Alyssa Hernandez | WeINSPIRE Journalist

PEMBROKE, N.C. — According to health research funding.org, in the United States, 52,380 people live with hairy cell leukemia. Twenty-two thousand two hundred eighty women live with this condition. Hairy cell leukemia is very rare and only affects approximately two percent of the leukemia diagnosis in the country.

Meet Diane Cade, a three-time cancer survivor. She has survived hairy cell leukemia twice and has recently survived uterine cancer. She now shaves her head for other cancer patients so they do not feel alone.

“I always shave my head in support because cancer is very devastating to people. When you're doing treatment for cancer, it is always good to have moral support. For me, you have women with hair down to their back, and losing their hair is so devastating,” Cade said. “If other people join and shave their head and say ‘Hey, it’s gonna be ok,’ it helps the person and gives them a spiritual vibe. It helps them get through what they are going through.” 

She explained how the first time she went through chemotherapy, as a treatment for the hairy cell leukemia, it was tough because by the time doctors caught it she was dying. Cade said she found peace during treatment through doing meditation and praying. She said it is good to have a belief system when going through treatment.

Cade believes self-care is also important when it comes to cancer treatment. Her self-care consisted of meditating over healing mandalas in O magazine and having pictures of her family. 

“I had pictures of my family which kept me to the belief that I have more to do, ” Cade said. 

During Cade’s first cancer treatment she lived in South Korea. She did not find it difficult to be in South Korea, away from her family, while being treated. She felt like she was in good hands at Samsung Medical Center, as it is in the top 10 medical centers in the world then and still is as of 2021. Instead, she felt taken care of and was able to have constant communication with her family.

Cade gave advice to cancer patients telling them to be kind to themselves throughout their treatment.

“Be kind to yourself in your words, your healing, and your actions because it takes a lot to get through it. In the end, if you just have the patience, you’ll feel better,” Cade said.

Cade now not only shaves her head in solidarity with cancer patients, but she also assists in raising money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital by joining an annual walk that happens in New York.

“ I do St. Jude’s Children research hospital because I learned being in Samsung Medical Center when kids get cancer they go with being just kids. For me, I love St. Judes. St. Judes because they [the kids] can get care, and it does not cost them anything, ” Cade said. 

Cade encourages cancer patients to find a support group so they know what to look out for and talk to someone who has or is going through an experience similar to the cancer patient. The support group Cade is in is the Til Vahalla VIP Group, located on Facebook. She explained that if you are going through it, someone else already has and it can be helpful to share experiences.

“ Any diagnosis you get someone has been through it before. It would be helpful to know what to look for and what you might be going through. Everyone has a different journey, and of course, everyone’s bodies react differently. It’s essential when you have a diagnose to have a good grounded support group,”  Cade said. 

To keep up with Cade’s journey, visit her Facebook.

Watch Full Interview Here