ABC’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts let cameras film her as she made the decision to shave her head on camera. Roberts, 40, began to lose her hair when she started chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer earlier this summer. She reported on ABC this week:
Emotionally, it was devastating and draining. And as so many who have traveled this path before me had encouraged, as hard as it was, I knew what I had to do. I shaved it all off.
You know everyone tells you to shave your head preemptively. To go ahead and do it before it starts falling out and I thought, no, not me, that’s not going to be me, because some chemotherapy patients don’t lose their hair.
But let me tell you, I’ve joined that choir. That’s a bit of advice I now preach, because when it starts to fall out, phew, that’s rough.
To wear a wig or not to wear a wig is a very personal decision for everyone who goes through this. This is my work, and I love my job, being part of your morning each day, but I never want to distract you from the story I’m reporting. [ READ MORE + VIEW VIDEO ]
I admire Robin for what she did. It shows her courage.
And even with a bald head, Robin is still georgeous!!! Go girl!!!
wow that touched me enough to want to comment. Very moving and emotional.
aww so sadd
Very touching and inspiring….I will certainly keep Robin in my prayers….
Courageous
Wow….She looks fab…I’m lovin’ the baldie on her.
Robin looks GORGEOUS with the bald head! I’m lovin’ it! Sometimes, we can be so vain about our looks, hair, etc… It’s not even really that big a deal. I might cut mine short.
I loved you, not your hair, I still support you, and always will
if i had enough hair i would do this , but i’m a weave queen myself
she looks cute bald. it is better to shave it now then go thru the horror of seeing it fall in the sink everday
Damn that’s tough, but still looks good though~
I admire her bravery and she looks nice without he hair. She is in my prayers.
I’m going to shave my head too. My hair is fallin out in droves.
My weave is attached to my thoughts.
She looks good bald. I don’t think I would go “scalp” bald. I am going low low low fade tho’.
Late winter, early spring. It’s too cold for that right now!
What a brave courageous woman!
She is a beautiful women regardless if she has hair or not!
Women, make sure you go for your annual checkups for EVERYTHING, and when I say “EVERYTHING”, I do mean EVERYTHING! Live Life Healthy and Long!
Oh yeah Men, please make sure to get checked also for EVERYTHING also!
personally I think this is all for ratings. I mean cmon, how many cancer stories have we saw already. i dont view her as a pioneer at all, I think she is now just doing what it takes to advance her career.
This is really sad. She’s extremely brave.
@15 Fly…
Um, I think Robin is probably more concerned with her health right now than worrying about ABC’s ratings. That was an awful thing to say.
good for her! My mother had lung cancer and lost her hair due to the chemo and she was like ‘I don’t want any wigs, hell, they know I got cancer!’ so she just rocked the bald head. Loved it!
She looks LOVELY bald!
Stay Strong!!!
God Bless you Robin! Stay positive and I will praying for you to make a full recovery.
15.
fly
Friday, November 16, 2007
personally I think this is all for ratings. I mean cmon, how many cancer stories have we saw already. i dont view her as a pioneer at all, I think she is now just doing what it takes to advance her career.
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WOW. I hope an oncologist is not in your future. That is a very dangerous thing to say.
With or without hair, she is still a beautiful black woman. My prayers are with her and family.
wow that was brave..she looks like a totally different person to me without hair, but i like how it shows off her high cheek bones….she’s still beautiful
#15, don’t judge her on HER actions and decisions. ur not in her shoes.
Why did you make this grown man cry in the middle of the day….
Robin Roberts, you are STILL beautiful…..Best Wishes & Long Life to you my sister.
For all my sisters going through the struggle, and you need someone to bond with, talk with & cry with,
Please contact:
The Sister’s Network – A National African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization
Here their website:
http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/default.asp
What a brave woman. I hope her treatment works. Hair or no hair, her strength and determination make her beautiful.
*singing *
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within
Very touching and inspiring story.
For all my sisters going through the struggle, and you need someone to bond with, talk with & cry with,
Please contact:
The Sister’s Network – A National African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization
Here their website:
http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/
Cancer Facts
In 2005, an estimated 19,240 new cases of breast cancer will occur in African American women. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. The incidence rate of breast cancer is about 17% lower in African American women than in Caucasian women; among younger African American women (under age 40), the incidence is higher than among Caucasian.
An estimated 5,640 deaths are anticipated from breast cancer in 2005. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among African American women, surpassed only by lung cancer.
African American Breast Cancer Statistics
An estimated 19,240 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women, and 5,640 of them are expected to die with the disease.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among this ethnic group, surpassed only by lung cancer.
The breast cancer death rate remains higher among African American women than white women despite a lower incidence rate.
African American women five-year survival rate of breast cancer is 74%, compared to white women of 88%.
Scientists are not sure why breast cancer affects African American women and white women differently.
The incidence of breast cancer among women under 45 is higher for African American women compared to white women, however, the risk of breast cancer for all women increases with age.
African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with larger tumors and more advanced stages of breast cancer despite a lower incidence rate.
http://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/
go head #27 lol…nah but much respect for Robin…it takes a lot of courage to go on national TV and do that…and she is rockin that haircut…
She’s such a brave sista! You can tell she’s a fighter. I love the bald picture of her she’s still pretty. I had no idea she was wearing a wig.
You are in my prayers Robin, you will make it through this and you are still beautiful!
@ Fly.
I knew some dumb ass was going to come in here with something negative to say. I’m gathering you’ve had cancer before, so its okay to say that when you had cancer you were putting other things such as your job before your physical and mental health. The hell.
She’s doing this for the RATINGS? This woman, who is going through a life threatening and life altering disease went on national T.V. shaved her head bald…for RATINGS? Women will see that show and it will encourage someone, it doesn’t have to be a nation of women, but if just ONE woman saw that and it encouraged her, then pioneer or not, Robin did some good in the world.
And your contribution to the world. Negativity. Good job.
You be Blessed.
@FLY…
…..JADE SAID IT ALL
Very courageous.She has my blessings.
That’s both a BRAVE and BEAUTIFUL thing to do. I don’t know too many sistahs that would take that step. We’re so attached to hair. It’s like our second selves. Good on her.
I have a right to voice my opinion. Who is dumb enough to believe that she was just like ” hmmm, let me show all the women out there that they can be courageous just like me! I want to show the world what I am going through.” This is a business people, all day long. Open your eyes. The HNIC’s I’m sure pushed her to do this.
Its not like we all dont know the effects of cancer, who wants to see it AGAIN on national television. Jeez, if she wants people to ” not be distracted” as she voiced in the audio/article, she wouldnt use this as a stepping stone,
She’s still beautiful!
Wow I comend her for that. I love Robin i watch her every morning. I hope everything works out for her. God Bless.
“distract”?! Is she lookin in the mirror?! She is BEAUTIFUL with the bald head; rock that shit!! Fuck whoever can’t handle it, I say. This damn country is too afraid of it’s own shadow as it is…
fly you are very ignorant do you really really believe that she give a fuck about ratings with this going on in her life you are a very very vain person to even consider something like that i will pray for you because you are a lost soul poor thing it must suck to be your miserable ass sad sad sad
#36 IS A FUCKIN HATER AT LEAST SHE DID IT NO ONE PUT A DAMN GUN TO HER HEAD AND MADE HER DO IT. ITS NEGATIVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO GIVE BLOG SITES BAD NAMES!
It’s really great that she is being as strong as she is AND staying so gorgeous after the shaving!!!
I am working as a community ambassador with Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Million Inch Chain. Together we are trying to gather 1 million inches of hair and turn them into wigs. We plan on providing these wigs free of charge to women affected by chemo related hair loss. For a lot of women that lose their to cancer treatment, it can be very extremely difficult to deal with. Our ultimate goal is to support these women in their difficult struggle by providing them with the confidence boost they may need.
I’m asking if any women out there could please help out by donating to this very worthy cause. You can either donate your hair, or pledge to donate your hair at a later time. If you would like more information please visit this website.
http://beautifullengths.com/en_US/requirements.jsp
I saw this clip last night…it was very touching. I admire Robin for her courage and upbeat attitude to get through this tough time. I know she has her days like any us would but she holds her head up high and she shared something so private on national TV. Gotta admire the courage to do that. You’re an inspiration Robin.
Beautiful with or without hair –
I understand totally, when the time came, I shaved my mother’s hair off. It was more emotional for me than her – because of what it meant. But she being the practical and spiritual person she was – said,”it’s just hair, if GOD wants me to have some more, it will grow back”.
robin i admire your courage and thank you for letting your mess be somebody else message very courageous and very inspiring black sister
Wow. I commend her for such an act. I really hope she gets through all of this.
#36 Fly said:
“The HNIC’s I’m sure pushed her to do this.”
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If your dumb ass has a job, sounds like the HNIC’s where you work should’ve pushed you off the building!
36.
fly
Its not like we all dont know the effects of cancer, who wants to see it AGAIN on national television….”
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I’d like to see it again. It reminds me that at 32 I need to drop the fear of getting a damn mamogram…and do it…you are such a dumb ass. Again I hope you never have to deal with Cancer and the fear that it evokes in everyone.
WOW!! all we can do is pray for her recovery
She is a very strong black woman and I do admire her strength
She’s beautiful with or without hair. I wish her the best. I’ve lost friends to cancer so I wish her nothing but the best always. God bless her.
Stay strong Robin but HEY SISTAH’S, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT LETTING THE WEAVE GO……DO IT! If you would like to go bald, that ok but if you would like to go natural with a low cut or a low fro, do that also. You all would be surprised at how many black men don’t require ‘long straight’ hair on black women. A lot of men do not require weave.
And for those concerned about not having the correct shaped head…..think about it for a moment. How often do you see women with natural or low cuts and it doesn’t look good on them because of the shape of their heads? There may be some but not many.
Robin is another example of a Black woman who is still beautiful WITHOUT having straight hair, let alone having it down her back. BLACK WOMEN, EMBRACE THE NATURAL LOOK ONCE AGAIN!
She’s beautiful without the hair too. Choose a good wig babe (not the one in the pic), ABC will demand it. Power to the People!!! Love you Robin!
that is sad. she still looks good.
wow!! she looks prettier without the hair. God bless…
Wow, that was very courageous of her.
She still looks pretty bald. I wish her the best in her fight.
Go ROBIN! You’re still beautiful….perhaps even more so.
is it jus me cause i think she looks wayyy better bald than with hair
SO BEAUTIFUL AND COURAGEOUS ROBIN ROBERTS. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
LADIES CHECK YOUR BREAST REGULARLY. BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO FEEL YOUR OWN BODY. DON’T BE AFRAID. IT IS YOUR OWN BODY AND YOU CAN GET THE UPPER HAND ON YOUR HEALTH. HEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITY IS OVERLOOKED IN THIS SOCIETY. JUST LOOK AT THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THE STUDIES ARE GEARED TOWARDS. WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN LIVES. IF YOU GET BREAST CANCER, THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT , AT LEAST CHECK YOUR BREAST IN THE SHOWER OR DURING YOUR BUBBLE BATH. LOOK AT IT AS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. LOVE YOURSELF, LOVE YOUR BODY, LOVE YOUR BREAST ENOUGH TO REALLY FEEL THEM. MEN DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS TIME FOR US TO LOVE ON THEM BY OURSELVES FOR OURSELVES. WE NEED TO STOP LOOKING AT THEM AS JUST SEXUAL THINGS AND FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO ENJOY. THEY JUST NEED A FEW EXTRA MINUTES OF LOVE AND ATTENTION FROM THE ONE PERSON THAT KNOWS THEM THE BEST AND THATS YOU.
She looks even more beautiful with her head shaved….it really suits her face
Im praying for you Robin
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