Sadly, the number of women diagnosed with cancer each year is showing little signs of slowing. These women are often faced with seriously distressing side effects during their treatment, some of which can affect not just how they feel on the inside, but how they appear on the outside too. Changes in looks and body image may be the least of your worries when you're battling cancer, but at a time when confidence and self-esteem can hit an all time low, most women find the physical side effects of cancer extremely difficult to come to terms with. Skin can look less than luminous, you might lose the locks you once deemed your best feature, and the brows and lengthy lashes that one time framed your eyes may find the stresses of such treatment too much to cope with as well. To look in the mirror and not recognise the face staring back at you can prove soul destroying, especially at a time when you need all the soul, positive thinking and self-confidence you can muster to fight.
Looking good
But this is where the Look Good…Feel Better campaign comes in; an organisation that helps women living with cancer in the most practical and positive way. LGFB is not a medical programme, instead it provides ladies with the tools and expert know-how on how to disguise the physical effects of the illness; a 12-step regime of skincare solutions and make-up magic – covering everything from cleansing to concealing – to make every woman who attends leave their workshop looking and feeling fabulous. The programme is highly valued not only by patients, but by health professionals who firmly believe in the 'feel good' factor – if you look good, you feel better.
I first heard of these workshops last year, and despite any initial apprehension at attending, I think it's fair to say that the St Thomas Hospital, Westminster workshop isn't the doom and gloom you might expect. As well as the inspirational factor, it's a day of fun, pampering and bonding over every woman's favourite girl-toys – make-up!
Boosting beauty and morale
Chris Simpson, a Make-up Artist for Dior, volunteered as a Look Good…Feel Better beautician almost two years ago. 'Whilst at a Dior seminar, one of the speakers asked if anyone was interested in getting involved and I put my name down straight away. I love the classes; they really are helpful. Some of these women haven't worn make-up in years and they tell me it's amazing the difference a bit of lippy or mascara can make to the way they feel.' He says, grinning. 'They often forget about their illness and just relax and enjoy an afternoon of pampering and fun. It's really great to see that despite everything, some of these ladies never stop smiling or joking.' And he's not kidding either. After the workshop ends, most of the ladies sit around chatting, even swapping beauty secrets and raving about their favourite products. It's the ultimate feel-good experience, with a spot of pampering thrown in to boot.
Penny, an especially gutsy Londoner who works in the head office of a major retail bank, said of her day, 'I'm going to stun the office when I go into work tomorrow! I've been working full-time since I was diagnosed last year and sometimes I've felt a bit dowdy to say the least – especially when I lost most of my hair. If you've got a full head of hair, you can often get away with your face not looking so great, but once the hair is gone, you feel so exposed.' Lorna, a fellow Londoner at the St Thomas session, agrees, 'I've started suffering with red threaded veins on my nose, and I swear everyone must mistake me for a heavy drinker! So it was invaluable to know that some clever little make-up tricks can cover it up.' 'Plus, an afternoon off of work is always good!' Penny adds, grinning.
Facts and figures
Look Good…Feel Better is the charity of the Cosmetics Industry. Members of the foundation support the charity by donating money, the expertise of the staff and over 90,000 beauty-boosting products every year. Each attendee receives a gorgeous gift bag of 17 make-up and skincare goodies from the UK's favourite and úber-desirable beauty brands, so they can continue to develop the skills they've learnt themselves at home.
Sarahjane Robertson has worked as Communication Manager for the Look Good…Feel Better campaign for over 5 years now, and says the charity has never looked better. 'Twelve years on, 65 companies now support LGFB and we're reaching over 5,500 women a year in the UK through free workshops in 41 hospitals nationwide. It's so rewarding to see the women leave with a smile on their face – to see them looking like the person they used to look like, and not just the person who happens to be a cancer patient. It might sound a little cheesy, but a Look Good…Feel Better workshop does exactly what it says on the tin.'
Get involved
So, the chance to relax, enjoy a day of truly indulgent pampering, chat, meet new people and make new friends. Sounds good eh? Why not go along and treat yourself to a much-needed and deserved afternoon of fun. Look good, feel better? No question.
If you'd like to find out more, visit the official LGFB website on www.lgfb.co.uk or call 01372 470900. Any trained beauticians wanting to get involved can also find information on the site.
