Salon owner with incurable cancer who lost hair during treatment makes customisable wigs to help others feel ‘confident’
A salon owner with incurable cervical cancer who lost her hair while having chemotherapy has said wearing wigs has given her “reassurance in a world where nothing is certain”, and she now sells handmade, customisable bespoke wigs to help others feel “confident” in their own skin. Amanda Humphrey, 43, who owns Saramanda1 hair salon in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2017 after delaying her smear test by seven years. She underwent a radical hysterectomy in December that year – a surgical procedure to remove the womb and surrounding tissues – and was in remission weeks later. The cancer returned and Humphrey received her second cervical cancer diagnosis just two days before Christmas in 2021, and she then started chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She described this as “hell on Earth”, and within two weeks of starting chemotherapy the second time, she noticed her hair was being “blown out of [her] head” by the wind. Humphrey shaved her head and embraced her baldness but soon realised she missed having “that comfort blanket” – and she then searched “high and low” for a realistic, non-synthetic wig. Through her own searches, which were often fruitless, she realised that the number of people selling customisable wigs made of human hair in her area were few and far between. This led to Humphrey making and selling her own – and now, despite her uncertain prognosis, she said her mission is helping people struggling with hair loss feel like themselves again. “My message is I get it, and that’s why I love the wigs that we produce,” Humphrey told PA Real Life. “I’m proud of the wigs that we produce, and I’m so grateful that people choose us to be a part of their journey. “Every wig is made with love and strength, they are made from the heart, and me and my entire team, we all want them to be just perfect.” Cervical cancer is a cancer that is found anywhere in the cervix – the opening between the vagina and the womb. Symptoms include unusual vaginal bleeding, changes to vaginal discharge, pain during sex or pain in your lower back, the NHS says. Humphrey, who was working as a detective in London at the time and had only just opened her salon, said she had no symptoms prior to her diagnosis and “always found an excuse to cancel [her] smear test”. It was only when a colleague strongly encouraged her to book her smear test, seven years after she was first invited to have one, that she received her diagnosis in October 2017. She said she holds herself responsible for this and has since campaigned for other women to book their smear tests without delay by sharing the message “Don’t be me”. Speaking about her first diagnosis, she said: “I walked into the room and I looked at the consultant and, before I’d even sat down, I said ‘Have I got cancer?’ And he said ‘Yes’. “Then I said ‘Am I going to die?’ And he said, ‘I need to examine you and then I can tell you.’” Humphrey explained that telling her son, who she wishes to keep anonymous, was the hardest part, and she later underwent a radical hysterectomy, which was performed via keyhole surgery. A biopsy revealed she was in remission just weeks later, and while this was positive news she felt “lost” afterwards. She did not process the “trauma” of the cancer and the fact she could no longer get pregnant due to the radical hysterectomy until much later. “Emotionally I struggled because although I didn’t necessarily want more children, I wasn’t ready to to lose that option,” Humphrey explained. “I grieved not having more children, I grieved something I didn’t have, and I never sought help on that, ever. “Given it’s a gynaecological cancer as well, when I visit my local hospital for any appointment, I sit in a room with pregnant people waiting for their appointments. “They come out of their appointments happy, with their files and scan photos, and you’re sitting there, thinking ‘I can’t have that any more’.” In the years that followed, after Humphrey was medically retired from the police, she continued with cervical cancer awareness campaigns and focused on her salon. However, she started to experience agonising pain in her left leg in 2021 and could not pinpoint the exact source of it. After undergoing scans and tests, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer recurrence just two days before Christmas that year. She then underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which caused her to experience sickness, muscle aches, nose bleeds and ulcers in her mouth. During her second round of chemotherapy she lost her hair within two weeks. “I remember saying to one of the nurses ‘The next time I see you in three weeks, will I have hair?’ And she just said ‘No’, and it was true,” Humphrey said. “I was stood outside my salon on week two and it was really windy and I was trying to make a phone call outside. “I said to my colleague ‘My hair is being blown out of my head’ – it was literally just floating past us – so we shaved it off.” Humphrey said she embraced being “bald and proud” initially, but she missed the “comfort” that having hair gave her – and so her journey to creating her own human hair wigs began. Each wig starts from approximately £450, depending on the length and thickness, and can take up to three weeks to make as Humphrey and her team at the salon custom-colour each one. Humphrey said she will often “work into the night” to finish an order, if required, and some customers have even cried when seeing the finished product. She has since partnered with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust as well, and for every wig sold through the charity she will donate 10 per cent of the proceeds to the organisation. She explained: “Wearing wigs has given me so much reassurance in a world where nothing is certain. “Just having a wig on gives me that comfort and ability to just be normal, and I want to help others achieve that feeling.” In October 2022, Humphrey was informed her cancer is incurable and she will most likely not reach remission again – however she is determined to keep fighting. She is now having pembrolizumab – a type of immunotherapy – and has regular check-ups, and although she was told that statistically she may only have 18 months to live, she said she wants to “prove everyone wrong, even if (she dies) trying”, and she will not stop her “passion” of making wigs for others. “The results we get are amazing, they’re happy, and being able to support someone with part of their journey is so rewarding – it’s always something I’ve wanted to do,” she said. “It helps them feel confident, and the comfort comes in, but it’s just the fact they can walk out their front door feeling normal.” She added: “If my journey can help someone in the future, then I’m all in.” To find out more about Humphrey and the wigs she and her team make, search @saramanda1_wigs on Instagram. For more information and support about cervical cancer, visit Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s website here. 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2023-11-08 17:28
Should we end daylight saving time? Doctors think it’s bad for our health
Doctors have called for the elimination of daylight saving time citing potential harm that may result from the practice. Daylight saving time is a practice of setting the clock forward by an hour beginning on the second Sunday in March in order to use light from the sun for longer. Once winter arrives, clocks are then set backwards an hour, ending the practice around the first Sunday of November, so people can get an extra hour of sleep. Doctors from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) called for an end to the practice, citing potential harms that can result due to changes to and from daylight saving time. Instead, they are in favour of setting standard time, which is the time when the clocks are set back in the fall, permanently. Doctors say such a permanent standard time aligns best with the human body’s natural inner clock. “By causing the human body clock to be misaligned with the natural environment, daylight saving time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being, and public safety. Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety,” Adeel Rishi, chair of the AASM Public Safety Committee, said in a statement. AASM had previously shown in a study in 2020 that Daylight Saving Time (DST) is linked to “increased risks of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular events, and mood disturbances” as people annually “spring forward” to adopt the practice. Previous research has also found that pushing the clock back an hour can impact mental health. An analysis of data from more than 185,000 Danish people found an over 10 per cent rise in depressive episodes during the shift from summer time to standard time. The position to end DST is also supported by previous statements adopted by organisations such as National Sleep Foundation and the American Medical Association. “Permanent standard time helps synchronize the body clock with the rising and setting of the sun. This natural synchrony is optimal for healthy sleep, and sleep is essential for health, mood, performance, and safety,” James A Rowley, president of the AASM, said. However, the US Senate has passed The Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022, which would make US daylight saving time permanent. But this bill still requires approval by the House and president Joe Biden to be coded into law. Read More Here’s what a sleep expert says about the time change as clocks change in US Daylight saving time 2023: When do the clocks go back in the US? This is what changing the clocks can do to your health Mother of newborn triplets shares how they react differently after eating Stephen Fry uses walking stick after breaking his leg, pelvis and ‘a bunch of ribs’ Mother’s song about how easy it is to be ‘such a good dad’ goes viral
2023-11-08 06:57
Gaza journalist killed alongside 42 relatives, news agency says
Mohammad Abu Hasira's death comes as a watchdog says the past month has been the most deadly for journalists.
2023-11-08 05:54
Draymond Green struggles when receiving a taste of his own medicine
Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors' star, found himself on the receiving end of a painful hit, similar to those he's been infamous for delivering.
2023-11-08 01:46
Netanyahu says Israel will have security control over Gaza after war
Israel must have "overall security responsibility", its PM says, amid concerns of re-occupation.
2023-11-07 21:58
Israel's pain still raw a month after Hamas attacks
As the war rages, the focus for many in Israel is ensuring the safe return of more than 200 hostages.
2023-11-07 18:26
Olivia Rodrigo and Sheryl Crow to duet at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Olivia Rodrigo and her idol Sheryl Crow have a special duet planned for this week's ceremony.
2023-11-02 16:16
Indonesia cough syrup maker boss jailed after child deaths
The pharmaceutical company, Afi Farma, has been linked to the deaths of more than 200 children.
2023-11-02 11:47
Mother of newborn triplets shares how they react differently after eating
While they might not be easy to tell apart, one mother has captured how differently her three children react after being given the same five ounces of milk. Jocelyn, who goes by the username @lesbi_honest_20 on TikTok, took to the platform to share a video of her triplets - daughters Willow and Eden, and son Juniper - along with the on-screen text: “When the same 5oz hits different.” She then filmed her children one by one, as Juniper was seen crying from still being hungry. Eden was relaxed with her bib on after having a full meal, while Willow managed to fall asleep with her eyes rolled back. “Took this while we waited for more milk to heat up for our hungry Juni boy!” Jocelyn captioned the TikTok. “It’s crazy how much they are growing into three unique individuals. I love learning more about them every day.” Since it was first posted on 19 October, the video has gained more than 11m views, with many people joking about how the triplets are a total representation of their moods. “The three stages of milk drunk,” one commenter joked. “We got the crier, the ‘I might be drunk’, and the one you have to carry home every time.” “Different reviews same restaurant,” another user joked. Some commenters mentioned how much Eden’s sleeping reaction made them laugh, with one commenter writing: “I wasn’t expecting the second one, so I was really surprised by the third.” @lesbihonest_20 Took this while we waited for more milk to heat up for our hungry Juni boy! Its crazy how much they are growing into 3 unique individuals. I love learning more about them ever day. #tripletsoftiktok #tripletmom #newbornbabies #fyp #triplets #tripletlife ♬ original sound - Lesbi_Honest_20 Another commenter agreed, adding: “Omg the third one just transcended.” In an interview with Today, Jocelyn revealed that her triplets’ reactions weren’t that uncommon compared what she’s witnessed before. “Juni is our biggest eater. He can eat and eat and eat. My wife was in the kitchen heating another bottle for him when I started recording,” she told the outlet. Jocelyn explained that the best way to describe baby Eden was exactly like how she acted in the TikTok: “Happy-go-lucky.” As for why baby Willow ended up falling asleep, the mother said it was because of how small she is compared to her siblings. “She’s our little peanut,” Jocelyn called Willow. “Five ounces for her is a lot.” However, she noted that Willow makes up for her small size with her outlandish personality, especially because she’s the oldest. “Willow came out first. She’s been giving side eye since the day she was born, and has to know what is going on with everyone. She’s our nosey Nancy,” Jocelyn told Today. “The NICU nurses used to joke that Willow was judging them!” The triplets’ differences don’t stop with their eating habits either, as Jocelyn mentioned that the babies vary with their sleeping habits too. She explained that Willow is her morning person, Eden is her night person, and Juniper isn’t either and is “somewhere in the middle.” “Eden is up until 2am and then she’s grumpy when she wakes up and won’t even look at you until after 11,” Jocelyn said. “It’s actually kind of funny. That girl is not a morning person.” The Independent has reached out to Jocelyn for comment. Read More Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Robert De Niro’s family: What to know about his seven children Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Robert De Niro’s family: What to know about his seven children Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third
2023-11-02 05:52
Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to ‘severe pain’ from pancreatic cancer
Maria Menounos has admitted that she felt like she was “exploding inside” due to severe pain from pancreatic cancer. Before the TV host was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2023, she recalled experiencing excruciating pain after she ate a farro salad while on a flight more than one year ago. At the time, she dismissed her alarming symptoms, according to Today. “It was like that kind of pain where you felt like you were going to explode inside,” she explained to the outlet. “I thought it was the farro. I thought that I must be getting really gluten intolerant and my stomach just was not handling this well.” Menuonos, 45, decided to go to the doctor after continuing to experience symptoms - such as bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain - but despite undergoing an endoscopy and colonoscopy, doctors couldn’t find the source of Menuonos’ problems. Not only that, but a CT scan also indicated that her pancreas and other organs were fine. After the host’s “severe” abdominal pains continued, she elected to get a full-body MRI. The scan revealed that she had a 3.9-centimeter tumour growing on her pancreas, leading to her being diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. “That’s why I keep saying to people: If the symptoms persist, so should you,” Menounos said. “You have to be your own advocate and you have to keep pushing. It’s exhausting, but your life really depends on it.” “You’ve got to listen to your bodies,” she added. “For me it’s: ‘Feel something, say something, do something, and keep doing the something until someone tells you what’s happening.’” In honour of the beginning of November’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Menounos took her advocacy to the next level by appearing in a public service announcement for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). According to the American Cancer Society, more than 62,000 people are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer, while more than 49,800 are reportedly estimated to die from the disease in 2023 alone. One year after diagnosis, the survival rate of patients is at a low 20 per cent, and less than 10 per cent will reportedly continue to live five years later. Pancreatic cancer symptoms often don’t reveal themselves until too late. In February of this year, Menuonos spoke to People about her cancer journey. She stressed that people should seek answers about their health issues, in order to catch problems that may turn out to be much more. “I need people to know there are places they can go to catch things early,” she told the outlet at the time. “You can’t let fear get in the way. I had that moment where I thought I was a goner - but I’m OK because I caught this early enough.” Menounos’ experience with pancreatic cancer wasn’t the only time the host had been diagnosed with a tumour. In 2017, she was diagnosed and treated for a benign brain tumour. The former E! News anchor and her husband, Keven Undergaro, welcomed their first child together via surrogate in June, just five months after Menounos’ pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Read More Robert De Niro’s family: What to know about his seven children Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage Robert De Niro’s family: What to know about his seven children Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage
2023-11-02 05:24
Robert De Niro’s family: What to know about his seven children and their mothers
Not only is Robert De Niro one of Hollywood’s most famous actors, but he’s also a father to seven children. The Killers of the Flower Moon star, 80, is currently facing a $12m lawsuit over accusations of “severe emotional distress and reputational harm” brought against him by his former assistant, Graham Chase Robinson. During a heated trial in New York federal court, De Niro admitted to “berating” Robinson and calling her a “f***ing spoiled brat”, before shouting “shame on you” at her inside the courtroom. Robinson worked as De Niro’s vice president of production and finance between 2008 and 2019, before she quit over reported clashes with his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen. The Taxi Driver star recently became a father of seven when he and Chen welcomed their daughter, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, in April. De Niro revealed the baby news in an interview with ET Canada, when he corrected a reporter who said he had six children. “Seven, actually,” he said. “I just had a baby.” Speaking to Page Six, De Niro maintained that the pregnancy was planned. “How could you not plan that kind of thing?” he said. As the $12m lawsuit filed by his former assistant puts De Niro’s personal life in the spotlight, much attention has been focused on his extensive family tree. Here’s what to know about De Niro’s seven children and their mothers. Drena De Niro In 1976, the Oscar winner married his first wife, Diahnne Abbott, after they met on the set of director Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. He adopted Abbott’s daughter, Drena, from a previous relationship. Drena was born in 1971, and took the actor’s last name when her mother and step-father were married. She became a model, but later followed in De Niro’s footsteps when she decided to pursue acting. Drena has appeared in several of her father’s films, including Showtime, Wag the Dog, City by the Sea, and The Intern. In 2003, she welcomed her son Leandro De Niro Rodriguez with her then-boyfriend, Carlos Mare. In July 2023, Drena announced that Leandro had died at age 19. She shared a picture of Leandro on Instagram with a caption paying tribute to his life. “My beautiful sweet angel,” she wrote. “I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy, my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.” She continued: “I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. “You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you,” Drena concluded the post. De Niro later issued a statement saying he was “deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo”. “We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo,” the statement continued. The New York City chief medical examiner’s office confirmed one month later that Leandro had died of an accidental drug overdose. Raphael De Niro Raphael is the second child of De Niro and Abbott. He was born on 9 November 1976, the same year his parents tied the knot. He strayed away from the family business and decided to pursue a career in real estate. According to his website, he is a broker at Douglas Elliman and launched the De Niro Team with the real estate firm in 2004. Some of his celebrity clients include Renee Zellweger and Kelly Ripa. He shares three children with his ex-wife, Claudine De Matos, who he married in 2008. They separated in 2015 and finalised their divorce in January 2020, per Page Six. He went on to marry stylist Hannah Carnes in March 2020. Julian and Aaron De Niro Following his divorce from Abbott in 1988, De Niro went on to date actor Toukie Smith. While the pair were never married, they welcomed twin sons Julian Henry and Aaron Kendrick in 1995. Julian also followed in his father’s footsteps, appearing in the 2016 film In Dubious Battle and portraying a young Barack Obama in the Showtime historical drama series, The First Lady. Elliot De Niro Perhaps De Niro’s longest relationship was with actor Grace Hightower, who he married in 1997. She gave birth to their first child together, a son named Elliot, in 1998. In March 2019, the Silver Linings Playbook star revealed his son had been diagnosed with autism. De Niro and Hightower soon became involved in a legal battle when he filed for divorce in 1999 and sued her for custody of their son in 2001. However, the two reunited and called off their divorce in 2004. The couple renewed their vows in November that year in upstate New York, surrounded by A-list celebrities like Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, and Ben Stiller. Helen Grace De Niro In December 2011, the former couple welcomed their second child, daughter Helen, via surrogate. De Niro and Hightower separated in November 2018 after more than 20 years together. Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro De Niro became a father of seven when he and girlfriend Tiffany Chen welcomed daughter Gia Virginia on 6 April 2023. In an interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, Chen revealed that she was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy after giving birth to their daughter. Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that temporarily paralyses one side of the face, causing it to appear droopy and lopsided. Speaking to The Guardian in October, De Niro revealed that Chen does most of the “heavy lifting” when raising their six-month-old daughter. When asked if fatherhood ever “gets easier” after being a parent for quite some time, De Niro admitted that it doesn’t but praised his partner for her support. “It doesn’t get easier,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s okay. I mean, I don’t do the heavy lifting. I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work. And we have help, which is so important.” De Niro also explained how his relationships with his older children are different from his younger children. “With a baby, it’s different to with my 11-year-old. My adult children. My grandchildren. It’s all different,” he said. “I don’t talk to the adult children the way I talk to my baby, or the way I speak to my 11-year-old, though she’s pretty smart.” Read More Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage Maria Menounos felt like she was ‘going to explode inside’ due to pancreatic cancer Mom explains how to raise your first baby like it’s your third Emilia Clarke feared being fired from Game of Thrones after brain haemorrhage
2023-11-02 05:18
MLB Rumors: Braves-Sonny Gray buzz, Cubs linked to ace, Astros poaching manager
In the latest MLB rumors roundup, the Houston Astros are linked to Craig Counsell, the Chicago Cubs are listed as a candidate for Aaron Nola, and Sonny Gray is a viable option for the Atlanta Braves.
2023-11-02 03:52