Dealing with cancer is a grueling experience. What it can do to a patient's appearance adds insult to injury. It's bad enough to be burdened with a disease where life and well-being hang in the balance. Seeing its effects staring back at you whenever you look in the mirror can make it all that much harder to bear.
When your reflection is looking its best, it can help you to feel better about the challenges you are facing. It can help you to feel more like yourself while you're going through an ordeal that is so unfamiliar and frightening. You are not your sickness.
This is one of those situations where appearance is not just superficial. It can be incredibly important for the person living with cancer to see themselves in the mirror.
Changes in their skin and hair loss are just a couple of the demoralizing things that can be so discouraging and depressing during a time when the cancer survivor is most vulnerable.
For these reasons, the Roy & Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., has fostered a truly holistic integrative medicine approach to cancer treatment. Clearly demonstrating the true value of this cohesive personal approach, Warner Bros. joined forces with its business "rival" to support a further transformation of the Personal Appearance Center, which they proudly unveiled together on July 31, 2014. Wigs, scarves, inspirational jewelry and other accoutrements surround in this little homage to the beauty of the soul, to help patients feel their best as they navigate the physical challenges of their treatments.
Patients are provided with free individualized consultations customized to the specific appearance issues they're facing as a result of their prescribed protocols.
If you need help with prostheses, mastectomy bras or fittings, the staff at the Center can help you with their expertise. They can show you makeup techniques and teach you about corrective skin care.
The Personal Appearance Center is located just north of Los Angeles, in the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, on the second level.
The Sisters of Providence, Providence Saint Joseph founded the Center in 1943. It is the second largest hospital in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, with 446 licensed beds, 2,500 employees, volunteers, Guild members, and more than 600 doctors.
You can call the Center at 818-748-4713.
Do you live in the area? Need a boost, and some practical help while living with cancer? Is a friend or member of your family dealing with the day-to-day effects of tackling cancer?
Come out to the reopening, and experience all the advantages and support what the Personal Appearance Center has to offer.
Sources:
Personal Appearance Center: Assisting Patients with Unique Needs. California.providence.org. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
http://california.providence.org/saint-joseph/services/cancer/services/p...
About Us. California.providence.org. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
http://california.providence.org/saint-joseph/about
Prevention and Support. California.providence.org. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
http://california.providence.org/saint-joseph/services/breast-health/pre...
The Sheri and Roy P. Disney Center for Integrative Medicine
http://tolucantimes.info/special_issues/beauty-health-fitness/the-sheri-...
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed July 31, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN