Lisa Steinhauser’s hair was her craft and her artistry. So when a routine mammogram in December 2021 led to a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, and chemotherapy began taking her hair in handfuls, it felt like losing part of who she was. Instead of waiting it out, she had her grandchildren shave off what remained, and she decided the disease would not define her.
Today, Steinhauser is clear of cancer, with no evidence of disease. Her message for anyone in treatment is steady and simple: keep fighting, and hold onto hope. Her experience resonates with Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician who shaved her own head during cancer treatment and says she identifies with Steinhauser’s journey.
Stories like this land differently here on the Suncoast, where so many neighbors and snowbird families are touched by cancer. Hair loss is one of the most visible side effects of chemotherapy, and Steinhauser’s choice to take control of that moment, surrounded by family, is the kind of resilience that spreads. Have you or someone you love faced hair loss during treatment? How did you cope? Share your story with us.
