Stephanie ▶ LA

Stephanie | Louisiana
Age: 43
Diagnosis: Negative Breast Cancer, Stage 3 Grade 3b
Chemotherapy Regimen: Taxotere/Carboplatin, then Adriamycin Cytoxan 3 times
Total Treatments: 15 
Infusion Center: Ochsner Main Campus New Orleans 

Tell us about yourself.
Hi! I am Stephanie, a Relentless Pink Sister! I am 46, a wife, and a mother. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 years young. In 2020, my husband found a lump that I hadn’t noticed. I am so thankful he did! I proceeded to get a mammogram, an ultrasound, and even a needle biopsy between May and July 2020. At that time, it was not cancer. Then, suddenly, on January 19, 2021, it was cancer! It was invasive, in the lymph nodes, and diagnosed as stage 3 grade 3b aggressive, rare, and triple-negative. What a shock!

I immediately interviewed three oncologists to decide which was best for me. This is so important, ladies! Time is of the essence, but please do not go with the first choice without considering your options. I am beyond happy, over three years later, with my third choice!

We came up with a plan and a protocol. I chose more than one direction. I did the standard of care with sprinkles of holistic medicine, integrative medicine, functional medicine, mind-body practices, nutrition, hydration, and more. I went from a grim prognosis to cancer-free in 90 days! No evidence of disease, no trace. I was called an “outlier” by my medical team. Here’s the thing, ladies: we all can be.

How did you find out about DigniCap?
My oncologist.

“It wasn’t just about vanity—it was about maintaining a positive mindset, feeling empowered in the face of CANcer, and showing that There IS Life Beyond The Diagnosis.”

Did you have a successful experience using DigniCap?
DigniCap was one of the tools used to attempt to keep my hair, and it was a success! I underwent four different aggressive chemotherapies, and while I did lose a lot of hair, I did not have a single bald spot! I was so impressed. Additionally, my hair grew back quite quickly.

I am so thankful to my pink sister who, the night before I planned to shave my head because I had lost a bunch and it felt traumatic watching it fall out, shared her experience. She said she wished she hadn’t shaved because it was harder and took longer for her hair to come back. I decided not to shave, and I am forever grateful for her advice!

I followed the DigniCap instructions and was very delicate with my hair. I did not dye it or use a flat iron, and I used the suggested products. I did not find it super uncomfortable. It seems by far easier than some of the other methods I have seen. I loved that I could even sleep through it as an option.

Why was trying to keep your hair during chemotherapy important to you?
Keeping my hair during chemotherapy was important to me because it was a way to maintain a sense of normalcy and control during an incredibly challenging and uncertain time. Chemotherapy can make you feel like you’re losing so much—your health, your energy, and even parts of your identity. For me, my hair was a part of my identity that I wanted to hold onto. It symbolized more than just appearance; it was about feeling like myself, staying connected to my pre-diagnosis life, and showing up strong for my family and myself.

Additionally, I believed that if I could take measures to preserve my hair, it meant I was also protecting my overall health, which aligned with my holistic approach to healing. It wasn’t just about vanity—it was about maintaining a positive mindset, feeling empowered in the face of CANcer, and showing that There IS Life Beyond The Diagnosis.

How did keeping your hair affect you, and those around you?
Keeping my hair during chemotherapy, even though it was very thin and short, had a significant impact on myself and those around me. Although the hair loss was traumatic, I found comfort in the fact that I never had bald spots. I believe that losing some of my hair gradually this way, rather than having to shave my head or seeing bald patches, made the experience slightly less difficult for me.

What advice would you give to someone who is going through a similar experience, or who has recently been diagnosed and is considering scalp cooling?
I highly recommend DigniCap to everyone! If you are reading this you or your loved one must be a part of this club that no one wanted to join. I am sending you so much love and I want you to know, There IS Life, Beyond The Diagnosis.