Coun. Elizabeth Peloza: Healing in the public eye

Elizabeth Peloza is sharing her healing journey in an ongoing series on CTV News at 6 p.m. and at CTVNewsLondon.ca

In January, London Coun. Elizabeth Peloza announced she had recently undergone surgery for breast cancer.

Following her first chemotherapy treatment, Peloza is sharing her healing journey in an ongoing series on CTV News at 6 p.m. and at CTVNewsLondon.ca

IN PHOTOS: Navigating Cancer, Work, and Life

On Friday March 6, Peloza invited a camera to film a visit to her family’s hairdresser at Candice B Artistry, as she decided to cut her shoulder-length hair very short in preparation for the coming weeks.

Viewers are invited to share feedback and questions at this email address, [e-mail], and CTV News will share the best with Peloza in a future interview.

A conversation with Coun. Peloza

CTV News- Why is this visit to your hairdresser different than previous visits?

Peloza - I’ve been blessed that Candice has been my family hair stylist for 14 years. She saw my kids grow up. She’s been the one to do their graduation pictures. She’s done my hair for inauguration pictures at City Hall.

This haircut really wasn’t a choice. It was a necessity. I know my hair is going to be gone in a couple of weeks. I’ve been reading about when to cut it, how to cut it, when to shave it.

I know a lot of people don’t feel the hair loss, the tingling in the scalp like you left hair dye on for too long, until after their second chemotherapy treatment. But mine has already started feeling irritated, so I’m just trying to be proactive. Emotionally, I’d rather wake up to a couple inches of hair on my pillow versus an entire handful. I’m just trying to do it now by choice versus waking up in sadness in a pile of hair.

CTV News - Some people go through chemotherapy privately. Why are you choosing to be more open about it?

Peloza - I hope that people are proactive and get their testing done. Book your mammograms. Since the last news coverage, a lot of people are reaching out. They’ve never had one done. They’re afraid to have one done. They’re afraid to find out what it might mean, what the results might be, but it’s more scary not to have a chance to fight because you waited too long. I’m hoping that we can destigmatize what it is to have cancer. What it is to go through chemo, trying to find those good days.

CTV News - This is happening on International Women’s Day. You said this has made you think about the intersection of hair and femininity. Tell me about that.

Peloza - Yes, it’s interesting that so many men are bald. They’ve shaved it [or] they’ve gone bald, and it’s like, oh, he’s still handsome. But that same beauty standard doesn’t really seem to extend to women.

What Candice does [with my hair], I would probably never have picked, but [I’m] still excited to see what it looks like . And it’ll grow back. It’s still just hair, but absolutely. So many people identify with hair as a part of their identity.

CTV News- What feedback have you received from the public since you announced that you had surgery for breast cancer?

Peloza - A lot of support, a lot of people scheduling some of those (mammogram) appointments, or at least contemplating scheduling those appointments. Some residents are really supportive. Some expect business as usual. They have issues and you’re their representative.

CTV News - How have you prepared for chemotherapy given your role as Ward 12 City Councillor and City of London Budget Chair?

Peloza - Really just making sure those relationships with staff are strong. Making sure they know where I’m at and when I’m handing things off to make sure they know why they’re helping take the lead on something, or responding to residents directly. As for residents, I still have two events coming up that are scheduled. My newsletter is coming out soon, so just making sure that residents know I’m still here, but in-person I’m going to look quite different in my engagement.

Sending more texts versus phone calls because I’m fighting some issues with my esophagus. It’s already hurting and I’m having some trouble swallowing. It’s just discomfort, but ice cream seems to have been helping that. Really, it’s still business as usual. Just business looks very different.