“The Real Housewives of Miami” star Guerdy Abraira, 45, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March 2023 after a routine mammogram.
As she continues her treatment, she’s going through the emotional phase of hair loss. However, the mother of two isn’t letting it bring down her spirits. She’s finding levity amid hair loss by linking herself to a “bald Barbie” in a recent social media post.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after beginning chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. Fortunately, your hair usually regrows after treatment concludes.
If losing your hair is a concern for you ahead of cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
“Real Housewives of Miami” star Guerdy Abraira, 45, isn’t letting the ups and downs of cancer treatment take away her sense of humor and positivity. The reality TV personality and mother of two shared a recent social media post boasting a bright smile and a shaved head alongside her supportive husband Russell. Among the series of photos includes a Barbie doll donning a shaved head.
Abraira shared the photo of the doll juxtaposed with herself with a similar look sporting blue pants and a blue top with white lettering.
“Late Sunday post with my Boo! Swipe to 3rd picture for a laugh #barbie #baldbarbie,” Abraira captioned the post.
It’s heartwarming to see the resilient “Housewives” star finding joy amid her cancer journey and that is an admirable trait for her to have.
Abraira is known for being “outspoken and energetic” on the popular reality TV show according to Bravo TV. She had a successful career as an event planner before joining the show. She learned of her breast cancer while vacationing in St. Barts in the Caribbean this past Spring. Her doctor phoned her to tell her mammogram revealed she had breast cancer.
Guerdy Abraira and her husband amid her breast cancer journey. (Photo: Instagram/guerdydesign)
“I am lucky that this breast cancer was discovered at an early stage. it is still scary of course, but I have love and support from those around me and that alone is the fuel that I need,” she previously wrote in an Instagram post.
“Early-stage breast cancer means that there’s a small tumor in the breast, that there are no lymph nodes affected,” Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explained to SurvivorNet.
Abraira has since undergone surgery, but it’s unclear which kind of surgery she had at this time. Her hair loss is likely the result of chemotherapy which is a common phase for treating breast cancer. This is also often one of the most emotional phases during a cancer journey.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after beginning chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
WATCH: Hair loss during chemotherapy.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells, but also hair cells.
Radiation is another treatment that can lead to hair loss if the hair is in the path of the tumor being treated. Radiation for a brain tumor, for example, may cause hair loss on the head.
If losing your hair is a concern for you ahead of cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and more.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re going through cancer treatment and experiencing hair loss, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:
Are there any treatments to help manage or minimize my hair loss?
What are scalp-cooling devices and how do they work?
Do you recommend scalp-cooling devices?
What other options are available to help me cope with hair loss?
Can you recommend a wig maker?
I’m struggling mentally with my hair loss, can you recommend a therapist to talk to?
How can I find a local support group with people going through similar things?
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
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