Patient solidarity

Elizabeth Brown | Senior Communications Advisor

Dr Anna Elinder-Camburn can relate to her patients on a whole new level after having her head shaved to raise money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.

The Auckland haematologist, who works at North Shore Hospital, cares for patients with blood and bone marrow cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma.

As a result, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ’s Shave for a Cure fundraiser is very close to her heart.

“Working as a haematologist, I am reminded on a daily basis of the ongoing need for further developments in the field for those who are less fortunate, and I also want to help make sure people with cancer get the support they need,” she says.

There were also personal reasons.

“Ten years ago, the son of my cousin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). He is now in remission, and I am forever grateful for the research and scientific discoveries that enabled his cure. I have worked as a haematologist for over ten years and have seen the good, the bad and the very sad, along with the success stories. My work is an absolute privilege and it felt like the time was right to give something back.”

Anna’s 18-year-old daughter Matilda took the plunge as well, and together they have raised a whopping $10,000.

To make the whole experience even more poignant, Anna had her head shaved by one of her former patients, David Downs, who wrote the book A Touch of Cancer.

With David wielding the clippers, Anna made sure her own hairdresser was on hand.

“I have to confess I had spoken to my hairdresser about doing this for some time, and when David asked if he could shave my hair, I did say I also wanted my hairdresser on site.”

Positive reaction

Anna says the reaction to her new look has been overwhelmingly positive from both patients and colleagues.

“I have been told I’m brave, and colleagues have thanked me for raising both money and awareness.”

“I’ve had patients email me and have also had patients in clinic saying, ‘Doc, that was awesome.’ It has led to some conversations with patients becoming slightly lighter and it has been quite a good icebreaker.”

“I’ve had patients email me and have also had patients in clinic saying, ‘Doc, that was awesome.’”

Anna admits looking in the mirror and seeing the contrast was initially quite confronting, but she has absolutely no regrets.

“I didn’t get a number zero, so still had some ‘scalp cover’, and I acknowledge that it is much tougher for patients who lose their hair to chemo as they lose all hair, including their eyebrows. They also can’t grow their hair back until they finish treatment, so I feel I did a ‘shave light’.”

As a bonus, Anna was pleased that Matilda’s hair, which was long and had never been coloured, was able to be donated to make wigs.

Matilda and Anna before Matilda and Anna after