Look Good...Feel Better | Press

Look Good…Feel Better® Helps Women with Cancer Help Themselves

Washington, D.C. – A recent “Self Appearance” survey commissioned by the cancer support program Look Good…Feel Better® shows that among women who are currently or who have recently completed cancer treatment, 83 percent were self-conscious (33 percent somewhat self-conscious; 50 percent very self-conscious) of their physical appearance while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. Conducted by R.L. Repass & Partners, Inc.i, a Cincinnati-based research firm, the study among 400 female cancer survivors, further revealed that the majority of women (69 percent) reported that their appearance changed “somewhat” (37 percent) or “a lot” (32 percent). About half (48 percent) sought help to improve their appearance during treatment and said that these enhancements helped change the way they were treated by family and friends.

For nearly two decades, Look Good…Feel Better – a free, nationwide support program ö has offered women help and encouragement to cope with the appearance side effects of cancer treatment. In two-hour workshops conducted by trained volunteer beauty professionals, Look Good…Feel Better offers practical tips about skin care, makeup techniques, and guidance for coping with hair loss. A free bag of makeup from leading cosmetic companies is also provided for use as “tools” in the session and later, at home.

Since 1989, Look Good…Feel Better has helped improve the quality of life of 500,000 cancer survivors through its free services, which include group programs; one-on-one consultations; self-help materials; and a Web site www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org. The program was started by the Personal Care Products Council Foundation (Personal Care Products Council Foundation) - the charitable arm of the Personal Care Products Council , which is the national representative of the personal care products industry - and it is offered as a collaborative effort of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), an organization of 20,000 hair stylists, wig experts, estheticians, makeup artists and nail technicians. These three organizations bring together their collective expertise to support and deliver Look Good…Feel Better programs to 50,000 women each year.

“Cosmetic companies have always been dedicated to improving the quality of life for consumers, especially women,” says Pamela Bailey, president of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation. “Look Good…Feel Better is an extension of this mission, allowing us to engage our resources and partnerships to make a difference in the day-to-day lives of women dealing with cancer treatment.”

The Personal Care Products Council Foundation provides the program oversight, makeup, materials, and financial support to implement Look Good…Feel Betterâs many services. The ACS administers Look Good…Feel Better programs nationwide. The NCA enlists its members to participate as Look Good…Feel Better volunteer cosmetologists.

Giving Women the Tools They Need to Cope
“The program is not about medical procedures. Instead, we are giving women the tools they need to take control of the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment and feel better about themselves,” says Louanne Roark, vice president of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the Look Good…Feel Better program.

Roark says that Look Good…Feel Better is less about what it does for the women on the outside and more about how it makes them feel on the inside. A sentiment echoed by the participants of Repass’ Self Appearance study.

According to Dr. Marc Lippman, Professor and Chairman, Internal Medicine, University of Michigan and former director of Georgetown Universityâs Lombardi Cancer Center, “Cancer support programs such as Look Good…Feel Better are increasingly being recognized as an important part of the patient treatment process. Treating the psyche can be equally as important as treating the body.”

“There is very impressive data, which show that support programs like Look Good…Feel Better have a significant impact on the survival rate of women cancer patients. Look Good…Feel Better has helped galvanize people around the importance of supportive care for cancer patients.”

Roark continues by saying that many women enter the Look Good…Feel Better sessions reluctant and uncertain about how a program like this can help. “Once they find themselves among other women who are experiencing some of the same feelings, the dynamics change. By the time they leave a Look Good…Feel Better session, they take with them a new, more positive outlook and improved self esteem.”

Each two-hour, hands-on Look Good…Feel Better workshop includes a 12-step skin care/make-up application lesson, demonstration of options for dealing with hair loss, and nail care techniques. They are held at comprehensive cancer centers, hospitals, ACS offices, and community centers.

Additional Look Good…Feel Better Programs
Luzca Bien…SiŽntase Mejor® is Look Good…Feel Betterâs bilingual program. Created in 1991, it is currently available throughout the United States as either a dedicated Spanish-language session or as a bilingual patient session. All collateral materials are available nationwide in Spanish upon request.

In addition, Look Good…Feel Better for Teens®, a program for adolescents, aged 13-to-17, provides information on dealing with the appearance and sociological side effects related to cancer and its treatment. Originally launched in 1996, the program is now available in 18 locations across the country. Materials have been created exclusively for teenagers, and all program leaders receive specialized training to address physical, social and psychological issues relevant to adolescents.

A Web site, www.2bMe.org, was developed in 2001 as an additional resource for teens with cancer. The site addresses appearance-related issues, health matters and concerns about peer relationships.

In 2003, a brochure for men undergoing cancer treatment was created. Look Good…Feel Better for Men is a practical guide to help men deal with some of the side-effects of cancer treatment including skin changes, hair loss, stress, and other issues that is useful during this challenging time. Information on Look Good…Feel Better for Men is available on the Web site at www.lookgoodfeelbetterformen.org, through the ACS, by calling 800-395-LOOK, as well as through select cancer support groups nationwide.

Contact Us
For more information or for women who would like to participate in a Look Good…Feel Better program, call 800-395-LOOK, contact the ACS or visit the Look Good…Feel Better Web site at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

The Personal Care Products Council Foundation is a charitable organization established by the Personal Care Products Council, which is the national representative of the personal care products industry and provides services to the associationâs 600 members. The Personal Care Products Council Foundation provides the program oversight, makeup, materials, and financial support to implement Look Good…Feel Betterâs many services.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. The ACS administers Look Good…Feel Better programs nationwide. For more information about the ACS, visit www.cancer.org.

The National Cosmetology Association (NCA) is a national organization of more than 20,000 hairstylists, wig experts, estheticians, makeup artists and nail technicians. The NCA enlists its members to participate as Look Good…Feel Better volunteer cosmetologists. For more information about the NCA, visit www.salonprofessionals.org.

Contact: Misty Bastian, Look Good...Feel Better, 202-331-1770

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