A YOUNG woman who shaved off her hair in tribute to a friend who died of cancer has told how she was subjected to "horrific" abuse for being bald.
Care home assistant Emma Easton, 21, said she had to suffer people stopping and staring at her, being taunted in the street, and even being accused of being a lesbian.
Ms Easton had her long brunette locks – which she had been growing since she was 12 – chopped off by top hairdresser Charlie Miller last year to show there was no shame in being bald, raising £2000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care in the process.
The care home assistant, from Deans in Livingston, was moved to take action after the death of her friend Karen from cancer at the age of just 25.
Ironically, Ms Easton first met Karen – who had lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatment – when she was teased in an Edinburgh pub for being bald.
Today, Ms Easton said her own experience after shaving off her hair had left her sickened.
"I put myself in the shoes of people who lost their hair because of an illness and it's a shame they have to go through this sort of intimidation. It's sick," she said.
"It was horrible and it got worse as time went on. Whole pubs and people in supermarkets would turn round and stare at me.
"I was called baldy and people even called me a lesbian. Girls in toilets in pubs said I shouldn't be able to use them because I was a lesbian. I just had to shrug it off but I was so angry at the time.
"There was no problem in Edinburgh, but in West Lothian it was a different story. I honestly believe people are really immature, especially in Livingston."
Ms Easton, who shaved her head on a further two occasions after the first time last August, has now let it grow back in. She added: "I was proud to stand up for Karen and be counted.
"I am totally outraged by the whole thing. Those who knew what I was doing said I looked beautiful and supported me all the way, but I think people who subject others to this abuse should be charged. It's discrimination."
Cancer charities today said they hoped Ms Easton's experience was not reflective of the problems faced by sufferers.
A spokeswoman for Macmillan Cancer Support said: "We are very sad to hear this girl has faced cruel and hurtful remarks.
"If you are affected by cancer, you may experience a number of physical changes which can include weight loss. Sometimes during cancer treatment, a patient can also lose some of their hair.
"This is not something a patient has a choice in, and it is often a harrowing time."
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www.macmillan.org.ukThe full article contains 477 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
