Karen Bridgman and Jan Barth were diagnosed with cancer around the same time last year. Since then, the women will tell you, the battle has been uphill.
They each go through grueling chemotherapy treatments. They have radiation. And, there's a slew of medications. Not to mention the pain caused by the disease and the fear of an illness that can sometimes be deadly.
However, Bridgman, of Van Wert, and Barth, of Lima, share something many cancer patients don't have: They have each other. Waging a war against cancer together, the women said, is the most important thing they have right now -- next to hope.
Monday afternoon and evening, the women joined a few other cancer patients for the American Cancer Society's "Look Good ... Feel Better" program -- held in conjunction with the National Cosmetology Association -- at St. Rita's Cancer Center.
Jonalee Schmidt, trainer and coordinator for the local program, offered the handful of women a gift bag full of makeup and other cosmetology products, in addition to tips and advice on how to keep up their appearance while they battle cancer.
Among other things, the women learned how to use wigs and hats to offset the visible hair loss caused by certain types of chemotherapy. "When chemotherapy causes total hair loss, it can devastate a woman," Schmidt said. "We want to give them back their self-esteem and improve their quality of life."
While some women stay home because of the negative impact of cancer treatments, Bridgman and Barth said it's not good to try to keep to oneself when fighting cancer.
"It's very important to have friends," Bridgman said. "We're all going through the same thing -- the changes and the pain. It's great to have support and hope. You need to laugh and talk. You need that support."
Barth agrees.
"We have a good time together," Barth said. "You need to laugh. Laughter makes you feel better. ... We've become like family."
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Copyright (C) 2008 The Lima News, Ohio