The four women, who have all lost their hair during chemotherapy, had their nails and make-up done by beauty experts, chose wigs cut by Tony and Guy stylists, and it didn't cost them a penny.

The event, held at the Marriott Hotel, Leeds, was organised by Caroline Monk to raise awareness for Caroline's Campaign, which she set up "to make women who are going through cancer feel and look beautiful".

Each of the four women was nominated by friends or family who responded to an article in the Yorkshire Post earlier this month asking readers to contact Caroline, who has herself fought against cancer.

Caroline wrote about her experience for a national magazine and started her campaign after being inundated with letters and emails from fellow cancer sufferers.

"I couldn't believe how many women wrote to me not because they were scared of dying, but because their hair had fallen out and they felt depressed about the way they looked."

She enlisted everyone from cosmetic experts to wigmakers to help give the women a day to remember.

"I want to show that cancer doesn't have to be all doom and gloom and if you can make people look fantastic then they're more likely to feel fantastic," said Caroline, who is also patron of the Pink Ribbon Campaign.

Having already organised makeover days in London and Birmingham she hopes to hold similar events all over the country. "I'm going to try and get this out to as many cities as possible and show that women with cancer can look glamorous.

"I've been funding this by myself but I would love some sponsorship and perhaps I could even get the NHS on board."

For the women themselves, yesterday's makeover was a welcome respite from gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. Jane Margerum, who works for an insurance brokers in Bradford, was first diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago but after an initial recovery it returned.

"You have good days and bad days and there are times when the treatment seems never-ending. One of the worst things about cancer is losing your hair because you lose your confidence, but this makes you feel really good about yourself," she said.

Sue Dawson, from Holmfirth, was nominated by friends in the ladies' choir she sings in after being diagnosed in January. "Nobody knows what the outcome will be, but you have to be positive and in a way this makes you forget about the cancer.

"It gives you a real boost to know that people care enough to help you even though they've never met you before. It's given me the confidence to have my photo taken bald which I would never have done before."

Ulrike Grigoleit, a teacher trainer who lives in Baildon, near Bradford, was diagnosed with cancer last summer but said after all the hardships and hospital visits, the makeover was like an early Christmas present.

"When you go through chemo it's easy to feel down afterwards but something like this makes you feel normal again, I think a bit of pampering is good for the soul."

Caroline Mitchell, a screen writer for the TV soap Emmerdale, believes if you feel good about yourself it can make a big difference.

"It don't really like being the centre of attention and when I lost my hair I felt quite self-conscious about going out to meetings so I tended to work from home.

"But this is one of the first days since I was diagnosed that I don't feel like someone who's ill and it's allowed me to forget about the aches and pains and when I need to take the next tablet."