Local Doctor to Donate Hair to Locks of Love
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Durecki said since December his hair has grown to about 6 inches. His goal is to grow his hair to 10 inches before donating it to Locks Of Love.
Locks Of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
Durecki, 56, who has been employed as a gynecologist and obstetrician at Warsaw Women’s Center for the past 12 years, began growing out his hair in December.
Durecki was inspired by his patient, Dee Hyde, who battled breast cancer, to grow his hair out.
Durecki diagnosed Hyde, 41, Warsaw, as having breast cancer when she received a mammogram at Warsaw Women’s Center in December when she was 40. She has been cancer free since July.
She had a double mastectomy in February and six rounds of chemotherapy that started in March. She still receives chemotherapy treatments every three weeks at the Goshen Cancer Center that she will receive until March.
“At this point I am clear of breast cancer and have been since July,” Hyde said.
Hyde is a treatment coordinator for Orthodontic Specialty Services. She has two sons, Conner, 10, and Reid, 6, and is married to Brian.
Hyde said she went to Warsaw Women’s Center, where she has been a patient for the past eight years, to receive a routine annual exam in December.
She turned 40 Aug. 23 when she had a mammogram done. She was diagnosed with breast cancer then.
Durecki said growing out his hair and then having it cut off helps him relate to his patients.
“Donating my hair makes me think about the things Dee and a lot of my patients go through on a daily basis,” Durecki said.
Durecki said some of his patients have asked why he is growing out his hair. He said it has been an opportunity to share Hyde’s story with them and he also can promote the importance of women getting mammograms.
Hyde said she appreciates Durecki growing out his hair to bring attention to breast cancer awareness.
“When I found out he was doing this, it meant the world to me and I was very honored,” Hyde said.
Hyde said besides Durecki and his staff, her faith, family, co-workers and friends have been supportive of her battle with breast cancer.
Durecki stressed the importance of early detection of breast cancer by women getting their yearly mammogram.
He said age 40 is the recommended age to get a mammogram, and he also said it is important to do breast self examinations.
He hopes women will focus on their health, not only this month but every month.
“Women in general have to fight for their health and be proactive in making doctors visits, mammograms and breast self examinations and promote their own health,” Durecki said.
Durecki encouraged women to get mammograms for early detection of breast cancer and overall health.
People who visit Warsaw Women’s Center can purchase Hope cancer bracelets for $4 each made by MudLove this month.
Proceeds from the bracelets will help purchase mammograms through the Good Samaritan Fund for those in Kosciusko County who cannot purchase them themselves.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.[[In-content Ad]]
Durecki said since December his hair has grown to about 6 inches. His goal is to grow his hair to 10 inches before donating it to Locks Of Love.
Locks Of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
Durecki, 56, who has been employed as a gynecologist and obstetrician at Warsaw Women’s Center for the past 12 years, began growing out his hair in December.
Durecki was inspired by his patient, Dee Hyde, who battled breast cancer, to grow his hair out.
Durecki diagnosed Hyde, 41, Warsaw, as having breast cancer when she received a mammogram at Warsaw Women’s Center in December when she was 40. She has been cancer free since July.
She had a double mastectomy in February and six rounds of chemotherapy that started in March. She still receives chemotherapy treatments every three weeks at the Goshen Cancer Center that she will receive until March.
“At this point I am clear of breast cancer and have been since July,” Hyde said.
Hyde is a treatment coordinator for Orthodontic Specialty Services. She has two sons, Conner, 10, and Reid, 6, and is married to Brian.
Hyde said she went to Warsaw Women’s Center, where she has been a patient for the past eight years, to receive a routine annual exam in December.
She turned 40 Aug. 23 when she had a mammogram done. She was diagnosed with breast cancer then.
Durecki said growing out his hair and then having it cut off helps him relate to his patients.
“Donating my hair makes me think about the things Dee and a lot of my patients go through on a daily basis,” Durecki said.
Durecki said some of his patients have asked why he is growing out his hair. He said it has been an opportunity to share Hyde’s story with them and he also can promote the importance of women getting mammograms.
Hyde said she appreciates Durecki growing out his hair to bring attention to breast cancer awareness.
“When I found out he was doing this, it meant the world to me and I was very honored,” Hyde said.
Hyde said besides Durecki and his staff, her faith, family, co-workers and friends have been supportive of her battle with breast cancer.
Durecki stressed the importance of early detection of breast cancer by women getting their yearly mammogram.
He said age 40 is the recommended age to get a mammogram, and he also said it is important to do breast self examinations.
He hopes women will focus on their health, not only this month but every month.
“Women in general have to fight for their health and be proactive in making doctors visits, mammograms and breast self examinations and promote their own health,” Durecki said.
Durecki encouraged women to get mammograms for early detection of breast cancer and overall health.
People who visit Warsaw Women’s Center can purchase Hope cancer bracelets for $4 each made by MudLove this month.
Proceeds from the bracelets will help purchase mammograms through the Good Samaritan Fund for those in Kosciusko County who cannot purchase them themselves.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.[[In-content Ad]]
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