cancer.  Still no cure.  A bit disappointing.   I expected more of them.  Them the hair, not them the scientists.  Since leaving school in the last century I have had long hair.  I don’t let them grow long, they grow by themselves.  I just don’t like going to the barber (what I call hairdressers focusing on male clients) or worse a hairdresser.  Trying to make light conversation with a stranger while they stick their fingers in your hair and are armed with sharp scissors are not easy.  So, mostly long hair.  Not shoulder length. Earlobe length.

Therefore appearing with no hair at work did elicit a fair bit of comment.  The main idea is to raise awareness about cancer.  Something I do undermine in response to the frequent

“Where is your hair?”

“Vissershok.” ⁽¹⁾

The question should be used as an opening for a discussion about testing or contributing.  Why else would you shave off your hair?  I use it to make a joke.  Another response is “I could never be so brave.” And that is the key.  Cutting all your hair should not be brave.  Brave is running into a burning building to get a child out.  Stupid is going back for the poodle.  Brave is about confronting your fears.    And bald is a ubiquitous fear.  See the phenomenon of the comb-over.  They are not as popular as a few years ago, seeing that a lot of men are wearing their hair very short.  Laziness about grooming is the reason here I think.  Back to the fear of bald heads.  Several web sites can either convince you to shave it all off or to pay money to get it back.  An article from 1994 here shows how much have changed about bald heads since then.  You can also have a look at SlyBaldGuys where the hairless lifestyle is celebrated. 

So why are we so precious about our hair?  I don’t know.  And I don’t need to know.  I just need to know that it is important to many people.  Including, until 3 weeks ago, myself.  Which goes to show how ingrained vanity is.  Hair does not really enhance my aesthetic value to a desirable level. ⁽²⁾ Yet, I did not want to shave it off.  I did get a “You look great!”, from a lady.  Which should make me feel great except she is a lesbian and therefore her opinion on these matters are less important than say, Claudia Schiffer’s. 

So did it make a difference?  Will I do it again?  In order: I doubt it and probably.  Why do it again if it did not make a difference?  Well, it didn’t make a difference to cancer, l but it did make a difference to me.  It put to sleep some issues I had (see previous post) and it is sort of liberating to know that whatever you think about yourself there is someone who couldn’t give a toss about your appearance.  

      (1)    The nearest hazardous waste disposal site.

      (2)    Money does.