Look Good…Feel Better for Women Fighting Cancer

Free program offering beauty consultations comes to Osceola County

Spectrum Health Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center in Reed City and the Paradise Salon of Reed City will host “Look Good…Feel Better,” a program for women in the community undergoing cancer treatment. The next session will be Monday, March 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. Further sessions will be held the second Monday of every other month. Patients must register to attend by calling Spectrum Health Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center at 231-832-5817.

Additional sessions will be held as needed at the Susan P. Wheatlake Cancer and Wellness Center in Big Rapids, and can be scheduled at 231-592-1034. The sessions, when scheduled, are usually held every other month on Mondays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., on the opposite months of the Reed City sessions.

The Look Good…Feel Better program is a community-based, free, national service that teaches female cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

‘”I had lost my hair including my eyebrows,” said Andrea Mason-Schneider, a breast cancer survivor and past attendee at the Look Good… Feel Better sessions. “The beautician at Look Good Feel Better showed me how and where to put eyebrows on myself’and they looked good. It was nice to see other people going through the same thing and hear their stories. What was good more for me than anything else was the lightheartedness of the get-together; it put a smile on my face when I really needed it.”

The American Cancer Society, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association and the National Cosmetology Association sponsor the program.

An experienced, licensed cosmetologist will offer women advice on skin, hair and wig care and up-to-date styling tips for turban and bandana wear.’ Women learn about make-up techniques, skincare, nail care, and options related to hair loss such as wigs, turbans, and scarves. Each participant receives a free kit of high-quality, name-brand cosmetics for use during and after the workshop.

“Cancer takes a toll on everyone, and not just a physical one,” said Sally Blanchard, community program representative with the American Cancer Society. “Look Good… Feel Better supports women in their cancer journey and helps women deal with the physical as well as emotional toll cancer treatment takes on their appearances and self image. This program gives advice, inspires confidence, and helps women bond with other women in similar situations.”

The Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center is located on 4499 220th Ave., Reed City, MI 49677. The Susan P. Wheatlake Cancer and Wellness Center is located at 705 Oak St., Big Rapids, MI 49307. Additional sessions at the Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center will take place on May 10, July 12, Sept. 13, and Nov. 8.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.