Bald is beautiful but having a stylish wig is 'crazy fun' for Pueblo cancer patient

Julie Pike said she was “circling the drain” and near death when she was admitted to St. Mary Corwin’s intensive care unit in March.

She spent a week in a coma following emergency surgery for sepsis which revealed she also had ovarian cancer. The cancer had spread from her ovaries into her colon, so when she woke up in the hospital, she found out she no longer had an appendix, ovaries, and a portion of her colon.

“My whole entire life fell apart with the cancer diagnosis,” Pike said. “It has been the strangest, most stressful journey.”

Part of her frustration was her tendency to seek out natural remedies, so the idea of chemotherapy made her uneasy.

But now just six months into her diagnosis “the chemo is doing a pretty good job,” she said and last week’s scan showed no signs of cancer. Still, she will undergo surgery to remove her uterus when chemotherapy is complete in September.

Having worked at Corwin and later in hospice, she knew “the staff here are genuine,” but she really found a whole new level of support thanks to the hospital’s Dorcy Cancer Center, 2004 Lake Ave.

One of the people she’s been able to lean on is volunteer Janice Medrano who started helping out at the cancer center two months ago after a six year stint of volunteering at a food bank. Medrano has found the perfect niche for her nurturing side, because as a nine year cancer survivor, “I know what the clients are going through,” she said.

As Medrano helps cancer patients find the resources they need, whether its a wig that suits them as they struggle with hair loss, or a yoga class that helps them get moving again, she shares her story and hope.

“They need positive, upbeat interactions whether they are going through something bad or having a good day. I tell them my story and help them find what works for them,” Medrano explained.

“We are in the C-club that no one wants to be in. If they feel like crying I tell them to go right ahead, but you have to do this and at the end it's going to be OK,” Medrano said.

Dorcy Cancer Center Licensed Clinical Social Worker Brenda Biggerstaff said Medrano’s help is invaluable

“She really does instill hope with calming and compassion," Biggerstaff said, pointing out that Medrano even does things like try the acu-pressure and Tai Chi classes so she can tell clients what to expect.

As she works at the Dorcy Resource Center's Boutique, she helps cancer patients find three complimentary items to help them on their journey. They can choose from wigs, turbans, scarves, headwraps or sparkling “Caps of Courage,” made by Sheila Jensen of Salida.

The boutique also has eyelashes, bras, breast prosthetics, memory bears and comforting port pillows or seat belt protectors that cushion patients' chemotherapy ports.

“We partner with Pueblo Community College’s cosmetology program and the students refurbish the wigs that are donated to us. They clean them and restyle them, so we have a nice selection,” Biggerstaff said.

“When you lose your hair, it affects your body image and self-esteem so they can find that wig that makes them feel beautiful,” Biggerstaff said.

Pike selected two wigs and although she has naturally dark brown hair, she settled on a reddish-brown curly wig that looks like her daughter’s hair so they are even more alike. The second wig features long gray hair.

“We have crazy fun with the wigs when I FaceTime my brother in the UK,” she said in her bubbly British accent. “Bringing positivity and laughter into the journey helps with healing.”

The cancer center also offers an array of free online and in-person classes that include Zumba, art therapy, rock painting, meditation and more.

“There is so much support here and it’s not just physical, it’s psychological support too,” Pike said.

Some advice for moms

As she reflects on her cancer journey, Pike feels compelled to share some advice with other moms.

“We (mothers) neglect our checkups, follow ups and testing – I hadn’t done a mammogram for years,” Pike said.

She urges Pueblo moms not to neglect themselves and “listen to your children when they persuade you to go get help,” she said. “I thought I was just suffering from menopause with abdominal pain and hot flashes.”

If her son and daughter had not insisted she go to the emergency room, she wouldn’t have made it, she said.

To find out more about the Dorcy Cancer Center, email Biggerstaff at brendabiggerstaff@centura.org or visit centura.org.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo cancer center helps boost self esteem for chemotherapy patients