Three times a year, Werribee Mercy Hospital hosts a Look Good Feel Better workshop to give patients receiving cancer treatment a big boost of positivity and confidence.
Run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, the class teaches patients — women, men and teenagers — how to minimise the more conspicuous side effects of cancer treatment so they can face the outside world with confidence.
In the workshop, participants are first taught how to keep their skin hydrated while they are undergoing treatment. Women are then shown some basic makeup techniques including how to make their eyebrows look fuller and, lastly, how to wear scarves and wigs.
Workshop attendee Sophia.
Volunteer makeup artists run the workshops and the products used are donated by a range of well-known cosmetic brands.
While it is obvious the participants are encouraged by their new look, just as important are the friendships they forge during the workshop and the comfort of being with others who are facing similar challenges.
Sophia, who was one of seven attendees at the workshop held at Werribee Mercy Hospital on 29 July this year, says: “I really wanted to find out about the wigs — that was great. The makeup tips were also really helpful but also meeting people who are going through the same type of things.”
They are smiling and chatting and just feeling much, much better about themselves.
“It gives the women a good networking opportunity,” affirms Werribee Mercy Hospital Registered Nurse Karlie Simons, who helps organise the workshops. “The makeup and the wig side of things is the main focus but getting to know each other is what they get the most out of.”
Cancer Patients Foundation Victoria Tasmania Program Manager Faye Venning says the workshop is also about empowering the participants. “We are trying to help them take some control of the side effects of their treatment and how they look because a whole lot of other control has been taken away from them.”
Workshop attendee Evelyn.
Faye, who has been in her role for six years, and was a volunteer makeup artist for Look Good Feel Better workshops for seven years prior to that, never tires of seeing the transformation in attendees. “It’s really, really lovely to watch the participants come in to a workshop and to see them gradually get their confidence back. They meet other ladies in the same situation and then, at the end, they are smiling and chatting and just feeling much, much better about themselves. That is a really rewarding feeling.”
Last reviewed October 24, 2019.