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73 higher than for white women, even though black women are less likely to get breast cancer.) This new study will look at the patient’s social environment, delay in seeking treatment, and type of treatment. Today a young woman came to my house and interviewed me. I was disappointed that all the questions were fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, or true/false. What about my unique story? Oh, I guess that’s what my own writing is for. The questions centered on my diagnosis , medical treatment, confidence in my doctors, my emotional support, the safety and resources of my neighborhood, my civic involvement . It took about an hour and a half and I got $100 in cash. Today I received a postcard from the district police office. It said that on March 30, my car was observed with personal property clearly visible. In an effort to reduce theft . . . , we are asking that in the future, please secure personal property out of sight. That must have been the night I left my cell phone on the front seat. I think this message is odd, and sweet. The postcard mentioned nothing about my breast cancer. APRIL 10. HAIR IS A WOMAN’S CROWNING GLORY I am still with hair. Lora the Chemo Nurse said I would begin to shed on Day 16. Today is Day 15. I’ve heard your scalp starts tingling before the hair falls out. Is it tingling? Is it? I’m apprehensive about losing my hair, afraid I’ll look terrible but still so curious. Excited, even. Amazed that this thing could happen that has never happened to me before. (I suppose you could say the same thing about death. I don’t think I’d feel the same way about death, though.) I took a bath today and lost a lot of pubic hair. It collected in the hair trap in the drain. It looked like a swarm of ants. APRIL 11. I LEFT MY HAIR AT SECOND CITY I went to Second City tonight with a friend from L.A. and her beau. Throughout the performance I was combing my hair with my fingers and coming out with strands. I formed them into a ball about the size of a jacks ball. We were sitting on the last rows so I don’t think I was ...

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