Los Alamos Council on Cancer Board Member LeAnne Parsons describes services and items available for cancer patients at Cancer Corner room in the Los Alamos Medical Center. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Tucked away in a quiet hallway at Los Alamos Medical Center, is a small room containing several resources for those dealing with cancer in our community.

The Cancer Corner a joint venture of the Los Alamos Council on Cancer, the American Cancer Society and LAMC. Staffed by volunteers, it is open by appointment only and services are available at no cost to cancer patients and their loved ones regardless of income or insurance status.

LACC board member LeAnne Parsons recently used her creative spirit to make the community more aware of what Cancer Corner has to offer by posting a video of herself with boxes of brand new wigs that just arrived at the facility. Wigs, hats and scarfs are available free of charges. The wigs are modern in style and varied in color and Parsons says she has never done a consultation where the patient has not gone home with a wig. She has been volunteering at Cancer Corner since 2009 and is a facilitator for Look Good, Feel Better, a free program that teaches female cancer patients “beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments”.

“Volunteer cosmetologists use their skills to teach the women how to deal with some of the side effects of cancer in a supportive, safe and friendly session,” Parsons said. “We would love to help more women so we want to get the word out to all cancer patients, including those who go out of town for their treatment”.

Sessions are 2-4 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. There is no cost for the session but registration is required.

Cancer Corner also has a selection of books and literature on such topics as understanding your type of cancer, how to care for your caregiver, talking to your doctor, and how to deal with the various issues facing cancer patients. The LACC also provides funding to Northern New Mexico public libraries to enable them to add relevant books and other materials to their collections.

Parsons said the next LACC seminar is slated for 5 p.m., April 13 at the First Baptist Church on Diamond Drive. The topic is prostate cancer. A light supper will be provided and there is no charge for the seminar. Past seminars have addressed such topics as childhood and adolescent cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, hospice, chemotherapy and clinical trials. The website www.LosAlamosCouncilOnCancer.org, has links to all past LACC seminars as well as information on all LACC services.

The LACC Board includes President Amy Woods, Vice President Sheryl Nichols, Secretary Judith Miller, Treasurer Tita Summers and members Dr. Carolyn Linnebur, Dr. Eric Bernstein, Diane Hammon, Paula Roybal-Sanchez and Zohra Woodward.

LACC is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation and a Northern New Mexico United Way Community Partner. Donations may be mailed to the LACC, PO Box 995, Los Alamos, NM 87544. For more information, call 505.661.9510. To register for the Look Good Feel Better program, call 505.412.1817.

A large selection of wigs, hats and scarfs is available at Cancer Corner at LAMC. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Some of the cancer-related books available for check-out at Cancer Corner. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost

Up-to-date pamphlets and other literature at Cancer Corner. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com