Community Corner
Cancer Patients Look Good, Feel Better
The Look Good...Feel Better campaign brings hope and beauty to Bolingbrook cancer patients. Look Good Feel Better at Adventist Bolingbrook
Bolingbrook lives are brought to a screeching halt by cancer diagnosis' on a daily basis.
But Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital is doing its best to chip away at the daily grind that is cancer survival.
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital held one of two Look Good...Feel Better seminars Monday—the purpose of the national campaign is to help women maneuver through some of the side effects of cancer treatment with wigs, makeup and camaraderie.
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"They get to mingle, and to see that they're not alone," said Tamela Sidley, cosmetology educator and co-organizer of the event.
The next seminar is Dec. 6 at the hospital.
Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Participants received a bag of cosmetics donated by the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Council and the National Cosmetology Association valued at more than $200.
Participation is free of charge.
Sidley said the abrupt disturbance cancer creates in ordinary lives is paramount. But she encouraged participants to take the time to think about themselves, take care of themselves and think positive.
"No matter what the situation is, think positive. Think that you're going to overcome it," she said.
Vases of pink bouquets adorned the conference room tables, and Sidley herself wore a pink blouse in honor of breast cancer awareness.
Jeannine Arias, breast cancer coordinator and patient navigator at ABH said anyone in the region actively being treated is welcome.
"They don't have to be being treated at this facility per se," she said.
Sidley and Arias voluntarily organize the class and have been working on the project together since June.
Following a short video, Sidley taught participants the do's and dont's of wearing a wig, how to care for skin changes caused by treatments with cleansers and moisturizers and how to apply eyebrow pencil and eyeliner after hair and lash loss.
In addition to the bag of cosmetics, Look Good...Feel Better provides free wigs and turbans.
"It's more than I'd ever use," said participant Darlene Downey, of the supplies she received. "I never expected all this."
To register for the Dec. 6 seminar, register online or call 630-856-7525 to RSVP.
