Cancer is one of the most discussed and serious diseases that impact the lives of people across the globe. It is also among the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in less developed regions.
In 2015 more than 1,6 million new cases of cancer were reported only in the United States. Almost 600,000 people died the same year from cancer in the US.
As the number of people with cancer rises, the mortality rates in the US are decreasing. It’s a good indicator of progress in the fight against cancer. Without attention to the disease itself, treatment improvements and special care for people who have cancer or survive it, this progress may be less visible.
Feel More Like You
On March 4, 2019, Walgreens officials announced their “Feel More Like You” program to help patients with cancer to manage all side effects of anti-cancer treatment. This is the first-of-its-kind pharmacy, health, and beauty free of charge service provided by Walgreens.
The previous year, Walgreens run “Feel More Like You” in about 100 of their stores. As the results were positive and people appreciated the service, this year the program was launched in a higher number of stores. Among 3,000 locations which follow the program in 2019, there are about 500 stores in the Chicago area.
The program was developed in collaboration with Cancer Support Community and Look Good, Feel Better Foundation. The first one is the largest professionally led, a nonprofit network for cancer support. Look Good, Feel Better Foundation is the leading cancer support organization, which specializes in issues related to physical appearance and beauty needs of people with cancer.
According to Walgreens, more than 15,000 of Walgreen pharmacists and beauty consultants underwent the special training to be able to recommend the best over-the-counter options for patients who faced cancer treatment side effects.
Among those 15,000 professionals, there are about 12,000 pharmacists and more than 3,000 beauty consultants. Aside from training aimed to help people to manage visible effects of cancer treatment (eyelashes loss, dry hair, and skin, etc.) and other physical changes (sunlight sensitivities, discoloration), Walgreen employees received also empathy training.
This training will help pharmacists and beauty consultants to understand their customers better, and so, provide them with an enhanced level of emotional support. This training was provided by the Cancer Support Community, so employees can definitely understand the power of empathy and how it affects a patient’s treatment and recovery.
How to become part of the program
Rina Shah, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens, said that cancer treatment impacts many aspects of patients’ lives from side effects (fatigue, nausea) to distinct changes in appearance, and impact self-esteem and confidence.
She also added that through support from Walgreens pharmacists and specially-trained beauty consultants, the Feel More Like You service has the power to positively affect millions of Americans who have their lives impacted by cancer.
Walgreens encourages those who have been affected by cancer or know someone who has that disease to become part of Feel More Like You program by visiting http://www.walgreens.com/FeelMoreLikeYou
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