Hairstyling, Music, and Love Fortify Boston Singer Through Cancer Treatment 

When Shirley Joseph met her future husband, Mike Joseph, on the set of one of her music videos in 2021, she had already proven herself as a tenacious entrepreneur. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the music industry to a halt a year prior and ended talks between Shirley and a major record label, she turned to cutting hair and styling locs. 

It’s a skill she developed as a girl while watching her mother’s stylist and practicing on her friends. Salons were closed, but Shirley made house calls, and word of her talents quickly spread throughout her community. The success revived an old dream from her high school days to own a salon. 

It wouldn’t become a reality until years later after she met Mike, who was acting in her music video. He gathered the courage to approach Shirley, who remembers being struck by Mike’s eyes. They were interested in each other but led busy lives and were an hour’s drive apart, so it didn’t seem that the relationship had much of a chance.  

Neither could have guessed that Mike would become Shirley’s business partner and her trusted caregiver as she underwent treatment for breast cancer at Dana-Farber.  

A fated partnership 

Their relationship didn’t really kick off until Mike and Shirley both happened to be on vacation in Miami, Florida at the same time. Their week by the beach sparked a seemingly fated romance that they brought back to Massachusetts. 

Shirley’s creativity and drive enraptured Mike, an advertising and marketing professional who writes spoken word poetry, acts, and models.  

“We complemented each other in a lot of ways,” he says.  

Their relationship flourished, and real plans for a salon called Locs by Us began to form. The couple found a space in Quincy, began remodeling it, hiring stylists, and getting the word out. 

Everything was set to open in early 2024 when all momentum came to a halt. 

For a while, Shirley had been experiencing discomfort and swelling in her breasts. Her surgeon initially suspected an infection from a prior breast reduction surgery, but when antibiotics didn’t work, they visited a couple of specialists.  

In January 2024, a biopsy revealed that Shirley had inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in which cancer cells block the lymph vessels of the skin of the breast, causing them to appear red or inflamed. The couple came to Dana-Farber’s specialized Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program for treatment and are being cared for by oncologist Leticia Varella, MD. 

The Institute was recommended by a close friend. From their first appointment, they knew they made the right choice. The compassion and generosity of their entire care team made them feel at home and would prove immensely helpful in the weeks to come. 

Moving through treatment together 

“Everything slowed down with the salon and my music,” Shirley recalls. “It was life-shattering.”  

She follows this up with a joke: “Interesting way to start the year.” It’s indicative of a philosophy the couple has: “We’ve realized during this journey that you really can’t have time for anything negative,” Mike explains. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t feel negative emotions. “If you’re sad, you’re sad,” Shirley says. “You can’t deny it. I allow myself to feel those emotions.”

But for Mike and Shirley, once you acknowledge it, it’s time to look at what’s next. 

In the Inflammatory Breast Cancer program — the only program of its kind in the Northeast —specialists work together to provide a tailored treatment plan that meets every patient’s unique needs. The faculty lead research efforts to better understand this rare cancer ensuring that the treatments they offer are cutting edge. 

Shirley has finished her chemotherapy and recently underwent a successful mastectomy in July. Throughout everything, Mike has been a steady presence, caring for Shirley at home, asking questions in the clinic, and napping in hospital chairs when he finds a moment. 

As someone who takes pride in her independence, Shirley isn’t one to ask for help. Mike has learned to be proactive in the ways he can help. “If the bed needs to be fixed up, don’t wait to do that,” he advises fellow caregivers. “Don’t wait to do the dishes or take the dog for a walk. Do it before they ask.” 

The couple found additional support at Dana-Farber through a resource specialist and social worker who have helped them navigate their care. 

Mike and Shirley have been brought closer by this journey. “With the diagnosis, we weren’t sure what was going to happen,” Mike says. “But we knew we wanted to be together. So, I proposed to her.” 

Although their wedding has been put on hold, the couple has taken to calling each other husband and wife. 

“I don’t know if I could have gone through this without him,” Shirley says. 

Looking forward 

Soon, Shirley will have to go through radiation and hormonal therapy. Despite the strenuous treatments, the couple continued to make arrangements to open Locs by Us and recorded music. To them, work and art offer an escape and hope for the future.  

After chemo and a mastectomy, Shirley and Mike celebrated the grand opening of Locs by Us. It was a bittersweet celebration. In the meantime, Shirley had started losing her hair because of the chemotherapy. Shaving her head was an emotional moment for Shirely, who had always taken pride in her hair. But she has since come to embrace it. 

“I know it’s temporary,” she says. “But I’m used to the no hair vibes now.” 

Locs by Us is open in a limited capacity. They have begun taking private scheduled appointments. Mike, who co-owns the shop, is managing its limited operations. 

“We’ve had to accept that we can’t put 100 percent into everything right now,” Shirley explains. “We’re recovering.” 

But there’s still much in store down the road. They are about to hire a third stylist to address the swell of demand they’ve received. A new music video is in planning stages, and Shirley recently performed the National Anthem at the Jimmy Fund Telethon.

“Do what you love,” Shirley says. “And everything else will fall in place.”