04/12/2025
🎀Look Good feel Better - What does this mean to one of our patients.
🙏Thank you Cheryl for allowing us to share your journey and we hope this will assist other ladies who need our support.....
What am I grateful for?
I received a breast cancer diagnosis in October 2023. I am naturally extremely grateful for the NHS and my ongoing care, for my amazing surgeon for removing the invading cells and treating my body. I am cured but still undergoing preventative treatment which is not without it’s challenges which brings me to the day of my 59th birthday 28th February 2024, I woke up with an itchy arm at the site of my chemo infusion.
3 hours later I was back in hospital, in tears, in pain and frightened, my previous persona of being tough and able to beat ‘the b***h cells’ alone with no support was in tatters - I needed emotional support outside of which my family and friends could provide, and the next day, I sought it.
Practically bald, with no brows or lashes, I donned my wig and put on my brave face and drove to the Helen Rollason centre where I collapsed in tears. They were and continue to be fantastic. I am grateful to them.
They told me, amongst other support they offer, about ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ wow, did I need that!!!! Unfortunately there were no spaces on their event, but they gave me contact details of the company in case there were other sources running locally. I phoned them….. this was the best decision I made during 2024 and proved pivotal.
I was told of a fairly local session taking place at the Rivers Hospital….. this would entail me travelling for an hour from my home in Maldon but I was in need of a boost so made the booking not knowing what to expect.
What I got far exceeded any expectations! What I got was a phone call from the amazing well of empathy that is Jo asking how I feel, what I would like for lunch and advising me on the parking at the Rivers.
What I got was a huge hug as soon as I walked through the door, a hug that moved me to tears. I sat, bare faced and bare headed and and had the most amazing day with Jo and the incredible volunteers as I learnt new skincare and makeup techniques to care for my skin which was suffering from a cocktail of drugs and required more and different care and make up techniques to my pre chemo days and I learnt how to fake brows and hide chemo pallor.
What I got was unconditional support in a safe environment and newfound friendships.
I am grateful to the Rivers Hospital for hosting the Look Good Feel Better event that day when I was at my lowest ebb.
I am grateful to Jo for inviting the force of nature, Anita to speak to the group. Anita informed the group that the Rivers Hospital sponsored the facility at the Manor of Groves hotel that allowed the Brafternoon Club to meet once a month.
I am grateful to the Rivers for supporting Brafternoon which is now a fixture in my diary and for all the genuine love and support in that room….. and of course for Jo who always pops in and continues to give those amazing healing hugs.
It was serendipitous that I had a horrid 59th birthday, in a strange way, it has enriched my life. I hope in some small way that I also give support and love to other ladies that I have met since that pivotal day.
I tried to get booked on the Look Good Feel Better hair and scalp care seminar off the back of the skin and make up event held at the Rivers, but was sad that this was not hosted as a face to face event and was only delivered on line…. Whilst I did attend the on line event, it lacked the support element that only a face to face, hands on small group sessions can give and sadly, although I raised my hand on several occasions, the group was too large to cater to or to answer all questions and friendships could not be initiated.
What am I grateful for? My health, my warm home, my loving partner, my wonderful sister, I am also very lucky to have a wide and supportive friendship group. I am lucky in that respect. Not everybody is.
Have the past two years been tough? Of course they have and my life has been changed immeasurably. I am two years clear now and will continue preventative treatment to keep it that way and am grateful to be able to lead a full and active life surrounded by people I love and who love me.
The Rivers Hospital, whilst not having me on their patient list ( I am being treated at Broomfield to whom I will be eternally grateful) have enhanced by life by bringing Jo and Anita into it and all the wonderful Brafternoon group of ladies and for that, I am extremely grateful .
Thank you, to the Rivers from a grateful patient that you won’t know you have treated.
Cheryl xx
For further information:-
☎ Please contact Jo Polla for details of our next workshop and to get involved.
Telephone 07908221025 or email jo.polla@ramsayhealth.co.uk for further details.
or visit
🌐www.brafternoon.co.uk
