I'm in UK - most members of this ng aren't.

Back in 1998 when I had surgery and radiotherapy treatment (and subsequently
five years of medication) for breast cancer we were offered the Look Good
Feel Better pack. I went to the session at the Yorkshire Cancer Centre with
a new friend, Miriam, from the ward. We were shown how to apply various
products by a dolly bird who admitted that she wouldn't go out of the house
without her false eyelashes. That amused us all, especially the women who
were still affected by chemotherapy. Well, I say amused but scorned might
have been closer to the truth. Each of us was assessed for skin type and
colouring because, presumably, we couldn't do that for ourselves (did we
come from a generation which had never used make-up?), and what Miriam
called our 'cat boxes' (they looked like small cardboard pet carriers) full
of preparations were given to us after the patter.

After the training session Miriam and I went into the garden, found a
little, rather beautiful, sheltered spot and 'did' each other with our
respective unguents and colours, then we took photographs. We both agreed
that we didn't look real - but we did match the image of our tutor and she'd
have been proud of what we'd achieved.

Some of the women had gone because they'd heard that the products were worth
a lot of money, they didn't care what they were, they intended giving them
to friends as valuable presents.

I see my cat box every day, it's on the bedroom floor. I don't know what to
do with it, I've never used any of the stuff but it seems a dreadful waste
to throw it out even though it will be out of date now.

Miriam's didn't get as far as the inside of her house.

I occasionally see fellow survivors and of course we discuss many things,
including the cat boxes and their contents. Only two have used them. We
think that it was a generous offer and well meant but as much about
marketing as charity. Cosmetic companies get a good reputation from that
sort of action.

Cynical? Probably. There would have been more appropriate 'gifts' than those
which emphasised how important it is perceived to "look good". Feeling good
comes from within, not without.

Of course I only relate what happened to me and those I knew in a snapshot
of time. It might not be representative of all bc survivors. As I said, many
women went and took away their packs with enthusiasm - but for might be
considered to be unintended reasons.

I wonder why you want younger women. There are fewer under 40 bc candidates
than those of us who are older. Perhaps it's for a lifestyle magazine or
something where you can show glamour photographs. Such things aren't
important to most of us, we enjoy life, not our reflections.

It reminds me of when Woman's Hour asked me to get someone to talk about a
particular topic (not breast cancer): "with young-sounding voices". I asked
what was meant by "young". "Oh, under thirty" said the producer.

WHAT? And WHY? I mean, is Jenni Murray under thirty?

Pah.

Mary

The American Cancer Society runs a similar program here in the U.S., for
those who may be interested.  See:

http://tinyurl.com/kqd73

Ann T.
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