Massillon Independent, Oct. 18
By ERIN PUSTAY, Erin.Pustay@IndeOnline.com
Just as soon as Jackson Township resident Eileen Zelle puts her face on, she is ready to face the town.
When your everydays are focused on an uphill battle with pancreatic cancer, its important to take time to be yourself. Even when you hair falls out. Even when you don't feel like putting make up on. Even when you don't feel exactly like yourself.
"I lost a lot of weight," Eileen said. "I was happy with my weight before -- I weighed 130 pounds -- but I have lost a lot of it because of the chemotherapy."
Aultman Hospital is giving women who are battling and have survived cancer the chance they need to pamper their feminine sides, find strength in their confidence and draw on their friends to simply "Look Good ... (and) Feel Better."
According to Patty Begue, an oncology nurse who helps to oversee Aultman's "Look Good ... Feel Better" program, women in the group are given health care and beauty tips, as well as information about issues that may arise as a result of their cancer therapies.
Simple things -- like learning to wrap a head scarf properly, learning how to wear and care for wig and how to put on make up to accentuate every bit of beauty you have -- can make a world a difference in the life of an oncology patient.
"It helps with the self-esteem," Begue said. "It helps them to feel and look more like themselves."
Massillon resident Laura Zelle has fought and defeated cancer more than once. A survivor for seven years now, she found strength by taking the time to make herself feel comfortable in her own skin.
"I used a wig and I used fake eye lashes," Laura said. "I used it to make my appearance look like it should to other people."
Eileen, Laura's mother-in-law, attended the "Look Good ... Feel Better" group for the first time Wednesday during a special open house session.
"My husband is my support," Eileen said. "And so is my son Michael and, of course, Laura."
With that, Eileen reached out and carefully took Laura's hand and smiled.
Laura said she wanted to attend the open house with Eileen because she knows how important it is to find confidence in your appearance as you go through the cancer treatments.
"How good you look," Laura explained, "has a lot to do with how you feel."
After a short demonstration in which the ladies learned to properly apply base make-up, eye-liner, lip-liner, blush and mascara, Sevilla Pankuch, a licensed managing cosmetologist, offered tips for wig care and head coverings.
As a cancer survivor, Pankuch said she understands how much character a woman's hair gives her. But even without it, she said, women can find in themselves ways to let their personalities shine.
"If you have never highlighted your hair," Pankuch said as example, "try a wig with highlights"
Hats, she noted, can also help to make looking good feel good. Turbans are trendy and comfortable, she said, while large brim hats can protect your tender skin from UV rays and make you feel feminine all the same. Hats, by the way, were Pankuch's head covering of choice when she battled cancer.
"I did not lose all of my hair, so I was very fortunate," Pankuch said. "But my mother turned me into a hat baby at 32 years old."
Massillon resident Willie Odell took every bit of information Pankuch offered to heart. Odell, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, said she has not yet begun her treatments, but will need all the information when the therapy side effects start.
"I feel better already," Odell said with a laugh. "I'll be using the tips to make myself up so I can look good when I don't feel good."
For more information about Aultman's "Look Good ... Feel Better" program, visit www.aultman.com.
