Copelink Blog

Through a new partnership with Christine Valmy, a beauty and skin care school, CancerCare has offered a series of skin care workshops led by oncology-trained estheticians for people diagnosed with cancer. The workshops, held in New York City in June, and in New Jersey earlier this month, made it clear that this is an area of support missing for patients.

While undergoing treatment, “patients have shared that treatment-related skin concerns are often overlooked by their medical teams,” said Cassie Spector, LMSW, CancerCare’s Breast and Gynecological Cancers Program Coordinator. “These workshops provided a sense of empowerment for attendees as they left with practical knowledge and step-by-step instruction on how to care for their skin while undergoing treatment or post-treatment.”

It's not only the skin care knowledge gained that the attendees took home with them but also a sense of community. For many, having an opportunity to connect with others experiencing similar side effects is just as rewarding. For one woman, “Speaking to and hearing from other women in this journey and feeling heard and seen” and that there were people who “would like to help us find relief” was one of the most meaningful takeaways from the workshop.

For others, it was a chance to escape. “It was a special day for me where I did not have to think about the overall effects of dealing with cancer. It was a day of fun, care and relaxation,” said another attendee.

The Christine Valmy team shared that “at Christine Valmy, we believe skin care is more than a routine — it’s about nurturing your confidence and overall well-being. We’re honored to have partnered with CancerCare to offer an in-depth skincare workshop to individuals navigating cancer treatment. The opportunity to teach techniques, share formula knowledge, and help these individuals feel uplifted and cared for was truly rewarding. We’re also proud to educate our students and industry professionals on delivering knowledgeable care to oncology patients in our Oncology Esthetics certification class, and we're grateful for the opportunity to apply this expertise at such a special event.”

Nikki Molfetas, MSW, LSW, CancerCare oncology social worker and the organization’s New Jersey Program Coordinator, added that “being able to partner with Christine Valmy has been extremely beneficial for our clients. It has allowed a space for education, support and acknowledgment surrounding skin care and the impact it can have on an individual.”

Special thanks to workshop presenters Bianca Manole and Despina Freimanis from the Christine Valmy team and CancerCare oncology social workers Cassie Spector and Nikki Molfetas, Danielle Saff and Kathy Nugent for making these workshops possible. We hope to offer more of these workshops in 2025!

For more skin care resources, we encourage you to read our fact sheet: Caring for Your Skin During Cancer Treatment and view more of CancerCare’s free resources to help you better cope with treatment side effects.