{"id":94959,"date":"2026-10-26T18:11:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=94959"},"modified":"2026-10-26T18:11:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:11:00","slug":"women-find-strength-support-as-they-navigate-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/women-find-strength-support-as-they-navigate-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Along with free wigs and makeup sessions, women fighting cancer find strength and support with services in both Spanish and English"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Gladyz
Gladyz Garcia lost her hair when she went through treatments for breast cancer. At an event for cancer survivors at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital called Nadie Lucha Sola event, Gladyz received a free wig and loved her session with a professional makeup artist. Photo by Michael Ciaglo, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marta Vasquez was devastated when she lost her hair during treatments for cancer.<\/p>\n

But on a recent Saturday morning, Marta, 61, happily covered her bald head with a bonnet as she left her home in Fort Lupton, Colorado and drove to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> in Aurora.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the same place where Marta had to endure five rounds of chemotherapy to fight her cancer after doctors discovered it in July.<\/p>\n

On this visit to the hospital, however, rather than going through a chemotherapy treatment, Marta enjoyed some pampering and received a free wig that would make her feel like herself again.<\/p>\n

Accompanied by her two daughters, Marta got to attend a free event for cancer survivors. A nonprofit called Nadie Lucha Sola<\/a>, which means \u201cNo One Fights Alone,\u201d hosted the event on Oct. 10 in an auditorium at University of Colorado Hospital.<\/p>\n

Along with wigs, volunteers and staff members provided sessions with professional hair and makeup artists and resources in both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n

During the event, Marta selected a perfect wig: one in a natural brown color, just like the hair she had lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels so good to see myself with hair again,\u201d Marta said, visibly moved. \u201cI cover my head not because I\u2019m ashamed of being bald, but because I want to avoid other people\u2019s stares.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marta learned she had angiosarcoma<\/a> \u2014 a rare cancer of the blood vessels \u2014 seven months after she began experiencing symptoms. Her symptoms included itching, swelling and discharge around her left eardrum, along with purplish discoloration of the skin in the affected area. This type of cancer most commonly affects the skin.<\/p>\n

Marta has three adult children: two daughters and a son. Along with spending time with her daughters during the Nadie Lucha Sola event, she also enjoyed connecting with other cancer survivors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt supported by so many people I didn\u2019t even know. I used to never leave my house, but now I feel supported, and I feel happy,\u201d Marta said. The support of her husband, daughter-in-law and children has been essential to her throughout this journey.<\/p>\n

\"Marta
Marta Vasquez lost her hair over the summer while she had chemotherapy for a rare type of cancer called angiosarcoma. At the Nadie Lucha Sola event on Oct. 10, Marta picked out a free wig that matched the brown hair she lost. Both the wig and a makeup session helped Marta feel like herself again. Photo by Michael Ciaglo, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Community volunteers supporting cancer patients<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Community volunteers, partners and UCHealth\u2019s medical interpreters were thrilled to support cancer survivors at the event.

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Community partners supporting women going through cancer treatment<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Leaders at Nadie Lucha Sola<\/a> teamed up with UCHealth to host the free event on Oct. 10 at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> in Aurora, Colorado. At the event, participants accessed:<\/p>\n