Look Good Feel Better provides a range of free sessions, both online or in-person, for anyone with any cancer at any stage of treatment.
The charity is committed to expanding its programme to provide a wide range of support services.
This includes its signature skincare and make-up class held in more than 40 community centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, through to live online sessions such as chair yoga, gentle Pilates and mindfulness.
The charity also has a range of on-demand refresher videos, popular and informative expert Q&As and its Cancer Conversations podcasts.
“The programme is focused on skin, hair, mind and body – providing feel better moments, and tools and tips to help people face cancer with confidence,” Look Good Feel Better general manager Clare O’Higgins says.
“They are an opportunity to do something practical and to connect with others who may be experiencing something similar, away from the world of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“All the sessions are free and participants are welcome to take a friend or family member to the community sessions or sit in on the virtual programme.”
Each month Look Good Feel Better hosts an online Q&A session with insights and expertise from a wide range of people. This includes someone working in healthcare, or a professional whose life experience is applicable to someone with cancer or their loved ones. They provide a way to help you feel more empowered and confident while navigating cancer.
Look Good Feel Better’s on-demand series is a library of short videos and podcasts that are available at any time. They are a refresher for some of the classes, across a range of wellbeing and skincare and make-up topics such as how to find calm through breathing, how to look after your skin during treatment, how to deal with neuropathy, how to care for your wig and how to tie a scarf hat.
Cancer survivor Helen King hosts the Cancer Conversations podcast series, chatting with patients about their experiences, and experts give their insights on navigating cancer from diagnosis to post-treatment. They include coping with cancer emotions, navigating life and work post-cancer, the power of communication, and personal styling to give you confidence.
Look Good Feel Better commissioned IPSOS to conduct the 2023 NZ Cancer Wellbeing Survey, to measure the wellbeing of patients and their whanau or carers, “to help us ensure we remain relevant, valuable and empowering for people with cancer,” Clare says.
The survey measured the wellbeing of more than 2,000 New Zealanders – including cancer sufferers, cancer supporters and people not currently affected by cancer.
It identified that organisational support drives higher wellbeing in both cancer sufferers and supporters – including accessing advice on physical activity, nutrition, the ability to “give back”, support with body changes as a result of treatment and spiritual support.
It also showed that people with cancer that have a support network of 10+ people report a significantly higher wellbeing score than those without cancer (15.4 vs 14.2 – with a score below 13 an indication of poor emotional wellbeing).
Gillian Curtis attended a Look Good Feel Better online skincare and make-up session via Zoom and did immediately feel better.
“When my hair went, I didn't realise how much it was going to hit me. I felt that was the only thing that people ever complimented me on. I didn’t even like looking in the mirror,” the Orewa mother of two says.
“It is just nice to meet people who are going through the same thing. You get a sense of community. You're not talking about cancer as such, you're talking about what you can do to make the best of this situation.”
Sarah Martelli, who lives in rural Waikato, said that during her cancer journey, she felt isolated.
“Living rurally had its challenges. Feeling like you're walking that journey alone is pretty tough,”, says. “The classes just give you a bit of your old self back. People say ‘oh, she's got cancer’ or ‘you've got cancer’, but I'm still me. Classes help because they make you feel a bit more normal again.”
The programme includes sessions for women, men and teens, and all are free for anyone with any cancer at any stage . To find out more about the programme or to register for a free class, go to lgfb.co.nz or call 0800 865 432.
