Warm sunlight beams through glass windows as participants of this month’s Look Good Feel Better workshop sit at their stations. Surrounded by complimentary beauty and skincare products, a small group of women undergoing cancer treatment are gently guided through simple self-care routines.

Operating in Australia since 1990, the global cancer-support program takes people at various stages of their cancer journey through self-care workshops. Supported by generous corporate and community organisations, workshops are offered free of charge to participants thanks to The Cancer Patients Foundation (in Australia).

The monthly workshop welcomes people with any type of cancer to manage the most common physical impacts of treatments by providing practical tips and tools.

“Ultimately, we just try and take the mystery away because some people probably don’t know what’s going to happen with the hair loss. If there are other people in the room who can say ‘Oh yes, I know,’ it helps,” says Catherine Hampstead, volunteer.

The session begins with Catherine talking about what will happen over the next couple of hours. Volunteering with the program for the past 24 years, Catherine knows the routine by heart.

“We do a simple basic skincare and makeup application, everyone follows along and then I cover a bit about hair loss, wigs, turbans, hats,” she says. “It is also about networking, so the other ladies can talk and chat and get to know each other and swap numbers at the end.”

Stepping away from a clinical setting, Southern Cross Club Woden provides a room free of charge. The workshop empowers participants and helps them regain control, confidence and a sense of self.

“A lot of the ladies feel a bit on their own, isolated, so when they come into a fun room like this, they may not have any experience with make-up,” says Catherine. “We’re not going to teach them glam make-up, it’s just that little bit extra, touching base with your femininity again and having a bit of power on how you look.”

Those who do have experience with skincare and make-up are invited to share their tips and tricks, Catherine says it is a fun and safe environment. Everyone leaves with a bit of knowledge, a few new friends, the products they used throughout the session, a workbook of tips and an eyebrow mapping sheet. Some of the biggest cosmetic companies in the world donate products to the initiative, Catherine says they never know exactly what will come through.

“It is very exciting to see what new products we get to play with every month, and it is all donated… The packs they put together are phenomenal, we have five different skin types, and skin tones and every single person will put the product on and look stunning.”

Always on the lookout for more volunteers, Catherine says that while some, like herself, come from a beauty background, others are simply looking for a way to help. All are welcome to apply.

“Volunteers just need to have some interest or experience in skincare, makeup, or understanding hair loss. Some of our volunteers initially came as participants who received the full experience and later decided to come back and volunteer.”

It was a year ago that Dina Clarke attended a Look Good Feel Better workshop after her first chemotherapy treatment. Already having undergone a lumpectomy, chemotherapy was the next step. Dina had yet to meet someone else going through treatment when she heard about the workshop.

The main driver of signing up for the workshop was the fear of losing her eyebrows. Never really being into make-up, Dina was hoping for some tips.

“Femininity, particularly with breast cancer and having chemo, there are things that are supposed to be those signals of being a woman – your breasts and your hair. To have that affected or taken away, I found very confronting.”

Spending most of her time between the hospital and home during that period, Dina says it can be quite lonely. The workshop was an outing that was still related to everything going on but also a nice reprieve.

“It’s a combination of things, wanting to learn some skills but also wanting to feel like you’re not alone and hear what other people are going through and how they manage it,” she says. “When I came it was really handy, there were people at different stages and they had different tips.”

Learning there are different ways of being feminine throughout her treatment, Dina never felt confident in her eyebrow skills but luckily didn’t lose them until the end of chemo. From the workshop, she took a bit more confidence and the importance of looking after your skin during damaging treatments.

“I started being meticulous with my sunscreen and I have been ever since because you are particularly sensitive to sunburn when you go through chemo and radiation.”

Dina recommends the workshop for anyone on a cancer journey, each person can attend just once per diagnosis. Throughout her time, Catherine has seen participants return after a new diagnosis, each session she is both humbled and joyed to meet the women.

“It’s so lovely to see the ladies come in looking a bit scared and leaving with big smiles on their faces.”

Find out more about Look Good Feel Better; lgfb.org.au

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