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Behind the Scenes of Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day

Collette Torunyan: How did you get involved in volunteering for cancer patients?

Barbara Paget: I started volunteering at Highland Park Hospital in 1995. I worked at the coffee bar twice a week because I did not want to work with sick people. Eventually I ended up working in the breast center with distinguished Doctor Arthur Michel, a cancer survivor himself. He ran his center based on his own cancer experience and held a monthly support program with a volunteer speaker and a discussion that followed.

Once Dr. Michel passed and the hospital merged with a larger hospital, the breast center was shut down I was completely distraught and knew I had to do something. Four generations of breast cancer survivors had lost their center, their doctor, and their support.

After meeting with the new president of the hospital and convincing her that the breast center is a necessity for these survivors, I finally got a breast center opened and named after Dr. Michel. I have continuously been involving with helping cancer patients and survivors ever since.

CT: Why did you think that having a spa day was the best thing to offer cancer survivors?

BP: After watching Peter Greenberg’s segment on the Today show about a salon holding a complimentary spa day for their clients diagnosed with cancer, I realized that the beauty industry is always flourishing. After any type of operation, a patient will always go to the beauty salon to brighten their spirits. Whenever I go to a beauty salon and a client reveals they are diagnosed with cancer, I see the hairstylists ask what they can do to help, and this is a day for them to help as well.

Many people want to contribute to this cause but instead of having to pay to attend a charity event, this way they will be able to contribute their services and be able to make a connection with a survivor. I feel that doing this makes a much larger impact that writing a check.

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