An organisation offering free make-up workshops for women diagnosed with cancer.....

[PlumpPartridge]

I found this congress abstract whilst working on something linked and thought it was quite interesting (can't directly link but here is the text):


P4.090 | WALCE (Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe) and make-up program for women diagnosed with cancer. E. Capelletto, M.V. Pacchiana, F. Pacetti, S. Demichelis, M. Longo, S.G. Rapetti, T. Vaval, B. Crida, R. Ronchetta, S. Novello Orbassano/ITALY

Background:
The diagnosis of cancer and receiving an explanation about its treatment can lead to a series of extremely stressful and frightening events that cause both patients and their relatives to suffer emotionally.

Psychological distress in cancer patients has been estimated at a range between 20% and 50%, but without clear evidence showing of a prevalent sex. Depression and anxiety are related to poor quality of life in all its shapes and forms, including the physical-side. There is also a considerable amount of data that shows a correlation between the outcome of cancer treatment and suffering from diminished self-esteem.

The Look Good ... Feel Better is an worldwide free make-up workshop programme for women diagnosed with cancer and who are undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other cancer treatments.

The programme is carried out in local hospitals and offers free beauty workshops which are strictly non-medical, and the ladies receive a gift-filled beauty bag containing brand-neutral products.

The aim is to help women regain self-confidence and esteem, improve quality of life by using beauty techniques to enhance looks and improve appearances which may have suffered due to the related side effects of the cancer therapy.

The Look Good ... Feel Better programme is currently active in 22 countries worldwide and in 2006 arrived in Italy as La forza e il sorriso  L.G.F.B. Italia.

WALCE Association began its collaboration with La forza e il sorriso  L.G.F.B. Italia in 2009.

Methods:

From March 2009 to December 2010 WALCE have organised 34 make-up workshops of La forza e il sorriso  L.G.F.B. Italia at the San Luigi Hospital (Orbassano, Turin-Italy) in collaboration with five local cancer centres and institutes. 248 ladies attended the free make-up workshops, guided by 7 voluntary beauticians and with support of a psycho-oncologist.

6% had a diagnosis of lung cancer and the majority were aged between 50-60 yrs old. Everyone filled-in an anonymous beauty-workshop evaluation questionnaire.

Results:

63% were enthusiastic, while 37% were greatly satisfied with the results.

98% declared to have learnt useful advice whereas 2% were a little doubtful.

However, the overall response was most positive.

Adjectives used to describe patients feelings at the end of the work-shop were: beautiful, happy, more positive, prettier and attractive. From the survey, 86% of the ladies had forgotten about the illness during the moment they attended the event. It was expressed by an overall 78% as being a positive experience meeting other ladies in similar situations.

Conclusion:

Cancer patients tend to cope better with the illness and daily-life when self-confidence and esteem is regained. The sense of well-being shared in a relaxed atmosphere and acknowledging social, emotional and psychological needs, whilst being amongst other ladies who have the same fears or anxieties, has proven to be an incentive to fight-against cancer. In next workshops a more detailed evaluation on patients interpersonal relationships, on their psychological aspects and the impact on disease outcomes will be planned.


I thought this was interesting and worthy of consideration from a feminist perspective. Do such resources exist for men? Are they thought to be necessary? Are such resources welcomed by women because we've been conditioned to care more about our physical appearance?

[TheSpottedZebra]

I used to work for a makeup company (yeah, shoot me now) and volunteered for Look Good, Feel Better. I was really good at brows. Not that I think that 'beauty' is particularly important, or that is important to 'keep up standards', but because I could see that being able to help someone retain some of their pre-cancer self did make a difference.
We did have a couple of chaps come along to the LGFB sessions when I was there: 1 not a makeup wearer but enjoyed manicures, found them relaxing, another was a younger man, he'd be described as a metrosexual and he missed his eyebrows so I taught him how to draw them in if he wanted, another liked makeup before he had cancer, and still liked makeup when he was going through cancer treatment.

[PlumpPartridge]

Wow, I didn't expect to find someone with personal experience of this!

I'm glad that men came along too. I would worry, though, that the men who you met were exceptions who didn't care about societal norms (i.e. 'Men in make-up?!').

[Lilymaid]

I've been to one of these workshops as I have cancer. I'm sure that many men would welcome something similar - nice fun session with lots of freebies and people telling you how to put on make up properly as well as how to look after your skin. Women probably are more worried about this as very few women normally have no hair and the combination of hair loss (including brows/lashes) and feeling poorly isn't much fun.
A bald man is not so uncommon, but whether or not they wear make up they might like skin care advice and the opportunity for a bit of cosseting - and perhaps some advice on male issues such as the right way to shave and after shave care (important when your skin is delicate)!

[TheSpottedZebra]

I just saw the thread title pop up in Active - I don't usually hang about that much on FWR.
Of the 3 men I mentioned, one (the 3rd above) was definitely not defined by societal norms - or not by society as a whole. The 'metrosexual' chap I'd say was in the sense that he was a young guy, liked going out, clothes, tanning, used to get his strong brows shaped, and felt that he looked too much like a 'cancer victim' with no brows. He was straight - I presume - if that has any bearing on him.

The other man was more of a 'typical bloke' (sorry for all the stereotyping, am trying to paint a picture of them...) who was in a lot of pain and felt sick as a dog but found having someone massage his hands and sort out his nails relaxing. He didn't get varnish fro LDFB, but his granddaughter was learning nail art and she used to practice on him when she came to visit.

So 3 men in my limited experience, all very different!

[TheSpottedZebra]

I have also had cancer, although I am out in the sticks now and no LGFB sessions near me. Plus I have not had chemo so my appearance is not as affected as others'.

Cancer is really wearing (IME): it drags on and sort of sucks all the oxygen out of the room - and any respite from that is a good thing. Also the extent to which you get fed up of it defining you is HUGE. So looking like a cancer patient means that you're always treated as a cancer patient. Whereas if you can regain a bit of control and paint some brows on and feel a bit more normal - well that can be a boost for some. PLus, there is lots of time to fill in hospital but not much energy. Also, it does create a safe space where you can share thoughts, fears etc maybe related to cancer, treatment and appearance with others who understand and unfortunately can empathise.

NB I am not sure that the above (OP) passage is that representative of LGFB - it's genuinely not about beauty, about keeping up standards or any of that. And I hate the 'fighting' metaphor and think it is a load of wank.

Lily - wishing you all the very best.

[SevenZarkSeven]

I suppose I think if it makes people feel better then that's good and it is generous of people to volunteer their time.

The blurb though is incredibly stark in explaining - in a study no less- exactly how much a woman's value is linked to her appearance and hence self esteem. I found reading the blurb depressing from that perspective.

[SevenZarkSeven]

Oh missed the last question! Yes of course resources which would help men in a similar vein should exist. I don't think most of them would want a make up session though. Really I would say there should be a couple of options, and people should be able to go to which one suits them. So people could chose to go to a makeup thing if they wanted, irrespective of their sex, and there would be another option or options like, maybe making something or similar.

[PlumpPartridge]

It's interesting to read the thoughts of people who have attended these sorts of sessions as participants. I think my mum would have liked to attend one - she died of breast cancer earlier this year and was very concerned with the deterioration in her appearance. She always liked to look just so.....

[worldgonecrazy]

They do something similar at the hospice that my friend is at. Except she can't get the make up lessons as she's dying from a disease other than cancer , which makes me think that the companies are only doing it to get positive publicity rather than from any sense of humanity.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

When these things are sponsored by make-up companies they are always going to go for their target audience, and that's women, rather than men. Which, actually, I don't see any problem with. While I do think it's incredibly depressing how much women feel that their appearance is linked to their worth, if you already feel that way then these sessions are going to make you feel better, aren't they?

If it's OK for a woman to wear make up and care about her appearance, then it's OK for her to miss that if cancer knocks it for six. But I suspect a lot of the positive feedback about these sessions are to do with touch, being in a non-cancer environment, talking about non-cancer things. Massage would probably bring the same benefits and would be gender-neutral.

[JudysPriest]

My MIL attended one of these sessions, she appreciated it greatly and had a lovely time.

[PlumpPartridge]

worldgone, that is just sad :(

[Sophieelmer]

the companies are only doing it to get positive publicity rather than from any sense of humanity.

Wow

Makeup artists and beauty therapists give up their own personal time to do this. It isn't about the companies it's about a group of people giving up time and energy to support a group of strangers through a difficult time, using the strengths and skills that have acquired in their careers.

[worldgonecrazy]

sophieelmer did you read the rest of my post and why I have that opinion? My friend, who is dying, is not dying the right sort of death, so she has to sit and nurse a cup of tea, whilst women who are dying the right sort of death, get the make up and beauty products.

My friend has always been very beautiful and paid attention to her grooming, so this horrible discrimination is very upsetting for her.

[trevortrevorslattery]

Lonny I understand the point you're making but I do think there is a distinction here. My mam doesn't normally wear much /any makeup but after chemo she used the Look Good Feel Better tips to be able to put eyebrows on and to use eyeliner to make up for the fact her eyelashes had fallen out.

What I mean is, this programme meant she was able to make herself look more like she "naturally" normally does. It wasn't that she felt she needed to continue to conform to society's beauty norms, just that she was able to make herself more recognisable as herself in the mirror.

I totally agree with the fact that it's incredibly depressing how much women feel that their appearance is linked to their worth but I don't necessarily think that's at play here.

[Lilymaid]

"Massage would probably bring the same benefits and would be gender-neutral."

You will find massage offered as a free therapy at a lot of cancer centres such as Maggies. All gender neutral. I refused the opportunity because the local Maggies required that I undertake a holistic assessment first .... when all I wanted was a massage!

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

I think we're on the same page trevor I think it's a great service tbh. That I also think it's depressing that women's worth is linked to their appearance isn't actually linked! Hope your mum is better.

[Mostlyjustaluker]

My understanding is it being away of putting he person before the cancer as people with chronic conditions often feel defined by their illness. My mum who has several terminal illnesses (not cancer anymore) has taken to get her nails painted in recent years. She has never had this done when I was younger but it makes her feel better about herself. A family friend reported that the local chemo unit had a fridge full of snacks and alcohol for patients to choose from to make them feel more at home and that they were important not the cancer.

[TheSameBoat]

If it gives people who are suffering some light relief then it's a good thing, but ....

it's a sad day when it's a fact widely acknowledged by all that a woman's self esteem is linked to her appearance.

[trevortrevorslattery]

Thanks Lonny she is fine now - the NHS is a wonderful thing

[DianaTrent]

It is very depressing how women's self esteem is so tied up with appearance, but the difference between how a conventionally attractive woman is treated compared to a woman who is considered to be less attractive is stark. The effect of appearance on self esteem is not due to mere shallow vanity on the part of the individual concerned. I can only imagine how it must add to the pain of the knock to your self confidence you receive in becoming ill and therefore vulnerable to find people treating you differently as a result of the change in your appearance, even if you are generally resistant to defining your own worth on these criteria. Having a difficult time emotionally and feeling vulnerable makes looking for other, more meaningful aspects of ourselves to base our self esteem on more challenging.

I noticed this even with my little DD when she was undergoing chemotherapy. She received a much less positive reaction from people when she went through phases of treatment which made her bloated from steroids, spotty and bald, with a tube sticking out of her nose. It made me sick to see the value difference people attached to a three / four year old girl based upon how classically pretty she appeared at the time. She couldn't logically understand why suddenly people wouldn't want to talk to her and smile at her in the same way, but she soon became seemingly instinctively aware of the phenomenon. On the children's ward, surrounded by people who understood and treated her as a normal person she never worried about having lost her long blonde ringlets. She managed a few months of treatment without becoming self conscious at all. After her first few ventures into the wider world again, she soon began asking for a wig. She even began saying she wished she was a boy so that she could appear to be "normal".

I am sure these lessons are very valuable to the women in this situation who want them, and I think it is great that they are provided for that reason, but I do find it striking how it throws into the spotlight how women and girls are valued to the exclusion of all other attributes as decorative items first and foremost, and how utterly devoid of compassion this is for the human beings going through incredibly difficult challenges and being unconsciously punished by so many people they come into contact with for the crime of not being decorative, even whilst they struggle to stay alive. It makes me deeply sad and so very angry.