I’m Vicky, a 33-year-old public speaker, workshop facilitator and coach. I’m also now a full-time mum, so most of my daily duties include preparing never-ending snacks, impromptu dance-breaks and general toddler wrangling. In my spare time I love to get creative, meet new people, share stories, explore new places and find ways to have fun every day.
At the time of my diagnosis, I was 29 years old. I had an accomplished FIFO career, had been newly married for 6 months, had just bought our first home and were planning to have a baby in the next year.
I’d felt a lump in my neck and assumed it must be muscular or that my glands were up from a virus. I was a fit, healthy 29-year-old with no previous history of Lymphoma in the family. After a month of testing, I was told I had Stage IV Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
I was then thrown into fertility preservation, failed fertility preservation, chemotherapy, Zoladex implants, scans, tests, hair loss, weight gain, hospitalisation, identity change, isolation, the inability to work, reassessing life plans and so much more.
The actual diagnosis is still a bit of a blur even now, but I remember feeling shocked, angry and confused. Not just about the cancer itself but more about the other impacts of treatment – specifically the risk of infertility. We’d only been married 6 months, had bought our first home two days prior and now we’d been rudely initiated into the club nobody wants to join – the Cancer Club. I had one choice to make: receive medical treatment that could save my life but if successful, that same treatment would probably leave me infertile. I was heartbroken.
Once treatment commenced, I was surprised at the lack of support available to me – I didn’t ‘tick the box’ with most charities as I was young, female and not diagnosed with a specific ‘women’s cancer.’ It was such a confusing time. I would reach out to charities looking for mental health support and ways to connect with other young women in the same situation, but then be turned away. So, when I found out about Look Good Feel Better, I was over the moon that I was eligible and I couldn’t wait to attend a workshop.
I was hoping for guidance, a starting point and a community that I could relate to. My hair had fallen out a few days before my workshop and I attended with my newly shaved head. At that stage in my treatment, I was still feeling physically OK-ish, but I was mentally overwhelmed. I looked mostly like myself, still with my own eyebrows and eyelashes, but couldn’t help thinking “when they fall out, where do I even start with drawing on eyebrows? How do I tie a headscarf? What do I need to look for in a wig?” Lots of questions that the internet just sent me round in circles with. I was craving real human connection and the Look Good Feel Better workshop was perfect for that.
I took away practical advice like make-up tricks, self-care tips and options for head coverings, but I also left feeling empowered and re-energised from a few hours of fun.
Friends and family were grateful that I’d finally found the like-minded support and human connection I’d been looking for. The physical changes resulting from cancer treatment can have such a huge mental impact on a patient – Look Good Feel Better workshops give patients the skills and confidence to leave the room feeling empowered and with options.
The life-long impacts and mental health challenges following remission were way more of a shock to me than the actual diagnosis. Cancer is still mainly viewed in terms of the medical diagnosis and treatment of a physical illness, but I found it to be far more mentally, socially and emotionally challenging, than just a disease of the body.
I will be forever grateful for the Look Good Feel Better program. It gave me a place to find the understanding and connection I’d been desperately seeking, at a time when many other avenues weren’t available. I always recommend Look Good Feel Better to others going through treatment. It’s the one place I felt welcomed, understood and had fun!
It has taken several years for me to mentally heal, process all the life changes and re-connect physically with my body. If only it happened overnight, like in the movies! What helped me the most during my recovery was finding ways to recreate the same confidence and connection that the Look Good Feel Better program provided during treatment. Reaching out for help, finding communities to connect with, sharing my story; all of these things and more were crucial to my recovery.
That said, I’m now a mum to my beautiful miracle baby girl, loving life, having more fun, caring less about things that aren’t important, appreciating more and being fortunate enough to work in my dream job supporting other incredible women. In a lot of ways, cancer was the best thing to ever happen to me. It truly changed my life.
I have always been an active, extroverted person and quite healthy for most of my life. I am a nurse and a midwife who eventually accessed an academic pathway to become a research professor for the last 15 years of my career. Many of my activities with governments, the United Nations and other world agencies meant that I had opportunities to travel and meet fantastic people working hard for the benefit of others. I was honored as a Member of the Order of Australia for my work on the rights of older people and social policy around ageing. At age 72, I have two sons and three grandchildren and have been widowed since 2012. I live in a lovely area on the outskirts of Sydney with my two little dogs and am enjoying my life.
For 15 years I had been having routine breast screening with nothing ever showing up. Last October I was due for another and almost didn’t bother having it but decided not to be so lazy and got myself off to the appointment. I knew something was not right that day when I was kept there for hours awaiting results and to speak with the surgeon.
When I was told there were two lumps in my right breast, my life flipped. As a nurse, I knew what it meant and what lay ahead. The only dilemma for me was whether I should let nature take its course or if I should fight the disease. It was a time for me to evaluate my life’s effort, and whether I thought I could contribute further if I decided to live on. I wanted to continue to work in my field and mentor and work with others wanting to build their careers. So I decided to live.
My Breast Care Nurse signed me up to attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop, about which friends had told me great things. Unfortunately, that workshop was canceled due to the social restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was disappointed. I knew that I was not looking all that good with drying skin, a droopy face and without hair, and was feeling a bit ‘dish raggy’ about it all. My nurse encouraged me to request a Home-Delivered Confidence Kit instead and she was right in recommending it.
The box of goodies and advice arrived just at the moment I was despairing about what was to come and worrying about the treatment side-effects.
The ‘Work it’ booklet took me through all of the make-up tips. I hadn’t really taken a lot of notice about newer ways to apply make-up so it was good learning. I had bought a wig but wasn’t wearing it as it was very hot weather. Turbans were much more comfortable – but they did need some work to get them looking attractive. The tips and instructions in the booklet for tying and twisting scarves around turbans made all the difference to the headwear I had.
The positive approach displayed across the whole package was the best thing about the Kit for me. The products were high end in quality and the booklet was also encouraging and the diagrams easy to follow. It was clear it all came from people who knew what I was going through and were there to help me to overcome the awful situation I was in. I felt like I had new friends who were smoothing the journey for me.
Since receiving my Home-Delivered Confidence Kit I have been making the effort to look good each morning – and I DO feel better! My girlfriends all noticed that I was looking great in my makeup, turbans and occasional kaftans. My family is not close by and by the time they could come to see me, the COVID-19 restrictions prevented it. I was able to keep contact with everyone using Skype though, and the makeup was always a must for these times. All of them said I didn’t look sick and in fact, looked glamorous – exactly the reaction I was seeking!
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, my life has been dominated by the surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment necessary for me to live on. While all of this meant less engagement with the world, my timing was strangely good with the rest of the world experiencing similar limitations with the COVID-19 pandemic. I was not alone in my solitude.
I have been given a great opportunity to think about what I have done over the past 70 years and to make a conscious decision to treat the cancer and not let it define me. I am now more determined than ever to live on and continue being me, contributing to my professional fields, the betterment of others, and to enjoy the extra years of life that I have been given. I am optimistic about my prognosis and even if that turns out not to be so, I am grateful for any bonus time on this wonderful planet.
Towards the end of this year when my active treatment will end, I will be able to get back to my hobbies of visiting the galleries, gardening, lunches with friends, Tai Chi and other group exercise, writing and generally living a life that has been extended by the wonderful people who have treated my cancer and cared for me as a person. I include the ‘Look Good Feel Better’ team in that group.
Thinking back over the past 7 months since my life flipped, the Look Good Feel Better program is a highlight of support and rehabilitation for me. It confirmed my decision to fight the cancer and it continues to support me in living the life I want, not just what I am left with.
My name is Alli and I am a single mum of three.
If I weren’t going through cancer treatment this year, I would have been ready to complete my undergraduate diploma for interior design before commencing the first of my two degrees I hope to achieve. But unfortunately, I had to put my studies on hold in order to concentrate on my health and treatments.
I initially found a lump during my monthly breast exam this time last year. I went to my doctor and she struggled to find the lump herself but thankfully, she trusted me enough to send me for a mammogram and ultrasound. It was there that the lump was clear as day. I had three core biopsies done right then and there, and the next day my doctor’s secretary called me in for an appointment the following afternoon. I knew immediately it was breast cancer. I guess that is why once she had said the words “It’s not the news we were hoping for – it’s cancer”, I was able to hold it together for her to talk me through all of the next steps.
I remember watching my daughter fall apart and trying to help her cope with the news. I seemed to just fall into a mindset of getting through telling both of my sons, and then my parents. I wanted them to see that I was strong, and I hoped that it would help them cope with the news better.
It was not until I was alone later that night that it suddenly dawned on me – I finally found myself hearing the words “It’s cancer” over and over again. I remember standing in the middle of my backyard, tears streaming down my face, terrified of all the unknowns. How long had it been there? How bad was it? Was it anywhere else? Then I became so scared that I just wanted to dig it out of my body myself. Right there and then, I wanted it out!
I commenced treatment just after Christmas last year and a couple of months later I was talking to my Breast Care Nurse on the phone. I was telling her that I had lost a lot of my hair and that I was feeling self-conscious about that, along with the possibility of losing my eyebrows. I was really scared of losing them, as I had no idea how to draw them on from scratch. I was extremely hesitant to go to one of the Look Good Feel Better workshops as I was so self-conscious, and I found myself feeling very scared to be on my own. I had watched many, many videos on how to draw on eyebrows but I was reluctant to do them in front of complete strangers. I guess being critical of myself was a part of who I was. Knowing that others were in the same situation as me didn’t really give much comfort either, which is a shame.
My nurse mentioned that Look Good Feel Better were offering Home-Delivered Confidence Kits and Virtual Workshops to help with headwear and make-up. She offered to send me the referral form for me to consider and thankfully, my daughter thought it was a fantastic idea and she encouraged me to fill out the form. I am so grateful that I did.
Having the Home-Delivered Confidence Kit arrive at my home meant that I could take the time to go through the products, play with the ones I was already familiar with and then sit and spend time on my own practicing with the other products. But the whole package was wonderful!
From the moment it arrived at my door I was filled with excitement – something that I hadn’t felt in months. I felt loved, cared for and so extremely grateful. I had never owned anything Chanel before and when I saw inside the package that there were all of these amazing products and beautiful colours I couldn’t believe it. I was so emotional, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning.
I remember racing to my room and putting on my lipstick and feeling like the prettiest girl in the world. There I was, sitting in my loungeroom watching TV with my daughter in my pjs, patchy yucky hair, pale as a ghost, feeling so sick. But I had my lipstick on, and I was beautiful!
During this whole journey I have tried to hide myself. I felt ugly. I felt like a pin cushion, being poked and prodded all the time. Having parts of me taken away and chemicals put back in. I wanted to hide away from it all. But then I received the Home-Delivered Confidence Kit and for the first time since it all happened, I was excited. Excited to try the products and excited to show people. I started with the makeup and skin products and as my confidence came back, I started wearing my wigs. I was finding a new me, a stronger me, a better me.
This is what Look Good Feel Better did for me, and I will always be grateful for that.
I have found a lot of my friends have been really supportive and caring throughout this journey and I finally have a relationship with my parents that I never had before. The best part of it all, though, has been finding the new relationship I have with myself. For the first time in my life, I can honestly feel proud of myself. Proud of what I have had to do to get through cancer and the horrific treatments that come with it. I have been through every emotion there is since my diagnosis in November last year and I can now look back on the journey so far with pride, and even feel a little courage for the future. I can honestly say I am a whole new person.
The Look Good Feel Better program is amazing and is such a wonderful gift for those of us having to deal with all that cancer throws at us. It doesn’t just teach us the fundamentals of makeup or headwear, it also teaches us to be proud of who we are and what we are going through. The makeup helps us to feel pretty and a little like our old selves, but honestly, I think the makeup makes me feel empowered and a little bit like a warrior – Look Good Feel Better helps us with our armour that we wear going into battle every day.
I am not hiding who I am or what I am going through behind the make-up, I am wearing the make-up to show people who I am and how proud I am of what I am achieving on a day to day basis.
If you would consider giving a gift to Look Good Feel Better this Christmas, know that your generosity will help thousands more Australians feel as excited and empowered as I did.
I am a 37-year-old mum of two gorgeous boys – Morgan (10) and Tyler (6), and my husband Danny and I have called the Northern Territory home for 11 years now. I have been an Occupational Therapist for 15 years and specialise in geriatric care, management and enablement which is a passion of mine. I love spending time in our garden, spending time with friends, walks with our dog around town and along the beach, and anything crafty – especially crocheting. All our extended family live in Victoria and as such, we are privileged to have ever-present support and love through our ‘Darwin family’ – friends and their children, and colleagues that have become our close family. I am fondly dubbed “Crazy Aunt Flo” by my adopted Darwin family, and I pride myself in being able to always look on the light side of life, with a smile on my face and a laugh ready to sprout.
I had found out I was pregnant with our third child in October 2019 and due to feeling run-down and a bit crook, my lymph nodes on my neck became enlarged, which was a usual thing for me when I was getting sick. Over the following weeks, however, as I started feeling better the lymph node on the left side of my neck did not go back down, and instead continued to rapidly grow. I was experiencing the standard symptoms of the early stages of pregnancy – nausea, weight-loss, loss of appetite, hot sweats/flushes, and fatigue – but later found out these are the same symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Within five weeks from the day I presented to my wonderful GP, and after a fine needle biopsy, core biopsy, three hour MRI, bone marrow biopsy and countless blood tests, I received my diagnosis.
My initial reaction was a mixture of grief and shock but also relief that we finally knew what it was, and we could move on to treating it. Heartbreakingly though, because of the treatment for this aggressive cancer we lost our little boy at 14-weeks’ gestation in November 2019.
Following my treatment, I was recovering at home and was regularly seeing ads for Look Good Feel Better on TV. I had also seen a poster for the workshops at my treatment centre, however the workshop dates initially seemed to fall right in the middle of treatment when I was too exhausted to care, or it was ‘too far off’ to plan for. I have always had a secure knowledge of beauty care and make-up prior to my diagnosis and had sewn up some head caps and watched videos on how to wrap head-scarfs myself when I commenced treatment, so I felt that since I had completed my treatment and my hair was growing back, I didn’t ‘deserve’ to take part in a workshop. The feeling of not being a ‘cancer patient’ anymore was weird, as my ‘active’ part of treatment was complete.
I had attempted to put on my usual makeup during my treatment at Christmas, however it felt too heavy and my skin felt clogged and itchy. Also, the mere thought of applying anything more to my face than my standard moisturiser was utterly exhausting! I eventually realised that I deserved to treat myself to an opportunity to care for myself and the new me in my ‘new normal’ post cancer treatment, and thought that even if I only learned one thing from participating in a workshop, that would be enough. I was also wanting to connect with women who have been through a similar experience. I realised that my whole person – including my skin-care needs – had changed since my cancer diagnosis, and I needed support and information from those in the know.
I registered for a workshop, but unfortunately because of the impact of COVID-19, it had to be cancelled. That wasn’t going to stop me getting the Look Good Feel Better experience though, and I was thrilled when I learned from the Look Good Feel Better team that Virtual Workshops were available to me instead.
After my initial reaction, I quickly became reluctant to register for a Virtual Workshop. It was a little off-putting, as I felt I would enjoy being able to chat with the other participants and volunteers more in person and I also didn’t think my current beauty products would be suitable to enable me to participate. But a free Home-Delivered Confidence Kit was then sent to me and receiving special makeup was exciting and made the thought of a Virtual Workshop even more enticing. The booklet and DVD provided in the Kit were amazing – beautifully set-out and simple yet very informative. And the products – WOW!! I was truly amazed and emotional at the high-quality and range of products included. Opening the box felt like Christmas and I felt confident that with just the products provided, I could have a complete skincare and make-up regime. I was so excited I skipped off to try them all out and they truly made me feel special and beautiful again. When I proudly showed my box of goodies off to friends and family, the resounding response was “you deserve it”. I was truly thankful.
I finally registered for a Virtual Workshop and I’m glad I did. I learnt how to respect and care for my skin and its unique needs following my cancer treatment. Thanks to the simple makeup tips and tricks, the thought of applying makeup was no longer daunting. The valuable things I learnt included how to apply eye-makeup that is simple yet impressive, how to manage dark circles under the eyes, the importance of sunscreen and when to apply it to get the most out of its benefits, and how to manage and draw on eyebrows. The demonstration was amazing and super easy to follow and having the Home-Delivered Confidence Kit made the Virtual Workshop seamless and stress-free. There was no major worry about having to get all the different products ready for the workshop and it made it possible to just sit and relax, and absorb the valuable information being provided.
Participating in the workshop made me feel valued and important – as a member of the community, not just amongst my wonderful friends and family. It made me feel that I was not alone in my experiences and feelings post or during cancer treatment. And it reminded me that there are things to get excited about – even just putting on lipstick and feeling confident that we can rock and embrace our new looks!
I noticed a difference in myself after the workshop and my boys did too. I felt that I wasn’t moping around the house as much with no feeling of purpose whilst I was in the ‘recovery mode’ period. I felt a little spring in my step and I was motivated again to take pride in my appearance – even if just for myself – as it was getting depressing catching glimpses of my drawn-out look in any reflective surface. I took to putting on lippy as I was heading off to bed as I felt like I was going to bed happy! I didn’t mind as much when people saw me out in the community, and my smile was that little bit bigger knowing that I looked and felt accomplished with my ability to kick cancer! My boys seemed happier too and were smiling and more jovial, as I was happier and more at ease.
My life has changed on so many levels since my diagnosis. My relationship with my husband has become stronger than I ever thought possible and we are definitely a marvelous “dynamic duo”. I treasure every moment with by beautiful boys, I value the love and support from friends, our ‘adopted family’ and that of my wonderful family. And the love and support from my mum – both to me and my boys whilst I was undergoing treatment – has strengthened the bond between a mother a daughter to another level.
I feel empowered by my tenacity, internal strength and ability to ‘not stress the small stuff’ and embrace my ‘get on with it’ attitude. I love that my ability to smile throughout this chapter and laugh at all things challenging and positive has enabled me to come out on the other side stronger and more confident in my awesome self.
I would HIGHLY recommend Look Good Feel Better to others going through cancer treatment – no matter what cancer you have been diagnosed with or what treatment you have received. There are so many benefits and gems of information and support that can be obtained through these workshops, helping you to feel human and beautiful again and not just like a pin cushion or patient.
And I would encourage you to ‘Celebrate Confidence’ with Look Good Feel Better in this, their 30th year in Australia, by sending them an anniversary gift in acknowledgement of all they give to those undergoing cancer treatment. Your anniversary gift, no matter how big or small, will be just one more reason for all of us to celebrate.
I found a lump in my breast in August last year, but to be honest I didn’t take it too seriously. I’m a young mum of two daughters, aged 14 and 10, and I didn’t think people like me got cancer with no family history.
When my GP referred me very quickly for a biopsy and further testing I became more concerned, and within four days of my initial check-up I received a breast cancer diagnosis. It completely took the wind out of me. I was shocked, scared and confused. And of course, the biggest question was why me?
As the plans were laid out for my treatment, my breast care nurse told me about the Look Good Feel Better workshops, and I was thrilled at the idea of joining with other women in the same position as me. I knew what was ahead with my chemotherapy and decided to attend early in my treatment to be armed with the tools needed to help me through such a challenging time.
My life very quickly changed and will never be the same again. It now revolves around doctors appointments, tests, treatments, and constant worry and concern about my health, both at this point in time and forever to come. I cannot do the things I once took for granted like being active in the great outdoors with my husband and my girls, going for runs, and catching up with good friends over a coffee. And as expected, losing my hair during chemo was hard, and going out in public took a lot of courage.
But the Look Good Feel Better workshop taught me that it is still ok to want to feel good about myself and how I look. I learnt not only practical tips around make-up and headwear, but I also gained valuable insights from the other participants around how they were coping, and I appreciated them sharing stories and ideas. I came home from the workshop feeling confident and more equipped to face this new season of my life, and I was able to feel better about myself. I have since been able to walk confidently in public as myself, comfortable in how I look right now.
The Look Good Feel Better program is such a valuable tool for women going through cancer treatment. Spending time with the other participants in a safe environment gave me great comfort, as we shared a laugh and some tears together. No one else can understand what you are going through quite like a fellow patient. And the volunteers made me feel so special and valued at a time when I was feeling quite sad and vulnerable. This journey is not an easy road, and the Look Good Feel Better workshops are designed completely with the well-being of participants in mind.
In June of last year, just after my 33rd birthday, I got to experience one of the happiest days of my life – marrying the love of my life, Alan. We have a 3.5-year-old son named Johnathan who was named after Alan’s favourite footy player, Johnathan Thurston. The day was just perfect, with our family and friends together with us to share in our incredible joy.
Three weeks after our wedding, whilst we were away on our honeymoon, I noticed two small lumps in my right breast. I was sure it was nothing as I have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, but once we returned from our honeymoon, I went to see my doctor who sent me for an ultrasound, just to be safe.
The following day we were off on a familymoon to the Gold Coast and one day after we returned, I was sent for a biopsy on the two small lumps I had found. Within three days my results had come back and when my GP held my hands and said to me “I don’t have good news”, I just cried and cried. I could not control my emotions and I found myself wailing in his office for a good 30 minutes before I could stand up to walk out. After several weeks enjoying the highs of such an incredibly happy time in my life, my world had come crashing down. It was the absolute worst day of my life.
At the beginning of August I underwent a double mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes under my arm, and then commenced a schedule of fortnightly chemo for 8 weeks before moving on to weekly chemotherapy for 12 weeks. I also had 5 weeks of radiation therapy, Monday to Friday. My treatment is due to be complete this month.
I had been feeling a little anxious about the changes I was going to experience as a result of my treatment, and I had seen posts on social media about how fantastic the Look Good Feel Better workshops were. One of the nurses at the chemo infusion centre had raved about the program too, so I booked myself in and was excited to attend.
It was a brilliant workshop where I was able to learn so much about what I can do to feel good, and I enjoyed the opportunity to meet other women who were dealing with a difficult situation, like me.
I learnt how to correctly apply my makeup and in what order, and was also taught about the importance of sunscreen, which I now religiously use every day. I also got some great tips on tying a headscarf, and learned how using a headband under a hat can make such a difference with disguising baldness on the sides of my head.
The best thing about the workshop for me though was the wonderful volunteers who run it. They made me feel so comfortable and they were just so nice.
My Dad said to me a few weeks after the workshop that he thought I had perked up some more, and Mum commented on how great my skin looked. The Look Good Feel Better workshop played a big part in that.
I don’t know why this happened to me. I don’t have a strong family history of cancer. I’m only young. I’m not a carrier of the BRCA gene. I breast fed and I live a relatively healthy life. The odds are in my favour, but this still impacted me and my life has completely changed.
Alan and I had planned to have a second child once we were married. We’ve had to put those plans on hold for now. I am on leave from work and my days are now spent either going to the hospital for treatment, at appointments, or laying on the couch recovering from the chemotherapy. I must admit it hasn’t been all bad change. It has made me realise what a busy and stressful life I was living prior to my diagnosis.
I now appreciate my life much more because I feel I have been “shaken awake”. Once I’m done with treatment, I plan on reprioritising my life and giving myself more time for exercising and eating healthy. I’m going to be okay, I just need to get through this rough patch and I am confident I will come out a stronger and more courageous person.
I’m being well looked after by my family and supported by them, as well as my friends. I am so lucky to have such loving, caring people in my life.
I also have a brilliant team of specialists taking care of me with my best interests at heart, and I’m thankful for services like Look Good Feel Better helping me manage along the way.
My name is Emma and I am a Mum of three beautiful children aged 13, 11 and 6. I celebrated my 40th birthday whilst in hospital having chemotherapy earlier this year, after receiving a cancer diagnosis just after Christmas last year.
My family and I had been living in Shanghai, China for four and a half years and a persistent pain in my neck area led me to see my doctor to have it checked out. I was given a chest x-ray which showed a mass on my lung and my doctor advised us to return to Australia immediately for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Three days later we flew into Sydney and I was referred to a specialist.
After one week and many tests, I was given the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma near my lung and on my pancreas. Initially my husband and I shed a lot of tears together, as the shock of the diagnosis was obviously sudden and unexpected. We told the children next, and then our family members, which was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. Especially at a time of the year that’s supposed to be filled with joy and festivity.
I quickly decided to move forward with positivity and strength, and one of the ways I tackled this was by attending a Look Good Feel Better workshop. My specialist told me about the workshops straight after he gave me my diagnosis. Being the organised person that I am, I booked myself in straight away so I would be prepared for the months ahead and could talk to some like-minded ladies – and I am so glad that I did!
I particularly wanted to be prepared for when the time came that I would lose my hair. I had no idea what it would be like or how it would happen, or how to tie a scarf, or if I wanted to wear a wig. I also had no idea about how to apply makeup correctly or how to take care of my skin with the changes that were to come. I really needed some advice.
I learnt so much from the workshop. From how to care for my skin and scalp, to how to remove makeup, and how to apply it correctly and simply. I had so much fun trying on different wigs, scarfs and turbans and talking with the other participants about some of their experiences. I walked away feeling confident and beautiful. I made several friends during the workshop and we’ve kept in contact and still support each other, which has been invaluable in my recovery. It’s hard to believe these workshops are absolutely free to cancer patients but I’m so thankful for the generosity of those in the community, like yourself, who donate to the program so that it can continue to run.
Receiving my diagnosis was difficult. We have had to re-settle ourselves back into Australia and our children into new schools. I also have to travel four hours to the hospital to receive my treatment, and then stay in hospital for five days at a time away from my family, which is challenging but necessary in order for me to get better. I’m so thankful that my husband and children are all very caring towards me and help me to do things when I’m not quite feeling well or need to rest. This has been the hardest thing for me to adjust to, as I’ve always been a person that loves helping others, but find it difficult to accept help myself.
Accepting help from Look Good Feel Better, though, is something I’m so glad I did do, and would encourage others to do also. The workshop really prepares you for the road ahead by giving you the tools to keep you feeling confident in yourself, positive and strong – three of the biggest and most important factors needed, I believe, in fighting your cancer.
My family and I have just moved back to a small rural town on the mid north coast of NSW, and we’ll be enjoying our first Christmas on our sustainable farm that we’ve set up on 2 acres. We plan to spend the holidays with our animals, tending to our fruit and vegetables and enjoying a recovery from treatment surrounded by nature. We have just added our first chickens to our farm and the children are enjoying handling them, making their chicken shed clean and comfortable, saving food scraps for them and of course collecting their eggs! We were excited to receive our first bee hive in preparation for Spring time and look forward to observing and learning about bees as well as devouring the delicious honey they will provide us with.
For the past two years I have been studying a Bachelor of Social Work and throughout my journey with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, I have had the chance to meet several social workers at different hospitals who have helped my family navigate the highs and lows we’ve experienced. Once my treatment is completed, I look forward to working towards graduation day, hoping that I can use my experiences to help patients in the future and of course will continue spreading the word about Look Good Feel Better so all those who could benefit from the program get the opportunity to.
And I hope that you will do your part too. As a Christmas gift to families like mine, I ask you to please consider making a donation to the Look Good Feel Better program and help spread the word. Your support will ensure that women, men and teens across Australia will be able to face their cancer with confidence in the coming year.
My partner and I met in Australia and moved to London together four years ago when I was 23 years old. I am self-employed, providing consulting and training services in the data protection and IT governance environment for businesses. I set-up the business when I was living in the UK alongside co-founding a cybersecurity startup with exciting new opportunities.
Whilst living in the UK, I noticed a pea-sized lump in my neck. It was around for a few weeks and I didn’t think much of it. Then over two days, the lump grew from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball and I knew I had to immediately get it checked.
I wasn’t actually worried about it at all at first; the three week process was that it was just a cist and we were testing to be sure, so I went to my hospital appointment for the results by myself. But the ultrasound and biopsy confirmed a cancer diagnosis – Hodgkins Lymphoma.
When I was first told, I didn’t really comprehend what it was. I immediately started asking questions about a solution. When the doctor mentioned that a few months of chemotherapy would be required, everything sank in and I was an emotional mess.
I spent the next 48 hours telling my family, calling all my clients and dropping out of work, and packing up our apartment to fly home to Australia immediately for treatment. The decision was made instantly as there wasn’t any way I’d be tackling this alone in the UK.
After receiving my diagnosis, everything stopped. The financial position my partner and I had forecasted we would be in by this time so we could start achieving our future plans was disrupted, and emotionally I felt like my life was ‘taken’ from me. However, you do gain a new appreciation for everything you ever had, realise you can earn it all back, and you start to move forward.
When I was offered the chance to attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop, I wasn’t reluctant to attend. I know someone who was reluctant because she didn’t want to feel like she had cancer, and such a workshop would confront that, but we actually ended up attending together and it felt like a great opportunity for friends to just hang out and get some make-up tips.
The workshop delivers exactly what it offers – it makes you look good and feel better. Not just because of the make-up or headwear, but also because you have a chance to spend time with other women who are dealing with the impact of their condition. The challenge of managing the physical side effects is one hundred times better when you’re not trying to figure it out on your own.
How to properly draw on eyebrows and put colour back in my cheeks was key for me, but being able to just let go of all the stresses that cancer causes due to physical changes and to be looked after for those two and a half hours is incredible. The whole workshop was stress-free and fun.
My partner Craig and I have been together for 8 years and I have two sons and two grandchildren. Craig and I migrated to Perth from the UK when my sons were 24 and 26, married and excelling in their respective careers. It was a very difficult decision to move to the other side of the world and leave behind my family, but we knew it was a fantastic opportunity and we were very lucky that our family supported our decision.
In November last year after a routine mammogram, I received a call to advise an area of calcium had been identified and a core biopsy was required. Two days later I had an appointment to discuss the results and Craig and I were told the devastating news that I had cancer in my left breast. We were shocked, speechless, and initially unable to ask any questions. I was holding back my tears, my mouth was dry, and I felt completely numb. I don’t actually remember leaving the hospital after receiving the diagnosis. The last thing I remember is sitting in the car and calling my sister, crying uncontrollably and unable to speak.
Reality kicked in quickly, as only three weeks after my diagnosis I was having surgery to remove a tumour from my left breast and three lymph nodes from under my left armpit. I then required a second surgery in January and another nine lymph nodes were removed. In total after the two surgeries, 6 out of the 12 removed nodes were cancerous. And it was an aggressive cancer – grade 3, stage 2.
A plan was put in place. I was to have a CT scan, bone scan, six sessions of chemotherapy every 21 days, and then finally six weeks of radiotherapy, 5 days a week. I knew my future was going to be a life-changing, challenging experience and certainly not one I had ever expected.
My medical team at Royal Perth Hospital recommended the Look Good Feel Better program to me and encouraged me to attend a workshop. I wasn’t initially keen to attend as I didn’t know anything about it or what to expect, other than it was highly recommended and it would be provided to me free-of-charge as a community service. I learnt that it’s the generosity of the community and corporate donors that ensures patients like me can benefit from the program.
On the day of my workshop, I had not yet started treatment and I felt apprehensive and nervous. I waited outside the workshop room with reality looking at me; the thought of losing my hair was very scary and most ladies waiting for the workshop to start had already lost theirs. I was not emotionally prepared for how I was feeling and wanted to leave. When I sat down in the room, tears started pouring down my cheeks.
Reflecting on the workshop, the whole experience was a big part of my journey and I am so very glad I attended. I left feeling as if it was all going to be ok, as I’d learned I wasn’t alone on this journey and realised how much help and support was available not only to me, but all women going through cancer treatment.
Although I had always worn make-up, I learned new techniques for its application and also learned how to care for my skin; both during treatment, and after I had finished. My friends and family have complemented me on how good my skin looks and how well my make-up has been applied.
It also helped me with my emotions surrounding hair loss and made me realise how many different options are available for head coverings. The demonstration of wigs and headwear was amazing; it gave me so many inspirational ideas whilst also being a lot of fun! I now have several wigs and options of head wear, having been given plenty of great advice from the Look Good Feel Better volunteers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience as I was able to gain strength and confidence and laugh. I would highly recommend that each and every person that is offered the chance to attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop take part. I’m so grateful it was part of my journey because the boost in my confidence, the emotional support and the kindness meant a lot to me and made a huge difference.
My little family immigrated to Australia five years ago from Johannesburg. My husband, two beautiful girls – aged 8 and 7 – and I love our life in Sydney and we spend our time exploring its beaches, restaurants, museums and cafes. We enjoy a healthy, outdoor lifestyle as much as possible.
When my doctor discovered a lump during a routine yearly check-up, it was the last thing I had expected. I had a good fitness regime, I was feeling really healthy and was getting stronger and fitter – I never got sick. An ultrasound led to a mammogram, which led to a biopsy, which came back as a cancer diagnosis. I was shocked and scared – how could I have breast cancer at 34 years of age? With no family history?
I had surgery and it was considered a success, but as my cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, I needed to undergo a course of chemotherapy. This of course meant losing my hair. My nurse suggested I attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop to help me learn some useful ways to manage the changes I was experiencing to my appearance. While I was offered practical guidance about make-up and skin care, I was really interested in mastering head coverings and found the advice on scarves and scarf styling invaluable. Mostly though, it was really beautiful to connect with other women in a similar position and I felt so encouraged by the lovely volunteers.
I am very much a changed person. I went from being an extremely energised, fit and strong independent woman to a frail, sickly, fatigued person who needed help all the time. But I try to stay positive because life happens and you’ve got to adjust and work with the direction it’s sending you in. We all chant these mantras, that whatever life throws at you, you’ve got to make the most of it. And my experience has taught me that you have to still live. You have to still find the joy in every day.
“Around this time last year – not long before Christmas – I noticed a small lump above my right collar bone and after a visit to my GP, an ultrasound and a needle biopsy was arranged. Shortly after, I had surgery to remove swollen lymph glands, which confirmed a diagnosis of blood cancer – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. My initial reaction was disbelief.
My father unfortunately passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2014 after a four-year battle. His passing seems like only yesterday.
I am 31 years old. I have a beautiful Mum, and three older siblings as well as six nieces and nephews. I work in architecture and interior design and I have built my own practice that has now been running for five years. Once treatment commenced I, of course, had concerns for my family and my business, my staff and my clients. But I had hoped that everything would be ok.
Half way through my treatment earlier this year, a friend I had made through a Lymphoma website who had also been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma suggested we attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop together. The workshop was our first chance to catch up.
Other than being shown how to draw on my eyebrows and learning that they are “sisters and not twins”, it was lovely to connect with other women going through cancer. The main thing I learned was that a simple activity – like a group of women getting together to learn how to put on make-up and tie headscarves – can bring people together. It was more about the conversations for me.
I was surprised to learn that Look Good Feel Better – a free national service for cancer patients – doesn’t receive any government funding. It’s the generosity of the community and people like you that ensures patients can continue to benefit from the program.
I would definitely recommend Look Good Feel Better to others going through treatment for cancer, as it’s a great way to connect with people in a similar situation, in a safe environment. As a Christmas gift to those who need it most, I ask you to please consider making a donation to the program. Your gift will ensure Look Good Feel Better can continue to support patients like me across Australia in the coming year.
I finished treatment in April this year and still have the same job, the same house, a lot of the same friends, and of course my incredible family by my side; and I am so looking forward to celebrating with those who mean the most to me this festive season.
I hope you will consider making a donation to Look Good Feel Better before the year draws to a close. I was so happy to have the chance to attend the workshop and I hope that other cancer patients will be able to benefit from the service in the coming year. Please make a donation today”.
“After noticing a lump on my left leg, I took myself to the doctor. The lump was thought to be a fatty cyst and I was referred to a surgeon to have it removed. As a precautionary measure, the removed tissue was tested and I will never forget the look on the surgeon’s face when he sat me down with the results and said – “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you have cancer”.
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and from there began all the x-rays, MRI’s, heart scans and CT scans – I had no idea there were so many machines! And then the chemotherapy and sessions of radiotherapy commenced.
I am 59 years old and have been married to my husband, David, for 35 years. We have two beautiful daughters – Jessica and Alexandra – and four absolutely amazing grandchildren. Cancer wasn’t on my agenda, but unfortunately it doesn’t discriminate. And the irony of my diagnosis was that I had no symptoms and was feeling better than ever.
I was quite nervous when I attended my Look Good Feel Better workshop. I had lost all my hair and my eyebrows, and was thinking I was the only person that looked like this. On arrival at the workshop I was met by a lovely volunteer who directed me to my seat in a room filled with women who were younger and older, and clearly at different stages of their treatment. My nerves soon faded because everyone was so welcoming, and by the time the workshop finished I felt a little more attractive and worthwhile, and we all left with a smile. The cosmetic gifts we received were also wonderful.
I have been cancer free for one year now and there are so many things that I still have to do! I have to have fun, go on holidays, love and cuddle my grandchildren, and share stories with them.
Cancer changes lives, people and families and it has taught me that life is so precious and it can change in a second. I don’t let little things eat away at me anymore and I don’t stress over silly things. I am not so judgemental, as I understand that everyone is fighting their own battles.
I would recommend Look Good Feel Better to all women going through treatment. It is an activity that actually makes you feel better about yourself and it’s also comforting to know that there are others out there feeling just the same as you.”
