Wolverhampton Mum creates children’s book to help kids understand cancer hair loss
Inspired by her own lymphoma journey, Shannon Frost turns her experience into a story to guide families through treatment and change
A new children’s book, inspired by a Wolverhampton mother’s journey through lymphoma treatment, is now being used by hospitals and libraries to help families navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Shannon Frost, together with her father Steve Blanks, aunt Anna Blanks de Velazquez, and cousin Jess Blanks de Velazquez, created the book to address the sensitive topic of hair loss during cancer treatment. Now in remission, Shannon hopes the story will provide parents with a gentle way to explain to their children how a loved one’s appearance may change during treatment.
Titled My Mum’s a Chameleon, the book draws from Shannon’s experience of losing her hair while undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. Since its launch in September, the book has been incorporated into support programs at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Shannon has shared her experience:
“I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the summer of 2024, shortly after my wedding.
“I had six rounds of chemotherapy, and hair loss was one of the main side effects. While it didn’t bother me, my four-year-old daughter struggled with my bald head. That was the hardest part for her.
I decided to try wigs in different colours and styles. When she grew comfortable, she even told her friends, and they loved the bright red one—I looked like The Little Mermaid! That inspired the book, as a way to share love and support through our family experience.”
Shannon has visited local libraries and schools to read the story, helping to introduce its message to a wider audience. For every copy sold, £5 is donated to Lymphoma Action, a UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by this blood cancer.
Shannon said that it helped her own daughter understand the treatment process better and she hopes it will help many more families going through similar experiences.
"It's important to help young children understand that people are going to look different and that doesn't need to be viewed negatively."
"It opens up conversations and allows children to feel like they can question it."
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