Free Programs Help Those Battling Breast Cancer

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Going through breast cancer treatments drain your energy levels and take an emotional and financial toll.

CBS 2's Alice Gainer took a look at three free programs that can help make recovery a little easier.

One program, CancerCare, offers free Reiki classes in their Midtown location.

Linda Gnat-Mullin is an energy healer who uses the ancient Japanese technique to help her patients reduce stress with the goal of promoting healing during their cancer treatments.

Peggy Liegel, a seven-year cancer survivor, has seen amazing benefits from her Reiki practice.

"It helps calm and relaxes you. Just to relax and be calm and be able to breathe," she said. "There are also healing circles. You are with other people and experiencing together so you don't have to be alone with it. You experience a kind of healing process."

While the goal of Reiki is to make you feel better on the inside, the goal of "Best Face Forward," is to make you feel better by looking better on the outside.

The program is just one of Sharsheret's many initiatives for cancer patients and provides free makeup and tips to help combat the side effects of cancer treatment. Sharsheret mails makeup kits directly to women battling breast cancer.

"I was cognizant of not wanting to look sick. I was delighted and relieved to not have to rethink everything and start anew with what would work for me, I knew somebody else had done the thinking first," Devora Farrell told CBS 2.

"It's empowering to be able to go outside and not feel that you look sick," Elana Silber, of Sharsheret, said.

Good Wishes fulfills the wish of women who want to look good and have an option beyond a wig when going through chemotherapy and losing their hair. The free scarves are made from the finest fabrics and come in different designs and patterns. The comfortable fit also adds a touch of color to brighten up a difficult time.

"It was really, really a nice gesture at the time of losing all of my hair, and this beautiful color matches my complexion. It went really well with covering up the damage," Sabina Smith said.

To learn more about the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a leader in helping women battling breast cancer, tune into CBS 2's Komen Race For The Cure special on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

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