UPDATE:

MACKAY, pat yourselves on the back!

After our story of Tanya Cavell hit the stands this morning Mackay residents have thrown their support behind the woman who is being bullied for having a bald head.

Twice Tanya has been approached by strangers and abused for being bald, after she lost her hair to chemo.

"The first lady told me she found my bald head offensive," Mrs Cavell said.

"I didn't think she was talking to me at first, but then she said it so loud everyone just looked at me.

"I was in shock."

Only a week ago, another man tapped her on the shoulder and continued to insult her, even after she explained she had stomach cancer.

After posting the story on the Daily Mercury's Facebook page it has reached over 17,000 people.

Cindy Hayes commented saying that she could see the beauty in Tanya's eyes.

"So glad the Mercury picked up this story. I hope someone knows who these two horrid humans are - I am guessing probably not they wouldn't advertise their disgusting behavior. Btw you are a very pretty lady, with or without hair. Can see the beauty within in your eyes too!!!" Cindy Hayes wrote.

Paula Lawrence said the people who hurled abuse should be ashamed.

"The people that abused her should be ashamed of themselves and I hope that they are reading this article," she said.

Kylie Rogash said she thought Tanya showed a lot of strength by speaking out.

"I think it takes an enormous amount of courage and strength to not try to hide but embrace it. Very inspirational don't waste your time on people who obviously don't have any strength or courage," Paula Lawrence said.

Tanya replied to the overwhelming response by saying she is 'loved by an ocean of people'.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart ... I just hope people think more or say less even ... It's scary but I'm loved by an ocean of people and I'm very lucky to have such loyal friends who have stuck by me," she said. 

EARLIER:

TANYA Cavell expected cancer to be cruel.

But nothing prepared her for the cruelty dealt out to her by some people in Mackay.

Twice she has been approached by strangers and abused for being bald, after she lost her hair to chemo.

"The first lady told me she found my bald head offensive," Mrs Cavell said.

"I didn't think she was talking to me at first, but then she said it so loud everyone just looked at me.

"I was in shock."

Only a week ago, another man tapped her on the shoulder and continued to insult her, even after she explained she had stomach cancer.

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"He said, "Do you know how stupid you look?'," she said. "I said 'Excuse me?' and explained I had lost my hair due to chemotherapy.

"I was expecting him to apologise but instead he said, 'Cancer doesn't give you the right to walk around like that. Put a hat on, you make me sick'."

Since then, Mrs Cavell has not left her house alone. "There's not enough awareness with chemo," she said.

"It's a really big thing for a girl to lose her hair. Mine was really long and black.

"Your hair is everything. You can put a kilo on, or 10, and hide it, because you always have your hair."

She wrote about the events online and said about eight people contacted her saying they had had similar experiences.

"I was the most outrageous, confident person. I would wear tutus and paint my face up for the footy," she said. "But now I feel like I don't fit in to the community anymore."

Through social media Mrs Cavell has received thousands of messages of support but she said she was scared to go out alone for fear of meeting someone else who would abuse her.

"I remember everything about the man (who abused her)," she said. "I can still smell his aftershave.

"(His abuse) it was so intimate and personal.

"This isn't what Mackay's about."

Tanya's Story - By the numbers

•  2: People who abused her for having a bald head
•  1268: People shared her story on Facebook
•  1: Times every week Tanya undergoes chemotherapy
•  2: Weeks after first chemo treatment her hair fell out
•  9: Months Tanya has to have off work
•  2093: New cases of stomach cancer in Australia in 2011