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Changing the face of cancer

  Linda Hartley, who has survived multiple recurrences of cancer, had never considered herself a woman with perfect features. But she took great pride in her thick, blondish, naturally curly hair — "It was just always that crowning glory."

So, two years ago, when she learned her hair would never grow again because of heavy radiation to the scalp — "There was tremendous loss and grieving." That is, until she put things in perspective and told herself: "At least I'm alive."

That led Hartley to find out everything there is to know about wigs, including how to keep one from blowing off on a windy day at the beach with a grandchild holding each hand. And, eventually she decided to share her knowledge about coping with the side effects of cancer treatment as a volunteer instructor in a class sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

As she explains: "You don't have to feel like a victim; you don't have to look sick. You can look like your normal self."

The class promises to make its students "Look Good ... Feel Better" with tips on care for dry skin and brittle nails, on how to apply makeup to hide unwelcome changes in appearance such as lost eyelashes and brows, tips on how to wear wigs with confidence, to tie head wraps attractively or to go proudly bald.

Taught by certified cosmetologists who are assisted by trained volunteers such as Hartley, the two-hour, free, hands-on workshop is part of a national program managed throughout the Puget Sound region by the American Cancer Society in collaboration with local hospitals and clinics. Students are welcome to bring a friend or family member for support.

"We're not telling women they have to put makeup on to look better," said another instructor, Laura Welton, a cosmetologist. "This is designed to make you look a little more like what you're used to seeing in the mirror."

The class was created years ago by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association after a doctor asked a former president of the association how to get a makeover for a cancer patient. The woman was feeling so down and embarrassed about her appearance, she wouldn't leave her hospital room. The makeover gave her a new look and a better attitude.

Despite its success, the program still isn't well known.

"There's definitely women who don't hear about it, who would benefit," said Rachel Kirk, a spokeswoman with the American Cancer Society.

Mutually motivated

Sitting across a table sharing woes about dry skin and thinning hair, the women inspire each other to believe: "If she can deal with this, then I can deal with it, too."

The students are all ages and from all walks of life. One recent class had a belly dancer, a marathon runner and a clown from the Puyallup Fair.

Some women arrive relaxed and expecting to have a good time. Others are solemn and just a little scared not knowing what to expect.

No matter what, they all leave knowing how to draw an eyebrow back on, make it look like they still have eyelashes and, most important, that it's OK to laugh about these losses one minute and cry the next.

"If nothing else, it was great to be in a room with women who kind of understood what was going on with you physically," said Carol Franco, 37, a working mom with two small children who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February and who will be in treatment until early October.

Early on she came to terms with losing her long, luxurious pony tail. Instead of waiting for the worst to happen, she took charge and had her head shaved on her birthday. Now, she wears a wrap.

Franco also already knew how to apply makeup when she signed up for the class. But she didn't have a clue what to do "when I don't have eyebrows and eyelashes and my skin looks pale and I have no hair."

People likely will still notice that she's a cancer patient, but thanks to the tricks she's learned, she won't feel as self-conscious.

More than cosmetics

"Look Good ... Feel Better" classes are about far more than makeup and wigs. "It's really about solidarity," said instructor Hartley, 57.

For a time after she was diagnosed with cancer, Hartley didn't talk much about her disease — "I didn't want a badge flashing. I didn't want any sympathy."

But after attending a "Look Good ... Feel Better" class herself and seeing how it could help, she decided to get involved. Now, she'd rather tell people about volunteering for the program than about her own small accounting firm, which she's had for the past 20 years.

"That's become the larger part of my life now," she says.

Hartley tells students about her five wigs, and she jokes about how each has a name including her husband's favorite "Katie" (because it's flipped up and looks perky).

"It really comes down to choices," she said. "You can choose to be totally depressed and angry and frustrated. Or you can choose to make them your friends and name them and have fun with it."

Hartley's confident, put-together look and resilience give hope to students like Carol Harowicz, who recently attended a class in Everett.

Harowicz, 56, hadn't worn makeup since she was 18. But she's undergoing radiation for brain cancer, which has caused her hair to fall out in patches and her eyebrows to thin.

At the class, she learned to recreate those brows — by putting dots along the middle and ends of the brow line, then rubbing them in with a little moisture.

Her first efforts to apply makeup were a little outdated and drew gales of supportive laughter from the class — medicine for her soul.

Then when she tried on a pretty, dark-blond wig — the first time she'd had hair in almost a year — Harowicz knew it was a keeper when the whole class said "Yes! That's You."

"I felt like I was young again," she said.