LOOKING GOOD, FEELING BETTER: How Aisha Got Her Spark Back When Aisha Quashie was diagnosed with lymphoma, Look Good Feel Better made all the difference in supporting her psycho-social well-being and helping her retain a sense of self and normalcy throughout her treatment. Aisha revealed that one of the most challenging aspects of her diagnosis was the fear of losing her hair. After reading stories of other women’s experiences, she held onto hope that it wouldn’t happen to her. Look Good Feel Better helped her through the process, from teaching her where to get headwraps to sharing safe and effective skincare and cosmetic techniques. “Appearance is who you think you are, and you’re a completely different person. It doesn’t get more real than that.” When asked why LGFB is an important resource for women facing cancer, Aisha shared that it was immeasurably helpful to be in an environment where people are looking at the impact of cancer outside of a medical lens. She shared that the opportunity to connect with
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other women going through the same experiences as she made her “feel normal during a not-so-normal time.” “It gives you hope that you can still feel human, still be attractive, even while going through cancer. You have all these things happening to you—you lose hair and eyebrows. You don’t look like yourself, so you don’t feel attractive. You feel tired. Just to have that shift is really good for your overall self-esteem and to give you that hope. Having something to have control over, like your appearance, is so important because you’re surrendering everything else in the process.” 1 in 2 Canadian women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer, and pandemic or not, it is estimated that in 2020, 110,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer. Medical care is vital, but there is a often a gap in providing support for a woman’s well-being and mental health. Look Good Feel Better is Canada’s only
charitable program dedicated to helping women manage the effects cancer and its treatment have on their appearance and restore a woman’s sense of self. LGFB provides supportive care to women through workshops, panel discussions with experts in their field, and even workshops specific to teens. At this time of social isolation and physical distancing, supporting self-care and building connections between women facing cancer are more important than ever! While the effects of COVID-19 have turned LGFB to hosting workshops online, what hasn’t changed is how much heart goes into every session. Led by expert volunteers, the online workshops allow for women to attend from the comfort of their own homes, allowing LGFB to reach women in more cities and remote regions across the country. While LGFB looks forward to safely re-opening in-person workshops, online small-group formats are here to stay! Canadians can be there for women facing cancer today—tomorrow. For more information, visit www.LGFB.ca
