By Stephanie Holliday
BEING diagnosed with cancer comes with it a wealth of repercussions beyond our physical health. The unseen emotional and mental toll can seem like an avalanche, and many people find the person they see in the mirror at odds with who they were before their health battle began. One program aims to make the journey through cancer treatment a little less daunting.
Look Good Feel Better is a free, national community service program run by the Cancer Patients Foundation. The program has been developed to teach cancer patients practical strategies to manage the physical, psychological, and social impacts of any type of treatment for any type of cancer.
More than 170,000 women, men and teens have participated nation-wide since the first workshop in Sydney in May 1990, meaning this year Look Good Feel Better turns 33.
The organisation facilitates workshops at GV Health, where participants receive a ‘Confidence Kit’, full of skincare and make-up products donated by the cosmetic industry.
Over approximately two hours, attendees watch a demonstration on a skincare routine to assist with side-effects like dryness and sun sensitivity; make-up tips to help correct and conceal redness, sallowness, pigmentation, and dark circles, as well as techniques for drawing on eyebrows and eyelashes, in addition to advice on headwear options, including scarf styling and wig selection.
Michelle Honey and her mother Pauline Baldi are both in the midst of cancer treatment. They attended the last local workshop together and found the experience to be invaluable.
“This has been a wonderful and informative morning. I learnt some tips I didn’t know, and mum and I connected with women facing similar battles to ours,” said Michelle.
“It’s true, when you look better, you really feel better. It has such a profound effect.”
Shepparton has four workshops per year which have been facilitated by Kim O’Keeffe for 20 years alongside Marcia Greig, Pat and Col, as well as other dedicated volunteers over the years. Kim and Marcia are stepping down from their roles with the organisation, and Look Good Feel Better welcomes new volunteers to register their interest.
To register for a workshop, request a home-delivered ‘Confidence Kit,’ or support the program through donations or volunteering, visit lgfb.org.au or phone 1800 650 960.
