The face of Rocío, a Long Beach resident, was transformed with every detail that the makeup artist added to her face. And then came the wig, a moment she was looking forward to. When she put it on, the shine returned to the eyes of this 38-year-old woman, who is currently fighting breast cancer.

“It may sound corny, but I feel like a bald eagle,” said Rocío, alluding to a myth according to which eagles are reborn at age 40 or remove their feathers and grow them back. “I am in my renewal process: taking off my beak, taking off my feathers, a process in which I am reborn again, in which I become myself again, thanks to these wonderful people.”

She is one of the participants in the annual event at the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in City of Hope, in Orange County, titled “Beauty in Hope,” in which ten cancer patients enjoyed a makeup session, the application of wigs and a haircut, with the goal of helping them regain confidence and dignity during their cancer treatments.

“We understand that there is a before and after after hearing those words, ‘you have cancer,’ the disease process is challenging and it is not just a physical aspect, but also a mental and emotional one,” said Annette Walker, the president of City of Hope in Orange County. “Therefore, we will do everything in our power so that our patients are better prepared to face that battle.”

City of Hope is a leading international cancer research and specialty care institution, known for driving advances in therapies, having a national network of hundreds of clinical trials, offering unique supportive care and follow-up care programs for survivors, and having renowned experts in all oncology subspecialties.

Rocío, who I prefer not to share her last name, is originally from Ensenada, Baja California, and says she was diagnosed with aggressive cancer in her left breast in November of last year. Like many people her age, she has always been very active and says that when her chest started hurting, she didn't think much about it.

“I thought it was just an inflammation due to my period and because I had taken a contraceptive, so I let it go until I went to the doctor,” said Rocío while they cut her wig to her liking. "I never in my life thought this would happen to me. My life changed overnight."

Rocío shared that she is not the only one in her family diagnosed with breast cancer. He said his grandmother, now in her 80s, also had to deal with cancer twice.

“They removed her breast and then at 10 years old, the cancer returned and they removed the other breast, and she is still here with us,” Rocío reflects. "I have a very strong example of life; so I say: if she could, I can too."

According to a study conducted by the hospital, one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, and the cancer incidence rate in the United States continues to increase for many common cancers, especially among women.

​​According to the American Cancer Society, the most common types of cancer among the Hispanic population are prostate and colorectal cancer in men, and breast and uterine corpus cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women (13%) in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives.

And although advances in screening and treatment have reduced the overall risk of death, the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer continues to rise. But for many like Rocío, hospitals like this one have given them hope that she too will survive it thanks to how well they have treated her.

“I tell my loved ones and God: I, even if it's crawling on all fours, whatever, but I'm going to go to my treatments,” Rocío said with strength in her voice. “Faith and the will to live are the main thing to survive this.”

Rocío says that the support she has received at the new City of Hope hospital has gone beyond her treatments. She says that that day of the event they gave her something she missed: seeing herself with her hair again and not feeling like there was a stranger in her reflection.

The new addition to the City of Hope hospital, where the event was held, completes the offering of advanced cancer care now available to Orange County residents, who will no longer have to travel outside the region to receive life-saving care. Like Maura Quiroz, 52, an Anaheim resident, who was at Marybelle's Boutique, which offers free services to women with cancer, such as wigs, makeup and more, inside the hospital. According to Walker, the event and services have been made possible by an anonymous donation they receive each year.

A special act, since the costs for wigs for patients can be high without this service. A quick internet search shows that wigs range from $100 to over $2,000, as medical wigs, like these, are often different from regular ones. They are designed specifically for sensitive scalps and feature soft, breathable and hypoallergenic linings.

That day Quiroz chose a wig that looked as close as possible to her natural hair, she said. Choosing a short but very elegant cut.

“Yes, it makes a difference, right?” Quiroz smiles when he sees himself with the wig. "After seeing myself bald for so long, now, being able to see myself with a new look, it makes me feel happy, it helps raise our optimism and self-esteem, and it makes me want to give it my all."

Quiroz was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and, unlike Rocío, she has had to go through her treatments alone, since her children do not live nearby; one lives in Idaho and two in Mexico. The last few months, she says she has not only been taking her chemotherapy treatment, but has also continued working as a packer.

He says he just finished his chemotherapy and is in the process of starting his radiation.

"This disease is very difficult to cope with. Sometimes, when you are alone, we get sad, but we have to keep moving forward," said Quiroz. "But since they transferred me here, to this hospital, I fell into very good hands; I am very grateful to them; they make me feel like family and I don't feel alone."

When they finished doing her makeup and she walked through the hospital corridors until they reached the reception, where they enjoyed a snack and tea, the nurses who usually care for her were surprised to see her completely renewed.

“You look incredible!” one of them said to Quiroz.

Rocío and Quiroz's fight against cancer is far from over, but they stated that this event allowed them not only to feel normal and beautiful, but also gave them the strength to not give up.

Rocío added that, although it was difficult for her to accept her diagnosis, sharing her story allows her to inform other people about breast cancer.

"It's all in the head; I tell God: if it's in him, let my sin be saved; well, if he says no so I can live, I will accept it," said Rocío. “My life is changing, but today I feel good, and it is a reminder that there is still life to live.”