WIGGED OUT By Tina Herold, Overland Park, Kansas A tear rolled down my face as I looked around the wig shop. Was this really happening? Was I having a bad dream? The woman working in the shop was cold and indifferent to my presence. How could she be indifferent when all I wanted to do was scream until I woke up from this nightmare? The reality was that this was no dream, and I needed help buying a wig. I was going to be bald in just a few weeks. BALD!!! The thought was just too much. I was 34 years old and had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This really couldn't be my life. I had no family history and no risk factors for cancer. The woman was not helping me and I knew nothing about wigs. What should I be looking for? Could it and would it look real? Would it stay on my head? Would I look like there was an animal pelt on my head? I needed help! My husband Scott and children were with me, and my husband encouraged me to try on a few. He was so positive and supportive. I tried three wigs and none of them looked authentic or felt like me. I began to cry. We left and still crying, I got into the car. I told my husband I couldn't do any of this. "I won't do the chemotherapy," I informed him. We had another wig shop to visit and Scott assured me the next one would be better. We would figure this out. I didn't even do self-breast exams because I was falsely under the impression that you had to have a family history of breast cancer to be at risk. I also believed in the myth that young women don't get breast cancer. Well, young women can and do get breast cancer! I was one of them. I had always prided myself on eating healthy, not smoking or drinking and watching my weight. Yet here I was, with CANCER! Cancer happened to other people, not me...please not me. The next wig shop I visited was worse. The woman didn't even get off of her chair when I asked if she had some wig books or color samples. I felt as though I couldn't breathe. This isn't nice, but I couldn't help but think, "Would this woman be so heartless if this was happening to her, her mother, her sister or best friend?" Could she not see the great fear on my face? Could she not see a mother just wanting to live to see her children grown? Why didn't cancer survivors own these wig shops? I was diagnosed Oct. 4, 2006 and I am quickly approaching three years out from my diagnosis. I am doing great and I actually believe that breast cancer is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I am a better wife, mother, daughter and friend. I have a heart for anyone going through difficulties in his or her life. I believe I am now who I was supposed to be all along. I laugh with such joy, I look at my family with intense love, and I value every single moment. Life's other little curve balls do not even faze me. As the saying goes, I have decided to make lemonade out of my lemons. I am opening my own wig shop. I don't want any woman going through a similar experience as I did when looking for a wig (We did finally have success at the third wig shop.) I want women to walk into my shop and see pictures of me on the wall bald, with my bandanas, and with my wigs. I want others to know I have been right where they are. I want them to walk out feeling beautiful and confident. I want to empower other women to fight their cancer and win -- while looking stunning in a great wig!