DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens today announced that it has 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. The exclusive offering will be available at more than 400 Walgreens stores in select markets across the country.
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,” said Rina Shah, vice president of pharmacy operations and specialty at Walgreens. “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.”
Walgreens is proud to develop this comprehensive offering by collaborating 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.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with Walgreens on this initiative to help educate their beauty consultants to offer support to cancer patients who visit their pharmacies during treatment,” said Louanne Roark, executive director of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation. “As the organization who pioneered the concept of helping cancer patients manage appearance side effects of treatment, and with support services available nationwide and globally, we are proud to utilize our expertise to give patients an added community resource to support them during treatment.”
“We are proud to collaborate with Walgreens to develop an important initiative that includes best practices gleaned from our more than 35 years of listening to patients and developing programs that meet their needs, ” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “This is a win for patients. The individuals who benefit from our network of CSC and Gilda’s Club affiliates and other resources will learn about Walgreens new patient-focused program, while Walgreens customers in these markets will be made aware of the free services we provide in-person through CSC affiliates, online, and through our toll-free Helpline.”
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.
Global Approach
On a global scale, Walgreens Boots Alliance takes a comprehensive approach toward supporting cancer programs, working with organizations that advance research, expand prevention programs and assist people living with cancer.
Experts at 1,400 Boots stores in the U.K. help individuals with cancer by offering health and beauty advice made possible through specialized trainings by Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the largest British charities supporting people affected by cancer. Boots Macmillan beauty advisors help individuals manage visible side effects of cancer by giving them face-to-face advice about skin, hair and nails. Boots Macmillan information pharmacists are trained to offer advice about treatment and medication, as well as guide patients to more specialized sources of information and support.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
About Look Good Feel Better
For three decades, Look Good Feel Better® has been dedicated to helping people with cancer cope with the appearance side effects of their treatment. Since 1989, the program has empowered 2 million women globally to reclaim the sense of control, confidence and self-esteem that are so central to wellbeing. For more information, visit lookgoodfeelbetter.org. Look Good Feel Better is offered through a collaborative effort of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, the charitable arm of the Personal Care Products Council, the trade group representing the cosmetics and beauty industry; and the Professional Beauty Association, the largest organization of salon professionals with members representing salons/spas, distributors, manufacturers and beauty professionals. For more information, visit the website at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org. Look Good Feel Better is a registered trademark of the Look Good Feel Better Foundation.
About the Cancer Support Community
As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as MyLifeLine, a community of support available online, and a toll-free helpline. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355, or visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org. So that no one faces cancer alone®
