The atrium of the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre was filled with laughter and tears, as patients and staff members joined together to celebrate 35 years of Look Good Feel Better.
Australian media personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley hosted festivities, welcoming speakers and chatting with patients and staff.
The program started in 1990 at Westmead Hospital, to address appearance related impact of going through chemotherapy and cancer treatments.
In the first year of the program, it reached 121 women.
Since then, it has supported 200,000 women, men and young adults in every state and territory across Australia, an incredible achievement.
Kerri-Anne became a patron of the program in 2009 and has remained a steadfast ally and supporter since.
“When I joined in 2009 I thought I was a bit bulletproof, that cancer was never going to happen to me, but I became a garden variety statistic,” Kerri-Anne said.
Kerri-Anne shared her experience with cancer, and says the program took on new meaning after her breast cancer diagnosis.
“When you see people come out of a workshop with a bit of a smile on their face after enduring months, if not years, of treatment, it does make you feel good,” Kerri-Anne said.
Founder Julie Carriol says she was being treated for melanoma in the United States when she first heard of the program.
“I thought, ‘This is so impactful, why aren’t we doing it in Australia?’ Julie said.
Acting General Manager of Westmead Hospital, Alison Derrett, shared a memory of attending a workshop when she was a graduate Social Worker.
“It just made such a difference to the people who participated in it, so much so that I don’t actually think words can properly describe it’s impact,” Alison said.
“Not just caring for people’s physical wellbeing, but caring for people’s emotional, psychological and social wellbeing,” Alison said.
Celebrating decades of success, Rosi Fernandez, Chair at Look Good Feel Better, says the program is more dynamic than ever.
“We don’t just help physically, we now help online. We can help in so many different ways, and that is how the program has evolved because of the support,” Rosi said.
“Westmead hospital was the pioneer and led that way 35 years ago by seeing the value of our offering and helping us to grow the service to what it is today across all of Australia,” Rosi said.