Feel More Like You: Collaboration Between Patients with Cancer, Pharmacists, and Beauty Consultants

Officials with Walgreens announced that they have launched a new program called Feel More Like You™, developed to help people living with cancer and their caregivers manage the potential physical changes associated with cancer treatment.

Co-developed with Look Good, Feel Better, the leading cancer support program focusing attention on the appearance and beauty needs of cancer patients, and Cancer Support Community, the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the signature component of Feel More Like You is an integrated approach to cancer care, with specially trained Walgreens beauty consultants and pharmacists working to provide personalized expertise and support to people living with cancer. Additionally, Walgreens community-based specialty pharmacies will play a pivotal part in helping to provide support to coordinate care between individuals with cancer and their local Walgreens store.

“For many patients, the result of cancer treatment not only impacts how they feel on the inside, but also the physical and emotional changes can drastically affect their self-image,” Rina Shah, vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens said in a press release about the program. “By leveraging the expertise of our beauty and pharmacy teams, we’re looking to provide personalized care for people living with cancer that has not been found in a retail environment before.”

Approximately 500 Walgreens beauty consultants have completed specialized training developed by Look Good Feel Better, to address the physical changes associated with cancer treatment such as hair loss and dry hair, dry skin and skin discolorations, sunlight sensitivities and changes to nails and cuticles. In addition to providing clinical advice on medication, more than 2,000 Walgreens pharmacists have received cancer-specific training to recommend over-the-counter products that may help manage side effects associated with cancer treatment such as skin rash, increased fatigue, mouth sores, and dry mouth. Additionally, beauty consultants and pharmacists at Walgreens Feel More Like You stores have completed empathy training from the Cancer Support Community to provide an enhanced level of emotional support during interactions with individuals with cancer.

The initial Feel More Like You pilot launched in spring 2018 at more than 100 Walgreens stores in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Milwaukee and Orlando. With this latest expansion, the service extends to an additional 300 beauty differentiated stores throughout the state of Florida.