BOCA RATON, Fla. — For cancer patients, the toll of treatment can significantly change their appearance. At the Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton, there is a program that tailors to the unique needs of both men and women.
It's all in an effort to make patients look and feel like themselves again. Every cancer patient has a different story, but a puzzling similarity seems to exist among women and women.
"It’s rough. It’s rough. I look at myself. Bags under the eyes. Puffiness from chemo therapy. It’s almost like, 'Is that really me?'" said patient Jordan Meyerson.
"I think what happens is you realize it’s almost an out-of-body incident. You wake up and you’re like, 'Where is me?'" asked Sarah Balaker, a patient who has been through the program.
At the Lynn Cancer Institute, the focus is mind, body and spirit.
"Taking back control with your image and appearance is a big part of it," said Darci McMally, who works with patients at Lynn Cancer Institute.
Licensed cosmetologists teach beauty tips to help cancer patients.
"This is attending to the spirit. We want to let them know they can take back control," said McMally.
The program helps cancer patients with their appearance. For women, it's called "Be U Tiful." For men, there is a brand new program developed out of a need that is called "Him II."
Meyerson said as a patient he is dealing with a host of appearance issues like hair loss and skin chaffing.
"If I feel good with my appearance, that makes me a lot happier," said Meyerson. "People always say I don’t look like I have cancer. If I can keep it that way, I’m happy."