Cancer treatment often brings real physical and psychological change, leading to social isolation, a loss of self-esteem, and practical difficulties simply getting dressed around surgery sites and medical devices. Countering that withdrawal and protecting quality of life during treatment means restoring a patient's sense of comfort, identity and everyday sensory wellbeing, not just treating the illness itself.
The project
The project combines the clinical expertise available at IRCCS Humanitas Rozzano with the tailoring tradition of a local atelier in Robecco sul Naviglio, offering oncology patients custom-made garments built around their own body and medical needs, alongside dedicated psychological support.
Four principles run through the work: autonomy and empowerment, valuing each patient's identity and self-care; innovation through cultural welfare, using sensory beauty as a genuine tool for health; ethical and ecological sustainability, through local tailoring and sustainable materials; and scientific rigour, tracking impact on self-esteem, anxiety and stress through individual sessions and testing.
Who the project is for
The project's direct beneficiaries are 8 to 10 cancer patients, women and men aged 25 to 70, at the start of their treatment, taking part in the creation of custom-made garments and psychological support.
Its impact reaches further, to around 30 to 40 family members and caregivers, who benefit from the patient's improved emotional wellbeing, and to the healthcare staff involved in integrating this kind of welfare into the wider care pathway.
Project name: la bellezza che cura
Proposing organisation: naturart
Area of intervention: Health & Welfare
Country: Italy