Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)

Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!

Cancer survivor forced to remove wig for driving test

At the University of Florida, where my husband works, spouses can get campus I.D. cards which allow access to recreational centers, swimming pools, a university lake, and more. A few years ago, I stood in line for my card. It was during my chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, and I wore a blond wig topped with a ball cap. Once at the front of line, a college student employee told me to remove my hat so my photo could be taken.

I couldn't take my hat off -- it covered a partial wig made for use with hats, and the very top was made of soft cotton and no hair. I didn't want to be photographed wearing my clown-like wig. I didn't want to be photographed bald. I wanted to look as normal as possible during a time when I felt nothing of the sort.

I told the I.D. center staff of my situation and although these young people seemed a bit unsettled by my story, they complied. And I now have an I.D. that pictures me, my blond wig, and my pink hat. It looks nothing like me. My post-chemo hair came in dark and curly.

A young woman in England didn't have my good fortune when she was recently ordered to remove her wig during a driving test.

Hannah Marie Jones, 20, says she was humilated and driven to tears after being told she must remove her beanie hat for her driver's license photo. Her wig was stitched onto the hat and when she removed the hat, the hair came with it. Jones had told employees of her situation but security measures prevented anyone from making an exception.

Jones failed her driving test, but was told she can take her next one for free. She doesn't want a free test. She just wants an apology.

Cancer Fundraisers
 (0)
Cancer events (141)
Pink products (63)
Celebrities
Celebrity cancer diagnosis (73)
Celebrity fundraisers (83)
Celebrity in memoriam (75)
Celebrity news (173)
Celebrity spokesperson (46)
Features
Form and Function (7)
Today, I Am Grateful (10)
Worthy Wisdom (21)
RetroReview (6)
Saturday Six (4)
Sunday Seven (64)
Survivor Spotlight (40)
Cancer by the Numbers (17)
Recipe Healthy Living (52)
Healing Attitude Almanac (6)
Thought for the Day (148)
Media
Blogs (144)
Books (109)
Magazines (51)
Movies (21)
Products (154)
Services (116)
Sports (20)
Television (101)
Video games (4)
Meet the Bloggers
Bloggers (13)
Jacki Donaldson (2)
Kristina Collins (1)
Diane Rixon (1)
Nine DeJanvier (1)
Chris Sparling (1)
Allie Beatty (1)
Dalene Entenmann (1)
News
Daily news (684)
Events (85)
Fundraisers (169)
Opinion (170)
Politics (145)
Research (799)
Prevention
Cancer prevention foods (170)
Diets (213)
Environment (115)
Exercise (94)
Non-toxic alternatives (35)
Nutrition (131)
Obesity (52)
Smoking (101)
Stress Reduction (91)
Vitamins and nutrients (90)
Treatment
Alternative Therapies (411)
Cancer Caregivers (71)
Cancer Pre-vivors (21)
Cancer Survivors (469)
Chemotherapy (495)
Clinical Trials (160)
Drug (497)
Hospice (18)
Prevention (1327)
Radiation (77)
Stem Cell (25)
Surgery (40)
Types of Cancer
 (0)
All Cancers (820)
Anal cancer (2)
Animal (18)
Bladder Cancer (39)
Blood Cancer (18)
Bone Cancer (15)
Brain Cancer (106)
Breast Cancer (1324)
Cervical Cancer (72)
Childhood Cancers (204)
Colon and Rectal Cancer (235)
Endometrial Cancer (25)
Esophageal Cancer (35)
Eye Cancer (6)
Gallbladder Cancer (2)
Gastric cancer (5)
Germ Cell Tumors (1)
Head and Neck cancer (13)
Hodgkin's Lymphoma (55)
Kidney Cancer (56)
Leukemia (145)
Liver Cancer (50)
Lung Cancer (273)
Melanoma (105)
Mouth Cancer (42)
Multiple Myeloma (13)
Neuroblastoma (1)
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (56)
Oral Cancer (16)
Ovarian Cancer (154)
Pancreatic Cancer (78)
Pet Cancers (11)
Pregnancy and cancer (6)
Prostate Cancer (233)
Rectal Cancer (3)
Sarcoma (8)
Skin Cancer (153)
Stomach Cancer (28)
Teen Cancers (26)
Testicular Cancer (17)
Throat Cancer (20)
Thymic Cancer (0)
Thyroid Cancer (49)
Tissue Cancers (1)
Tongue Cancer (3)
Unknown Primary (2)
Uterine Cancer (9)
Womb Cancer (1)
Young Adult Cancers (104)

RESOURCES

RSS NEWSFEEDS

Powered by Blogsmith

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: