” There’s lots of great information. I feel as though the questions I had were answered before I even had a chance to ask them. I’m not happy about the changes to my body, but I am accepting them, and I appreciate the tips and support to help me deal with this.”

• Kathryn R, Workshop Participant

Post Surgical Products

Prostheses Basics

Fitting & Clothing Tips

Nightwear & Sleep Support

Care & Maintenance

Skincare During Radiation

Nipple Appearance Options

Access & Financial Help

Register Today!

A new theme – and new makeup – every time

Just because we’re talking about how to deal with side-effects to your skin and hair, it doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun with it. Each session covers a new look so you can lean into your artistic side or just change up the basics to help you feel more like yourself.

Who can attend?

This workshop welcome teens aged 13 to 17 who are currently facing cancer or have completed treatment in the past year.

A bit older or younger and want to attend? Send us an email at workshops@lgfb.ca

Hang out. Have fun. Repeat.

What if you take our workshop, enjoy it and want to come to another one? That happens a lot! As long as spots are available, we’d love to you to have you for a repeat performance. 

Each session has a new make-up theme AND it’s a great way to build friendships over time!

Real advice in a supportive setting

Our Look Good Feel Better Shaving & Men’s Skincare Workshop is designed to help you take control of these changes with simple, effective skincare, shaving and grooming techniques tailored specifically for men facing cancer.

This free workshop is offered both online and in person in select locations and is held in a comfortable, supportive setting. You can listen, learn, and participate as much—or as little—as you’d like. Participants also receive a complimentary kit of skincare and shaving products to try before and during treatment.

A no-pressure, practical approach

Prefer to stay in the background?

No problem! No matter if you’re attending online or in person, you can simply listen and absorb the tips at your own pace, and try them out whenever it suits you. 

Whether you’re here for skincare advice, scalp care, guidance on hair loss, or because someone you love suggested you might benefit from the workshop, we’re so glad you are here. This session is all about giving you the tools to move forward with confidence, in whatever way works best for you.

What our participants have to say

 ” Before treatment, I was worried about hair loss. I didn’t expect that issues with skin on my face and scalp would be the most challenging chemo side effect. The advice in this workshop helped.”

• Joseph S., Workshop Participant

“Actively taking care of myself helped me regain control – I didn’t want to be defined as sick.”

• Adam P., Workshop Participant

Hair and Brow Loss During Cancer Treatment

The loss of hair and brows can be just as distressing for men as it is for women, especially for men who have always had a full head of hair. Although it is currently a style statement for some men to have shaved heads, this may not be your personal preference.  Hair loss or thinning may or may not happen depending on your specific cancer treatment.  

Remember, hair loss is almost always temporary.

Hair Regrowth

Depending on the type and duration of your treatment, your hair will start to reappear at a rate of about ½ of an inch a month. Once your hair grows back, it may be different than before your treatment due to the absence or alteration of pigments.  As the pigment cells return to normal, hair should go back to its original colour and texture.

The Basics

The Three Basic Steps Are:

Have flaky skin, black heads or ingrown hairs?

Consider a gentle exfoliator once a week to get a deeper clean. Use it right before cleansing to leave the skin looking smoother, clearer and brighter. Again – look for a gentle option during treatment and try testing on a small area first.

Some Extras to Consider:

Hand Cream

Hydration is a key element in maintaining your skin during this time. Keep a hand cream by your sink.

Body Cream & Lotion

Having a body moisturizer will more than earn its place in your daily care while undergoing treatment. Dryness, irritation and possible skin cracking are all things you want to avoid so laying on the lotion is more than worth the effort. Apply after you shower or bathe, and throughout the day as needed.

Tinted Moisturizer & Concealer

There are some great tinted products out there that are very light-weight and natural. These products help minimize any redness, uneven skin tone and/or dark circles under the eyes. Always look for fragrance free hypo-allergenic products when picking up your grooming essentials as treatment can make even the most robust of skin a little more sensitive.

Nail Care During Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatment doesn’t just affect your hair and skin—it can change your nails too. Your nails (and the skin around them) might get weaker, develop ridges, get thicker or discoloured, or even fall off. It might sound a little scary, but don’t worry—it’s only temporary and totally normal during treatment.

Dealing With Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment

For some people, losing their hair can feel even harder than getting a cancer diagnosis. And that’s totally valid. Your hair might feel like a big part of who you are—it’s how you express yourself, feel confident, or just feel like you. Since hair loss is a visible sign of illness, it can mess with how you see yourself and how others see you. You might feel anxious, vulnerable, or just off.

But here’s the good news: Hair loss is temporary

And there are lots of things—like wigs, hats, or even totally new looks—that can help you feel more confident while your hair takes a break.

Whether you want to keep things feeling familiar or try something bold and new, we’ve got a few tips to help you through it.

Body Image after Cancer Treatment and Surgery 

For many people living with cancer or in remission, changes in appearance can be a major source of concern and anxiety. This is not vanity. Much of our identity is related to our physical appearance from how we wear our hair to what clothes we choose. Body shape and size, including  breasts, are often tied to a sense of self, self-expression, sexuality, and self-esteem. 

Appearance Related Side-effects

Appearance-related impacts of cancer can be temporary (like hair loss and skin changes) or more permanent (like surgery or scarring). They can all affect a person at a time when they may already feel vulnerable, which can negatively impact their mental and emotional health. 

For anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, there’s enough to cope with emotionally without also feeling that there’s no space to speak about body image issues or that it is somehow selfish or vain to worry about them. For Dee-Jay Jodoin, a B.C. woman in remission, changes to her physical appearance like hair loss and weight gain were hard to accept.

The Physical and Emotional Connection

“People going through cancer treatment often experience a change in their body image and in their relationship with their body,” says Monique Voorn, a social worker at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre in Barrie, Ontario. “They may be unhappy about how their appearance has changed, whether they’ve had breast surgery or scars they don’t like, or lymphedema. Sometimes, a woman may not have had significant visual changes to her body but feels like her body has failed her or that she can’t count on it.”

There can also be physical changes that a person may not expect. “With radiation, there are skin changes,” notes Larissa Dyck, an oncology nurse in Calgary, Alta. “The area that’s treated darken and may take a while to fade, and skin can get tighter and be uncomfortable for some patients, causing a loss of range of motion.”

Keloids – a type of raised scar that can arise after a surgery. These can be a particular concern for Black women specifically.

Weight can be an issue, too. Being on hormones can cause weight changes that can turn women’s body image completely upside down and they can get really down on themselves.

It takes time for women to recognize and appreciate the full impact of the changes they’ve undergone during their cancer journey. “It’s often near the end of treatment when it really hits women what they’ve been through and all the changes they’ve undergone – physical and otherwise,” says Dyck. “When patients are finished their treatment, they expect things to go back to normal — but they may still be on long-term hormones or medication, and that’s when it can be really hard. They expect their bodies to just bounce back, and they want to go back to work and exercise, but things aren’t the same as before.” 

Empowerment is Different for Every Person

While physical symptoms can affect a person in a finite number of ways, the emotional experience is different for everyone.

“When some women lose their hair with chemo, they’ll proudly wear a head scarf. Other women have a complete loss of identity and want to wear a wig. They may fear that their partners won’t be attracted to them.”

Larissa Dyck
– Oncology nurse from Calgary, Alberta

“There’s a wave or rollercoaster ride of emotions in any type of cancer. There’s a lot of grief. We grieve all kinds of changes or losses in our lives that cancer brings — to your body, to your innocence, and to the carefree way that you may have used to experience life.”

Monique Voon
– Social Worker from Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre

EVERY DAY WE HELP PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEMSELVES AGAIN 

Look Good Feel Better workshops help women, men and teens with cancer learn how to manage the physical, social and emotional impacts of cancer and its treat­ment in small and supportive groups.

After Surgery

During the 6-week healing period, you won’t want to add weight or compression to the area. Initial breast forms, which are made of a lightweight, loose fibre, are a good option. Some women like the lightweight fibre of an initial breast form and choose this option as their standard breast form after the recovery period has passed.  

Others prefer the weight of a standard breast form as it can feel more what they are used to.  

Some women refer to the “hug test” – or what makes them feel most comfortable when hugging another person. Knowing what will work for you will depend on your needs and what makes you comfortable.

Partial Forms

Partial forms or protheses are used after a lumpectomy or lymph node removal. They can also be used several years after a reconstruction to match changes in your other breast due to changes in weight and natural changes over time. 

They help balance shape and create symmetry. There are lots of options for every shape and size to match the other breast.