A wig fitting at the Cingari Family Boutique at Smilow Cancer Hospital.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“How do I make myself back to who I am?” said Patricia Judson, a cancer patient at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Judson, 68, is not just about concealing her cancer through makeup, but more about finding the new normal.
Her husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year and shortly after, her routine mammogram delivered unexpected news.
“I walked in being footloose, fancy free, thinking I’m fine but they found something,” added Judson.
Her cancer journey brought her to the Beyond Beauty Program which is offered through the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital. It is an interactive program that addresses skin changes, hair loss, scalp care and nail care for patients facing visual changes that come with treatment.
Staff who are specially trained can help patients feel better and more confident during and following treatment.
Andrea Torre teaches a class at Smilow Cancer Hospital.
The class is taught by Andrea Torre who is a cancer survivor herself. She uses her hands as a hairdresser and wig fitter to help other cancer patients rediscover their beauty, teaching them not just how to apply makeup, but how to embrace the empowerment that shine from within.
“It’s the skin changes and it’s taking care of the way they are outwardly accepted,” said Torre.
The patients reclaim their faces in the class but also sketch the contours of their own stories among each other.
“They do tell very intimate stories. It does help for them to be able to talk about it in a safe environment,” added Torre.
Though it is never just about makeup, choosing the right wig at the Cingari Family Boutique gives patients a sense of self that even cancer cannot touch.
The boutique is open to the public and welcomes those who have received treatment at other cancer centers.
Appointments are required for wigs, post-surgical bras and camisoles, mastectomy bras and breast protheses. Scheduling ahead reduces wait time and assures that staff can verify prescription and insurance information.
The Beyond Beauty Program is free and was launched in April 2023 with a session held at Smilow Cancer Hospital in Waterford. Additional sessions are also offered in Trumbull and Waterbury, with the goal of scheduling workshops throughout the state.
Truth strength comes from giving themselves grace and giving themselves space.
Learn more about the Cingari Family Boutique.
For more information on upcoming classes and locations, email Andrea Torre or call the Cingari Family Boutique at 203-200-2273.
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