43
Wig room provides hope and hair
Photo
Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Boardman resident Jan built a wig room in her consignment shoppe, Hannah's Closet, that allows cancer patients to try on and take home free wigs. She is a three time cancer survivor and has been in remission since January.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Cancer treatments have a way of altering physical appearances, but one Boardman resident is in the business of restoring an attribute that is usually the first to go — hair.
Jan Bates is the owner of Hannah’s Closet Consignment Shoppe located in Poland’s Town One Plaza. The 15-year-old shop specializes in women’s upscale clothing and bridal gowns, but also caters to the needs of cancer patients.
Bates built a wig room, which opened last fall, designed to offer privacy and a comfortable environment for women going through cancer treatments. Since medical insurance doesn’t always cover wig purchases, Bates gives the wigs away at no charge to those receiving treatment.
“I wanted women to have a private place and private setting to try on wigs and it is my way of giving back to the community,” she said.
Bates understands how physical changes from chemotherapy and radiation can affect a woman. She is a three-time cancer survivor.
Her battle with cancer began in November 2006 during a routine breast self-examination. She felt a small lump and knew something wasn’t right.
“I knew immediately that when I found the lump it was cancer. I had a gut feeling,” she said. “Nobody prepares you to go home and tell you 14-year-old daughter that you have breast cancer.”
Bates was initially worried about the chance of her not being around to finish raising her daughter, but through chemotherapy treatments, she managed to pull through.
In January 2008, 14 months after the discovery of her breast cancer, Bates discovered a second lump less than a half inch away from where the first lump was located.
“It was devastating,” she said.
She had the mass and lymph nodes removed, but shortly after, her cancer resurfaced and was almost overlooked. The third cancerous mass was found accidently.
While hugging a close friend, she said she felt one of her ribs pop. A concerned Bates sought medical care to make sure everything was OK, but was surprised with the diagnosis from her doctor.
Her ribs turned out to be perfectly fine, but she was in stage four of yet another battle with cancer.
“If I had not gotten that hug and not found out about the cancer, it may have been too late,” Bates explained. “I had no pain or symptom. It was a God thing.”
Bates has been in remission since January and says she has learned a lot about life and herself though her cancer treatments. She said her experience has been emotionally, physically and spiritually draining which is why she offers free wigs to women who are going through what she has been through time and time again.
The wig room inside Hannah’s Closet is open to any woman who is going through treatment and is intended to lift the spirits of women during their troublesome times.
“Don’t give up, keep your sense of humor, hold on to your faith and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” is the advice Bates offers to women battling cancer. “There is always hope and there are a lot of break-throughs.”