A two-time breast cancer survivor and founder of Wigs for Heroes, Kaz Foncette spoke with Londra Gazete about her journey and hopes Wigs for Heroes as they help support women undergoing cancer treatment.
Diagnosed with a Stage 2 Grade 3, HER2, one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer in May 2017, shortly after her diagnosis, Kaz was informed by her doctors that she would need to undergo various treatments, including chemotherapy.
The first question that Kaz asked her doctors was ‘Am I going to lose my hair?’ a question and thought many still face today.
Kaz found that the NHS-supplied wigs were limited in choice and design and uncomfortable for her, eventually, she found a wigmaker online who was able to cater for her needs, but it would come at a cost.
After going through this process and finding out many other women face similar issues Kaz set up Wigs for Heroes to help to face financial difficulties with buying a wig via their grant system. Currently, they offer this service to patients being treated at North Middlesex Hospital.
Kaz explained her initial reaction to being diagnosed with cancer “I honestly thought I was going to die. I didn’t think women my age could even get breast cancer, I thought it only happened to older women.
“Cancer generally meant death, or so I thought at the time. So the first thought was about my very existence.
“Then followed the fear of losing my hair. After being told I would lose it all, I initially refused chemotherapy and asked for a second opinion. I was scared. It was out of fear.” Kaz eventually come to terms with the fact that she need to have the lifesaving chemo. “I’m grateful that it worked twice for me. In 2019 it did come back but I’m once again in remission.”
Talking about how Wigs for Heroes helped her gave her a sense of purpose Kaz said “Making others smile made me smile and when I was going through hell, it made me realise how fortunate I was to have friends and family who cared around me as I’d met so many people who were isolated and alone and didn’t have much of a support system…”
When asked how the Turkish-speaking community can support Wigs for Heroes, Kaz emphasized the importance of creating a “sense of community within the community” and raising awareness so support can be given to those that need it.
“I would ask the community to help us raise awareness and funds by getting involved where possible as cancer can affect every single one of us during our lifetimes. Fundraisers, balos, dinners and dances, donation of beauty products of clothing or even volunteering your time…”
The Turkish Cypriot explained, “…Hair is so important to people in my culture, I know how much it affected me so raising awareness about who we are and what we can do for people is where it should start.”
Touching on the struggles they at the present face, Kaz explained that they are currently looking to set up a location in north London so they can keep helping those in the area.
Adding that the aim is to one day have their own charity shop in north London which is “almost nonexistent” saying it would be “a multipurpose space where we can raise our own funds through the sales of clothing etc, a space we can host meet up and support events for people affected by cancer and a space where we can do wig fittings locally in a safe space.”
