Cancer is an incredibly prevalent problem in the United States: an estimated one in five Americans will develop skin cancer, the most common form of the disease, over the course of their lives. Whatever type of cancer a person has, however, their sickness can typically be identified by a common sign: baldness. A side effect of many chemotherapy treatments, hair loss not only announces a patient’s condition to the world, but also makes many, especially women, feel unattractive. To restore this cultural sign of beauty and help themselves cope with the change, cancer patients have used everything from wigs, scarves, and hats to sparkly, stick-on decals. Now, a pre-med student is using henna to create intricate, temporary head coverings for patients in Orlando.
Henna is a plant that grows in tropical areas, particularly in Southeast Asia. For centuries, henna has been dried, crushed and made into a paste, which can be used to dye hair, fabrics and skin. Its most visible usage can usually be seen at Indian weddings and other celebrations, where it takes the form of intricate designs spread across the hands, arms and feet. The designs typically last two or three weeks, depending on their exposure to the elements.
Gradually, henna is growing more popular in the U.S., where it is often found at festivals and events. As a result, a few henna artists have begun drawing designs on the heads of cancer patients, called “henna crowns.” One nonprofit group in Canada, called Henna Heals, even connects henna artists with people who have lost their hair. Unfortunately, many healthcare providers in Florida have reportedly been hesitant to suggest or enable this service; henna artists have to touch the patients to create the designs, which could bring up liability issues.
This reluctance was initially problematic for henna artist Jeena Kar, 21. Now a senior pre-med student at the University of Florida currently majoring in religion, Kar began drawing with henna at a young age as a creative and meditative outlet. When a class assignment required her to combine her art with an aspect of healthcare, drawing henna crowns on cancer survivors seemed like a natural choice. However, many care providers she contacted declined her services, citing liability and safety issues. The latter reason was not entirely unfounded: synthetic or “black” henna contains a variety of chemicals that can damage a person’s health. As a result, many henna artists refuse to use it.
After several rejections, Kar reached out to a family friend, Dr. Sarah Katta. Like Kar, Katta is Indian-American and was therefore familiar with henna. Moreover, as an oncologist at the Southwest Cancer Center in Orlando, she had spoken to many women who were concerned about losing their hair during chemotherapy. Because of this, she decided to allow Kar to offer free henna drawings for patients’ heads and hands.
Since that decision, Kar has been to Katta’s practice twice to draw henna crowns. She says she has noticed a beneficial change in many survivors’ self-esteem, which she attributes to the personal, one-on-one experience. For her part, Katta has stated that she hopes more physicians in the future will be open to letting patients express themselves through this service.
