Hi Folks,
I hope you enjoyed my second video, when what was left of my hair was shaved at New Haven Hair & Skin Studio in North Haven. Many thanks to Andrea Torre, who did a great job! Andrea has been working with cancer patients for 23 years. She trained under the great Vincent Farricielli. Both were on the ground level helping the American Cancer Society and the Looking Forward program at St. Raphael's!
Hope to hear from readers about their cancer experiences.
Ann

Here is the second video. In case you want to watch the video in full screen, click the third icon in from the right (the one that's shaped like a television). To return to the regular screen, press the ESC button.

In case you missed it, here is the video introduction to my story. Each week, a video will accompany the column. Thanks for reading.
And now watching.

Hi Folks,
Shaving my head wasn't as traumatic as I expected. Based on all the knowledge I've had from friends who've gone through cancer, and from the kind people who have offered comments and suggestions, I was fully ready for this step.
I got a closely-cropped haircut first, and hair continued to fall out over the weekend. On Monday Aug. 25, I went to Andrea Torre of Hair Replacement Concepts, inside the New Haven Hair & Skin Studio of North Haven, for the shaving. Andrea was very supportive and predicted that I would look beautiful.
At first, I thought I looked more like my brother than ever before, but my Mom says I look just like my Dad, bless his heart.
I love me bald, and am excited to wear all of the colorful turbans and scarves I have purchased. I've also worn my two wigs, but after a while need to take them off.
I'd also like to thank the readers who continue to inundate me with cards, Mass cards and kind words of support and prayer. Please also pray for all of the people who have no where to turn, and all of the people whose conditions are far worse than mine.
Thanks!
Ann

Since my breast cancer diagnosis on June 9, 2008, I have spent a fairly decent amount of time wondering "why me?" In my case, I had several risk factors staring me in the face: obesity, heredity and never having had children. I also enjoyed a glass of wine or beer almost every night. The American Cancer Society says all four risk factors play into an increased chance for breast cancer.
Cancer does not run on my father's side, but is prevalent in my mother's family. My maternal grandfather died from throat cancer. My mother, 74, is the youngest of 13 siblings. Of them, six have either been diagnosed and cured, or have died of one form of cancer or another. (Keep in mind that there are multiple and unknown causes for cancer and I'm not saying that I have cancer as a result of the fact that all six aunts and uncles did.) Two of my aunts had breast cancer. One aunt had a mastectomy at age 72 and is now cancer-free at 94 years old. The other was diagnosed at 70 and is now 76. She had a lumpectomy.
I would like to hear from you about your cancer stories. Let's create a dialogue of learning, sharing and hope

Hi Folks,
I hope you enjoy my column, which will appear in Sunday's paper. Let me know your thoughts.
In case you missed my first two columns, you can find them here and here.
Ann