Sponsors
Look Good... Feel Better was founded and developed in 1989 by the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, a charitable organization established by Personal Care Products Council, the trade association that represents the cosmetics industry.
The program is offered through a collaboration between the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society (ACS), one of the nation’s largest voluntary health organizations, and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), a national organization of more than 25,000 hairstylists, wig experts, estheticians, makeup artists and nail technicians.
The ACS administers the program nationwide, NCA enlists its members to participate as Look Good...Feel Better cosmetologists and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation provides the makeup, materials, and financial support for the program. Each year, the cosmetics industry donates more than one million pieces of cosmetics, valued at approximately $10 million.
The three sponsoring collaborators work together to provide:
- Patient education, through group or individual sessions, or through self-help materials;
- Free program materials including videos and pamphlets;
and
- Free makeup kits for each patient participating in a group
class.
Audience
The group program is open to all women cancer patients who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatment. Each year, more than 50,000 female patients participate in a Look Good...Feel Better group session. Since 1989, 550,000 cancer patients have benefited from the program.
Thousands of volunteer cosmetologists participate in the program. All are trained and certified by ACS, NCA and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation at local, statewide and national workshops. In addition, some volunteer health care professionals and other individuals also give their time to Look Good...Feel Better.
Locations
Look Good...Feel Better is available in every state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Group programs are held in comprehensive cancer centers, local hospitals, ACS offices and other community settings. In addition, individual sessions in salons can be arranged, and a self-help video and step-by-step instruction booklet are available for those women unable to attend a group session. Help is also available on the web at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
Look Good...Feel Better is offered in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Spanish Programs
Luzca Bien...Siéntase Mejor®, the Look
Good...Feel Better bilingual program, was introduced in 1991
and is currently available throughout the United States either
as dedicated Spanish-language sessions, or as bilingual patient
sessions. All collateral materials for Look Good…Feel
Better programs are available nationwide
in Spanish upon request.
LGFB for Men
A brochure for men undergoing cancer treatment was created in 2003. This brochure is designed as a “self-help” piece and provides useful information on the appearance-related side effects of treatment, as well as other information that is useful during this challenging time. The Look Good·Feel Better for Men brochure is available through the ACS, by calling 800-395-LOOK, as well as through select cancer support centers nationwide.
Teen Program
Look Good...Feel Better for Teens®, is a free public service
program for adolescents, 13 to 17, which provides information dealing
with the appearance and sociological side effects related to cancer
and its treatment. Originally launched in 1996, the program is
now available at select locations throughout the United States.
Materials have been created exclusively for teenagers, and all
program leaders receive specialized training to address physical,
social and psychological issues relevant to adolescents. To find
out if there is a program near you, please call 800-395-LOOK.
A
new Web site, www.2bMe.org, is available as an additional resource for teens with cancer. The site addresses appearance-related issues, health matters and concerns about peer relationships.
Award Programs
The Look Good...Feel Better Sunrise Award, instituted
in 1994, honors outstanding dedication from Look Good...Feel
Better
volunteers, at both the state and national levels.
For More Information
To obtain more information about Look Good...Feel
Better,
contact your local ACS office or call the Look Good...Feel
Better toll-free
number, 800-395-LOOK. Callers will reach the ACS
and will be directed to the nearest Look Good...Feel Better program.
Operators can answer questions about becoming a volunteer, and
Spanish-speaking operators are available. You can also visit the
Look Good...Feel Better Web site at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
Contact: Misty Bastian, (202) 331-1770 or bastianm@personalcarecouncil.org
