Look Good Feel Better

The American Cancer Society has some really good programs for women with breast cancer. In the past I mentioned that when I called them, they sent me a ton of literature, a beanie to keep my bald head warm, some fake boobs to keep me looking feminine, and a free wig.  One of the other programs they sponsored is the Look Good, Feel Better program.

LGFB is about teaching women who are going through chemotherapy to discover how beautiful they can be in the face of chemo.  The experience of going through chemotherapy is different for everyone. My doctor told me I would lose the hair on my head and that's all. He was wrong. I lost all the hair from my entire body, including my eyebrows and eyelashes.  That kind of hair loss is enough to scare the crap out of your family when you get out of bed in the morning.  I have dark brown eyes and having no eyelashes or eyebrows made my eyes look downright scary.  I was scared of me when I caught my refection in the morning. Can you imagine the surprise when people would come to the door before I put on a wig or makeup?

The LGFB program provided top quality makeup to cancer patients and a 2 hour course to teach them how to use it to enhance their features. The course also taught how to tie and wear scarves to cover sensitive bald heads.

I attended the LGFB course at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on Monday June 24th. In my free makeup bag sponsored by the American Cancer Society, I received the following:

• Estee Lauder liquid makeup
• Oil of Olay lotion
• Vitamin Cream vitamin E and SPF Moisturizer
• Ponds facial cleansing wipes
• Elizabeth Arden loose finishing powder
• Almay multicolor blush
• Almay mascara
• Chanel lipstick
• Merle Norman lipliner and lipstick combo pencil
• NYC eyeliner
• It Cosmetics eyebrow pencil and brush
• OPI nail polish
• Neutrogena tinted lip balm

Why Chemo Patients Need To Wear Makeup

I have some before and after pictures. This should just about sum it up.

Me with no eyelashes or eyebrows before makeup

 

Me after learning how to draw on eyebrows and create the illusion of eyelashes

I am thankful to the LGFB program because when I took this course on June 24th, my eyebrows were already gone.  I was drawing them in to the best of my ability, but I always looked like I had one happy eyebrow and one mad eyebrow.  After I took the course and redid my makeup I went to the lunch room at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and got a tray of food. Three nurses came up to me while I was waiting in line and told me that I was absolutely beautiful. For no reason whatsoever. I wonder if they knew that I was visiting the hospital just to take this program? Either way, it was much appreciated, especially after seeing myself as the picture I showed you above that morning.