Learn about how cancer and cancer treatment can change physical appearance.
Body Image and Cancer
Nearly every cancer patient experiences body image concerns, and many would like to receive additional support and guidance to help them cope with these issues.
Body image is more than how you view your appearance or a mental picture of what you look like. It refers to the way you perceive, think and feel about all aspects of your body and the way it functions.
Your body image can change over time and is influenced by what you are experiencing in the moment. While there may be a significant difference between how you view your body and how others perceive it, your personal views and feelings about your body are what matters.
For cancer patients, body image is a critical issue. Their disease and its treatment can alter their appearance and how their bodies function.
Common body image concerns for cancer patients and survivors include:
- Scarring/disfigurement
- Loss of an arm or leg
- Using a prosthesis
- Swollen limbs (lymphedema)
- Skin discoloration
- Hair loss
- Tooth loss
- Sensory changes (neuropathy)
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Bowel/bladder incontinence
- Sexual dysfunction
- Weight loss or gain
- Loss of mobility
- Alterations to speech, swallowing, eyesight or hearing
As a result of such changes, patients can suffer depression, anxiety, withdrawal and social isolation. Many patients, both male and female, are reluctant to talk about such personal and private issues, even with loved ones.
MD Anderson offers various resources to help patients cope with body image changes as well as other social and emotional stressors related to cancer and its treatment. These services are offered by Social Work and in our Integrative Medicine, Psychiatry and Supportive Care centers. Some of these services may require a referral from your physician.
How to deal with changes in your appearance due to cancer treatment
Cancer treatments have the potential to cause sudden, significant changes in your appearance.?
Whether it¡¯s a scar due to surgery, baldness due to chemotherapy, or skin conditions due to immunotherapy, these changes may be either temporary or permanent. They can also severely shake your self-confidence. And that, in turn, can make you feel uncomfortable or less inclined to be around other people.
So, how do you deal with issues like significant weight loss (or gain), hair loss, amputations, and surgical scars? Read on, for some practical suggestions.
Get to know your ¡®new¡¯ self gently and gradually
One of the biggest hurdles my patients face is coming to grips with how their bodies look now ¡ª as opposed to how they looked before their cancer diagnosis.
We help these patients by gently introducing them to their ¡°new¡± bodies, and then gradually increasing their exposure to the changes. Normally, that starts with a verbal description. For instance, we might ask if we can tell them how big the bandage is or what the scar looks like. The next day, we might show them a picture of the scar. The last step involves the patient looking into a mirror, so they can see their physical changes first-hand.?
We recommend a similar approach when you have children who might be afraid to come visit you in the hospital. In those situations, we encourage parents to:
- Start with a phone call: That way, they can hear your voice and know you¡¯re still you. You might look a little different, but you¡¯re still the same person.?
- The second day: Send a picture of the bandage over the incision, then tell them what happened to cause it.?
- The third day: Send a picture of the scar itself.?
- The fourth day: Visit with them by video, so you can describe what¡¯s changed and they can see it for themselves.?
Early exposure tends to decrease everyone¡¯s anxiety, so we usually start that process as quickly as possible ¡ª typically the day after an operation.
Find supportive products that make you feel confident
Between wigs, prostheses, and special clothing ¡ª such as mastectomy swimsuits ¡ª there are hundreds of products on the market designed to help people feel more confident about their appearance.
Our patients often learn about them through support groups, including virtual groups. Many of these groups are specific to one particular patient population, such as breast cancer survivors who have had mastectomies. So, ask your care team if any of the ones available are right for you. You might be able to pick up some great tips from people who¡¯ve been where you are now.
Also, keep in mind that many of these items ¡ª such as wigs and prosthetics ¡ª are covered by insurance. So, we can write you a prescription for them.?
