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Look Good ... Feel Better Strengthens Cancer Patients and Their Families

Posted on: Monday, 17 January 2005, 06:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- For many people like Shari and Bill McStraw, living with cancer is a family affair. The ability to maintain as many activities as possible is vital -- and how a patient feels about their personal appearance can often make a difference in the quality of their life.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050117/NYFNSI01 )

The McStraws will be one of more than 50,000 families to benefit from the Look Good ... Feel Better program this year. This program helps cancer patients cope with the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.

"Look Good ... Feel Better helped my wife focus on the business of living," says Bill McStraw, husband of the participating patient Shari McStraw. "As our family drew close around her, we saw the strength she gained from feeling better about her appearance."

Celebrating its 16th year, Look Good ... Feel Better -- spearheaded by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA), in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) - - is a product and salon-neutral program designed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Since 1989, more than 370,000 cancer patients have been given hope, encouragement and greater self-esteem in approaching their disease through the program.

Held at comprehensive cancer clinics, hospitals, and community centers, each two-hour, hands-on LGFB group program includes tools and techniques for skin care, make-up, and ways to cope with hair loss.

"This program helps break down the fear and stigma associated with cancer," says Carolyn Deaver, vice president of the CTFA Foundation and LGFB. "We help women by providing them with tangible tools and skills they can use to regain their self-confidence and take control of how cancer treatment is impacting their appearance."

In 1989, two LGFB pilot programs were launched in Washington and New York. Today it is offered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 14 countries. Each year, the cosmetic industry donates $10 million worth of products for LGFB kits given to each program participant. In addition, all LGFB materials are also available in Spanish, and bi-lingual group programs are available in some areas.

"Self image is a very important thing to us all," says Teresa Lopuchin, a cosmetologist from the Philadelphia area and a program volunteer since 1989. "Women cancer patients should not have to feel that the ravages of the disease are robbing them of their own familiar image."

For more information, please visit http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/ or call 1-800 395-LOOK.

NOTE TO EDITORS: SHARI McSTRAW, CAROLYN DEAVER AND TERESA LOPUCHIN ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRINT AND BROADCAST INTERVIEWS.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050117/NYFNSI01AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association

CONTACT: Lisa Wolfe of Hyde Park Communications, +1-212-683-3931, forCosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association

Web site: http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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