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Local women battle cancer with a makeup brush

Thu, Apr 15, 2010 5 p.m.

New evening sessions launched at Baptist East

The latest weapon in the fight against cancer is a makeup brush for women participating in the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program. Various Look Good…Feel Better sessions take place each month across Metro Louisville. Baptist Hospital East is adding an evening session beginning at 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month in its Cancer Resource Center, 4007 Kresge Way. The next evening session will be Thursday, April 15.

The American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program helps women cope with the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment by teaching them beauty tips to help enhance their looks and boost their self-image. The free program is facilitated by licensed cosmetologists who volunteer their time. Look Good…Feel Better volunteers are trained to help patients deal with the physical side effects of cancer treatment and promote good hygiene.

Those who attend receive complimentary cosmetic kits with samples donated by nationally-known brands, with helpful instructional booklets. Professional advice is given on wigs, scarves and accessories.

Registration is currently underway for the new Look Good…Feel Better evening session at Baptist East on at 5 p.m. April 15. To register for this upcoming session, call (502) 896-3009. There is no cost to attend. Space is limited. Baptist East hosts a second monthly session from 1-2:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the month. The next session will be Monday, March 29.

Look Good…Feel Better is a non-medical program offered free of charge by the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council Foundation and the National Cosmetology Association. No product endorsements are given, and participants are never asked to buy anything from volunteers or participating organizations. For more information about Look Good…Feel Better sessions throughout Louisville, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Baptist East was the first hospital in Kentucky to have an inpatient unit dedicated to those with cancer. Today, it is a local leader in oncology treatment, with a 24-bed unit with all private rooms, spacious chemotherapy and IV treatment area with separate cubicles for each patient (complete with recliner, flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi access), a family gathering area with washer/dryer and even an exercise room. Patients may also receive free massage and music therapy. The unit recently received the Medistar “Patient First” award. Outpatient care includes the new radiation center at Baptist Eastpoint near Anchorage complete with Intensive Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and CT scanner plus the original location at Baptist East which offers IMRT, IGRT and stereotactic radiosurgery. New services include a colon cancer hotline, multidisciplinary lung care clinic and an exercise program – Cancer and Restorative Exercise (CARE) – for those still in treatment to help them build strength and confidence.