IT'S SOMETHING Janice Lan- caster has heard time and again in years of helping women cope with the physical and emotional effects of cancer treatments, often through a program called Look Good, Feel Better.

"So many of the women coping with this disease would say they wished there were social events they could attend where they wouldn't stand out so," said Lancaster, a licensed cosmetologist and certified image consultant in Spotsylvania County.

"I'd hear them long for a place where they weren't the only ones wearing a wig or a hat because they had no hair," she said. "It's something that stuck with me."

This fall, Lancaster, along with the operator of a downtown sportswear shop and other volunteers, will pool their talents and energies to produce a fund-raising event that should answer the request.

It's being called Fall Fashions and Tea, and it's a combination tea and fashion show where all 30 or so models will be women who currently have cancer or have battled it.

While that alone would put a sizable number of women with bare heads--or in hats, scarves or wigs--together Oct. 17 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Spotsylvania, the organizers aren't stopping there.

"We're asking everyone who comes to the show to wear a hat," said Lancaster. "It'll keep any of our guests or models from standing out, plus we'll ask guests who care to either auction off their hat or donate it."

Attendees will also be asked to bring wigs, scarves, T-shirts and turtlenecks to donate to the Cancer Center of Virginia's Wig Center.

Money raised from the tea will go to the American Cancer Society, earmarked for breast cancer research.

Lancaster, who's had her own scares from brain tumors that turned out to be benign, said the event came together when she and Carol Sullivan at CIS Sportswear downtown realized they shared the same dream.

"Carol told me she had always wanted to do a fashion show where the models were all cancer survivors," said Lancaster. "It was the same dream I've had."