My first step in educating others about cancer awareness was to become educated myself. Last fall, I attended a three day intensive to gain my certification as a Clinical Oncology Aesthetician through Touch For Cancer. Oncology Aesthetics is a synthesis of aesthetic and medical knowledge. The safety and comfort of the client is always the first priority. I now volunteer services through the local cancer treatment center in my community. Recently, I donated gift certificates to Relay For Life cancer survivors. I was asked to speak at a monthly meeting of the Area Agency on Aging and hope to have more speaking engagements. Since my certification, my clients have expressed an interest in knowing more and I have been able to pass along information to them. I offer an oncology aesthetic treatment at a reduced fee/sliding scale to those individuals in treatment and recovery. There are many factors to be considered when working with this clientele-there are changes at the dermal and lymphatic level that require real shifts in your treatment protocol. I encourage aestheticians around the country to obtain certification to provide a safe and comfortable treatment for the client with cancer or recovering from cancer. They appreciate it so much! Joy Freeman, LE, CMES, COE Skin Renew Pueblo, Colo. Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.