Fighting cancer, donating hair

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Video: Fighting cancer, donating hair 3:10

Patti Tucker, 69, of Fremont was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2017. Now in the fourth week of chemo, her hair is falling out. She is cutting it to take charge of the cancer, instead of letting the cancer take charge of her, and donating the hair to make a free wig for a child, while she still has enough hair to donate.

“By cutting your hair, it’s a way of taking charge of the cancer and not letting the cancer take charge of you,” Patti said, as salon manager Sandy Lagrou took her time and sheared off her first, healthy handful of hair from her head.

Patti holds up locks of her hair cut by her friend Sandy Lagrou, manager of Friends Salon & Spa. Tucker will donate the hair to be used to make a child’s wig.

Patti said she went to the doctor after her stomach swelled and was tender. “I noticed that when I’d take my son’s dog for a walk, that if he walked too fast and was pulling on me it was uncomfortable.”

Scott Tucker, Patti’s husband, holds her hand for support. The couple were high school sweethearts and have been married for 44 years. “I said just summer, we are both retired, we can do what we want,” Scott said. “We can go where we want, and we got our health. And then this.”

After diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Patti immediately underwent surgery to remove her ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and a section of her colon. She stayed in the hospital 11 days.

Patti retired a year ago after working as a hairdresser for 50 years. She has her hair cut in the salon where she worked.

“It’s cute,” Patti says, seeing her new haircut.