‘Look Good…Feel Better’ event for female cancer patients scheduled for June 24th at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

A free program for women with cancer called Look Good…Feel Better will be held today, June 24^th, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital from 5:30 until 7:30 PM. The event will be held in the Kessler Health Education Library and is hosted by Angela Hall-Jones of the American Cancer Society and Julie Durmis, DFCI Health and Patient Educator.

Brigham and Women’s hospital is one of the country’s foremost cancer treatment centers, and many patients with mesothelioma receive their treatment there. Dr. David Sugarbaker, one of the leading physicians in the field of thoracic oncology, is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery here.

Today’s event offers free facials, manicures, and makeup application for female cancer patients, and aims to boost patient self-esteem and morale. Trained cosmetologists will be present. Events like this are held frequently at Brigham and Women’s in an effort to provide patients with opportunities to enjoy themselves in the midst of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

While women very rarely develop mesothelioma cancer, more and more cases have been documented in the last decade due to second-hand asbestos exposure. Women who washed work clothes belonging to a family member that contained asbestos particles may have inhaled these fibers, subsequently developing a malignancy later on in life. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer, which has no known cure and is considered to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed annually, and thousands more worldwide.

To register for the event at Brigham and Women’s, please call 617-632-3226 or email Nicole Baglione of DFCI at nicole_baglione@dfci.harvard.edu.