The Cancer Care Center at Bradford Regional Medical Center has
initiated the “Look Good, Feel Better” program to raise self-esteem
for those undergoing chemotherapy.

The first supportive session, aimed at providing cosmetology
tips and assistance for cancer patients, was held Wednesday in the
new oncology department at BRMC.

“It’s not only makeup and hair, but sharing the emotional
experiences,” said social worker Terri Stauffer.

According to the program’s planners, it is the first group
session of its kind for the Bradford area. The goal is to make the
meetings a monthly happening, Stauffer explained.

The American Cancer Society is playing a big part in “Look Good,
Feel Better.” The National Cosmetology Association is also
involved, as well as the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance
Association.

“This program is where your donor dollars to the ACS go,” said
Marie Costello, community and volunteer involvement specialist at
ACS. She added that the service is free to patients.

The program is needed because “when you’re going through cancer,
you don’t look so hot,” Costello said. Dry skin and the loss of
hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are the norm for patients.

The project is focusing on people recently diagnosed with the
disease.

“I think the experience of sharing with other people going
through the same thing is priceless,” Costello said.

One local women described the meeting process and gave positive
reviews.

“There was a group of four of us last evening,” said breast
cancer patient Dorie Meabon.

“There were a variety of women. They all had different types of
cancer.”

The session starts with each patient receiving a “Look Good,
Feel Better” bag, full of various types of cosmetic products worth
between $200 and $250 per kit, according to Costello.

“The makeup bag was absolutely fabulous,” Meabon said. “They had
Mary Kay, they had Chanel stuff, lip liner, eye shadow, eyebrow
pencils, lipstick” and other products.

In addition to receiving the makeup kit, skin care education was
provided. Then, the group discussed different methods for tying
scarves and making turbans, as well as how to select a wig.

Liz Pearson is one licensed cosmetologist volunteering her time
and expertise to the patients to improve their looks.

“The best part of this work is being able to make people feel
good about themselves,” she said.

“I think the fact that there’s a program where I can do this is
great.”

Volunteers like Pearson giving their time and the community
donating goods, such as scarves and turbans, will contribute to the
program’s success, according to Costello.

Meabon pointed out the one-on-one feel and the ability to speak
out as other important benefits of the meetings.

“Basically, it was a very comfortable atmosphere because it was
such a small group of people,” she said.

The meeting, Meabon added, had nice timing since the Relay For
Life event, sponsored by the ACS, begins today in Bradford.

“You hear about McKean County and cancer a lot,” she said. “This
is wonderful that we have something like this so close to our
area.”

Those looking for assistance from the program must be registered
as a cancer patient with the ACS. They do not need to be patients
of BRMC, according to Costello.

To find out more about “Look Good, Feel Good,” visit
www.cancer.org, call toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345 or call the ACS’s
local office.