Trisha Goddard Slashes Her Hair

Losing your hair due to cancer treatment can be one of its most emotionally devastating side-effects. But chat show host Trisha Goddard has bravely cut off her trademark glossy bob in exchange for a blonde crop because she doesn't want to 'look like a victim'.

The mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer in March following a routine mammogram.

She told Hello! magazine: "When I learned that I was going to need chemotherapy following my surgery for breast cancer, I had to consider the prospect of losing my hair – something which really scared me."

"As a woman, my hair really helps me feel feminine. I am going to wear a cold cap during my treatment – something which stretches over your head and freezes the hair follicles, hopefully protecting them."

"But that works better with short hair, so I knew that my usual hair extensions would have to be taken out and a shorter style would help. Also, if my hair does end up falling out, I don’t want to look like a victim."

"So I decided to have a short crop for both practical and emotional reasons. Then, as I was talking to my husband Peter [Gianfrancesco] about it, he said ‘Why don’t you go the whole hog and have it bleached.’ As soon as he suggested it, I thought ‘Yes!’ It is like wearing my hair with pride and actually taking control."

"The thought of losing my hair through the chemotherapy is so scary – but this is my own way of sticking two fingers up at the situation I find myself in."

The TV presenter said the process of cutting her hair was traumatic.

She said: 'It was actually quite shocking and emotionally draining. This wasn’t like having a fun new style – it was pushed upon me by events which are out of my control.

I deliberately didn’t have a mirror in the room, so I didn’t have to sit and watch it all come off. I had to have several glasses of champagne to help me through it .'

She added: 'I only looked when my hair stylist had finished bleaching it blonde – and I was shocked. It was like staring at someone else’s face, one that I didn’t recognise.

'If I do look in the mirror, it is like an intruder staring back – a stranger that I don’t recognise.

Read more in Hello! magazine- out now