I am sure I have talked about the LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER program for women in cancer treatment but it warrants me bringing to the forefront again. You will find me canvasing the female patients on a daily basis and talking about support groups and the importance of sharing what you are going through in your life, be it a best friend or a stranger and I have found that often it is easier to be more candid with a stranger about all those thoughts running through your mind. I had a patient just the other day that said she just can't get used to the new normal and that each new symptom gets a thorough check out from the doctor. My feelings although it puts you in a panic, at least we are ahead of the game by being so pro-active. Often I can see how a person is feeling when they enter the building just by how they look: their expression on their face, if they have makeup on, and what they are wearing. This brings me to the Look Good Feel Better Program that is brought to you through The American Cancer society that is a non-medical public service program and is held here at the institute, once a month. I often tell women that this is the most fun appointment you could have and although it takes two hours, it is free and you will go away feeling better than you walked in. This program teaches you how to use beauty techniques to help manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment. You will learn how to put eyebrows on, what cosmetic to use to make you look less tired and you even get a special make up kit just for you. There will also be talk about how to pick a wig and take care of it and how to wear scarves and hats. Often we find women just laughing and enjoying the whole pampering experience and learning to use make up they never used in their lives. Most of these patients make a special after the class to stop and show off their make up somewhere along the way home, be it Wal-Mart or going out to eat. The smiles are contagious and to see the faces as they leave from the class is amazing. You do have to pre-register so that we can have a kit available and w
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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