The American Cancer Society is starting a monthly program in Windham designed to help women battling cancer to feel better by improving their appearance.

The first “Look Good…Feel Better” group session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Windham Union Church, located at 723 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. Subsequent sessions will be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the same time and location.

Cancer can rob a woman of her energy, appetite and strength. But it doesn’t have to take away her self-confidence. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, and the National Cosmetology Association, “Look Good…Feel Better” is a unique program which offers free, one-time beauty consultations with a licensed cosmetologist or aesthetician to women who are currently undergoing cancer treatment. The beauty professionals provide tips and practical techniques for coping with hair loss and changes in the skin that often result from chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Participants will each receive a complimentary cosmetic kit donated by the cosmetic industry. They will also learn ways to use wigs, scarves and other accessories to conceal hair loss. Patients who have participated in Look Good…Feel Better call the program an emotional lifesaver because it returns them to a sense of normalcy and allows them to smile once again at the person in the mirror.

“Being able to look your best makes a world of difference to someone going through treatment for cancer,” said Cheryl Tucker, community executive for the American Cancer Society. “Sometimes simple changes in makeup or an attractive way of tying a head scarf can create a turnaround in a woman’s outlook and bring back her self confidence. It’s like a makeover for the spirit – and that’s a beautiful thing.”

To register for the Look Good…Feel Better program in Windham, contact Debbie Seybold at 800-227-2345, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information about the program, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345.