A Cardiff hairdresser who felt exploited when she sought hair loss treatment while undergoing chemotherapy has set up a specialised academy to ensure other cancer patients do not have the same experience.
Anastasia Cameron, 40, started working in hair salons when she was 14, having grown up in an African family where she said hair was a massive part of her culture. She progressed quickly in the industry, owning her own salon by the age of 22, and developed a niche in hair loss and replacement.
Having spent many years helping men and women deal with hair loss caused by cancer treatment or alopecia, it was not until she lost her own hair as a result of chemotherapy that she realised how much needed to change.
A Personal Battle with Breast Cancer
At age 34, and with two children aged one and six, Ana noticed a small patch of fluid on the inside of her bra. She booked a doctors appointment and was originally reassured by doctors who told her she was "too young for anything untoward" and suggested it was probably something to do with postpartum.
However, when she went to get the results of the tests, she was informed that she did in fact have breast cancer. She was originally told it was DCIS, a non-invasive stage zero breast cancer, and that it would be treated through a single mastectomy.
Just before she was due to head into the operating theatre, Ana was told to call her husband. A test on her lymph nodes had raised concerns and revealed the cancer was much more aggressive. She needed chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, on top of the mastectomy, with six rounds of chemotherapy taking place every three weeks, six rounds of radiotherapy, and targeted therapy that continued for 18 months.
Feeling Exploited During Treatment
Within days of starting chemotherapy, Ana began to lose her hair. She said she completely underestimated the emotional impact, going into denial for a good month and constantly wearing a hat around the house.
Having originally felt put off from looking for help, Ana decided it was the best decision to get another professional to help her. She quickly regretted the experience, saying the woman denied her having afro hair, tried to financially exploit her, and made a spectacle of her. She was told the hair solution would cost £1,900, despite knowing the hair would have cost between £300 and £400 straight from the supplier.
Launching the Academy
The experience motivated Ana in her work. She was adamant that more training was needed on hair loss, training that did not always exist. Since then, her own salon has won an NHS contract allowing her to treat some people for a reduced price.
Through the charitable wing of her business, she sets aside profit from private clients to give children wigs for free and to help those who do not have the budget to get the right hair loss solution. Her academy, Scarlett Jack Hairitage, will offer two first-of-their-kind programmes from its headquarters on Museum Place in Cardiff, with training also delivered at ACT Training and through hair and beauty suppliers across the UK.
