Strength in Sisterhood: How Women-Led Support Transforms the Cancer Journey

As International Women’s Day approaches, we recognize not only the achievements of women but also the resilience, strength, and community that empower them through life’s toughest battles. For women facing a cancer diagnosis, support is more than a comfort—it’s a lifeline. Studies show that strong social connections can improve mental health and even increase survival rates for those undergoing treatment.

For over 30 years, Canadian non-profit Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) has been at the forefront of this movement, offering complimentary workshops that help women navigate the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments, from post-surgery changes to beauty and self-care. More than just workshops, these sessions create a space where women can reclaim confidence, find community, and rediscover joy.

We spoke with Verity Crewe-Nelson, a business owner, wife, and mother, who shares her experience navigating a breast cancer diagnosis with the support of LGFB. Her story is one of resilience, empowerment, and the undeniable impact of women lifting each other up. —Noa Nichol

Can you take us back to the moment of your diagnosis? What were your initial thoughts and emotions?

After undergoing tests and a biopsy, I had felt that I was going to be getting bad news on the day of my diagnosis so I thought I had mentally prepared myself for the appointment. However, nothing can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that you will go on when you realize that your life is about to change forever. I had three young daughters at the time so I knew that I had no choice but to fight for my life and do whatever it took to beat cancer. From that day on, I lived by the motto, whatever it takes to get better, I will do it.

As a business owner, wife and mother, how did you balance your personal and professional life while undergoing treatment?

There isn’t an aspect of my life that wasn’t affected by my cancer treatment. I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and Herceptin (a targeted therapy). As a business owner, I leaned on my staff and delegated as much as I could. That being said, staff needed to be paid and bills needed to be paid so no matter how ill I felt on a given day, I managed to get done what needed to get done. Fortunately for me, my husband is my business partner and he made sure that my health and treatments were our number one priority and gave me the support at work and home that I needed. During this time, being a mother was probably the hardest aspect to manage. The word cancer strikes fear into the imagination of even young children. So my girls had a period of real fear that they were going to lose me. My job was to reassure them and show that the world they knew was not going to end. I made sure that my best hours of the day were spent with them. I would ask for help from friends and family to help me drive them to school so that their routines were not disrupted and I made sure that on their special days, I took care to make them feel special and the centre of attention rather than my cancer.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your cancer journey, both physically and emotionally?

There are many physical challenges that I faced from treatment including recovering from surgery, radiated skin, loss of hair, etc. But the biggest challenge physically for me was going through chemotherapy. The exhaustion, fatigue, pain and nausea became very defeating which leads into the emotional aspect of cancer. At a time when I was feeling physically at my worst and exhausted, it was very hard to overcome the big emotions that come with cancer: fear, anxiety, depression, isolation, etc. It is as if you are fighting battles on all fronts and it is hard to see how things will ever get better. My oncology teams at Princess Margaret Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital were fantastic during this time. I had a clear plan for my treatment so I was aware of what to expect at each stage which allows you to prepare for the physical pain and emotional roller coaster you are about to ride.

How did you first learn about Look Good Feel Better (LGFB), and what drew you to participate in their workshops?

I learned about LGFB from Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Although I am not typically a person that worries about my appearance, I quickly realized that I wanted to fight to retain any part of me that I could. I had finished my first round of chemo and was told that I would be losing my hair after my next round. I decided to be pro-active and attend the workshop to see what tools they had that could help me to navigate my new life. I did not want to look pale and sickly when I was picking up my daughters. I wanted to put their worries to rest so they could know it was okay to go back and enjoy their childhood. I made it my goal to look my happiest and healthiest whenever I was around them. These workshops were not about vanity for me but rather trying to know how I could look like my healthiest best self.

Can you share a memorable experience from an LGFB workshop that had a significant impact on your confidence and well-being?

My biggest memory was sitting down at the table for the workshop with a group of women of all ages and life experiences who just like me where scared and trying to navigate cancer treatments. Within five minutes we all felt comfortable enough to ask each other questions and I slowly felt a sense of community that you can only get from people who also understand what you are going through. The next biggest impact for me were the volunteers. They were patient, kind and most importantly knowledgeable about what to do and not do when choosing makeup and skin care products during treatment. The volunteers from my workshop had also survived cancer and shared their stories so it can give me hope too on a day that I wasn’t feeling very hopeful. They were cheerleaders just as much as they were teachers that day.

The appearance-related effects of cancer, like hair loss or post-surgery changes, can be deeply personal. How did LGFB help you navigate these changes?

While I was undergoing chemotherapy, my eldest daughter was graduating from grade 8. For that day I did not want to look like a cancer patient, I wanted the attention to be on the celebration of my daughter and her achievements. Luckily for me, I had attended the LGFB workshop and was prepared. I put on my best hat and now knew how to apply makeup with my compromised immune system in mind. That day was made so much easier by being prepared with the tools to look my best.

Community and support systems are crucial during cancer treatment. How did connecting with other women through LGFB workshops make a difference in your journey?

Cancer is not a club that anyone wants to join and as a younger cancer patient I only knew one other person who had cancer prior to me. I am not a natural joiner but the lure of makeup and tips was enough to sell me on signing up for the workshop. When I recommend the workshops now as a cancer survivor, I always start with the makeup and tips but I have to add that it is a great chance to talk with other women while attending the workshop who are going through the exact same experience. There are people who might be a bit further along in treatment and can give you advice on what they are going through or there might be someone who is at the same stage of life who can share what it is like right now for them dealing with daycare, school, their job, their worries…This community of support is invaluable.

With International Women’s Day approaching, why do you think it’s important to spotlight the experiences of women going through a cancer diagnosis?

It is vital that it is highlighted to remind women to take this day to take care of their health. Get regular checkups and follow-up on any concerns. If you then have a cancer diagnosis, take the next step and seek out support groups like LGFB to help you in your journey. International Women’s Day is a chance for women to support women and this is a great organization that has made that goal its mission. 

What advice would you give to other women facing breast cancer who may be struggling with the emotional and physical toll of the disease?

My advice would be to carve out time for yourself everyday where you can put your health first. This is hard especially when you have children and work responsibilities but you need time to recover from each treatment. Take a nap, take a warm bath, and spend time resting. If your medical team has done everything they can to help you with your physical and emotional pain then it really is important that you give your body and mind the time to heal. If you need more support then seek out therapists, a person of faith or friends that can help you through the difficult times.

Now that you’ve come through this journey, how do you define strength and resilience, and what message do you hope to share with other women?

Now that I am on the other side of recovery from my cancer, I have a new view of what strength and resilience are to me. Before, I thought strength was being stoic and not allowing my diagnosis to become a burden to the people closest to me. Today, I understand that real strength comes when you recognize that there are days and maybe weeks or months when it is very hard to be strong and resilient. Real strength and resilience comes from seeking help to get you through those days. Speaking with a mental health expert, asking friends or family to pick up your kids from school, seeking out other cancer survivors for insights and in my case in particular going to an LGFB workshop to get the tools and support to help me see the person I was again when I look in the mirror. My advice to other women is to not suffer alone. The last thing you probably want to do when you are tired and sick from treatment is to go to a workshop but the support you get from these workshops is another tool you can use in your fight to beat cancer and regain your life and your sense of self that cancer tries to take away from you.