Body Image

Body image involves how you see yourself. It is subjective and begins early in life. Feeling attractive is part of feeling sexual, and a positive body image is related to sexual satisfaction.

Coping with a cancer diagnosis and the treatment can be overwhelming. It can also alter your self-image. There are lots of ways cancer changes your appearance:

  • Surgery can cause abdominal scars that make you feel self-conscious about your body.
  • The creation of an ileal conduit or colostomy can make you concerned about how you look or about whether there will be leakage or odor from your ostomy.
  • Chemotherapy can cause unwanted weight changes, either weight loss or gain.
  • Many chemotherapy drugs will cause temporary hair loss (alopecia) on the head, face, and body.

These changes may not be important to some women, while others may focus on the way their body has changed physically.

If you have hair loss, your hair will begin to thin and fall out in uneven patches or strands. You’ll probably notice it first on your pillow and when you wash your hair. There are no known treatments — such as ice caps or lotions — that can prevent hair loss if it’s caused by chemotherapy. Washing and brushing your hair less often will slow how fast it falls out. But it will not prevent it from doing so. If you have long hair, cutting it when you start chemotherapy will help make losing your hair less traumatic. Hair usually starts to come back in four to six weeks after you finish taking the drug. Even so, the loss of hair is a visible reminder of cancer.

The emotional impact of losing hair is often underestimated. It can have a strong psychological impact. The impact is so strong, some women even stop treatment. Many hospitals and cancer centers offer support groups and classes on beauty and body image. The American Cancer Society has a class called "Look Good, Feel Better." The class offers makeup and beauty hints for women with cancer. It’s helpful to shop for wigs, scarves, or hats before you start to lose your hair. Ask your doctor for a prescription for the wig. It’s possible your insurance company might cover it, though some won’t. The prescription should read, "Hair prosthesis for chemotherapy-induced alopecia."

Sun sensitivity is a concern. You should protect your head and eyes with sunscreen, a head covering, and sunglasses. In colder months, heat is lost through the head. You may need to wear some type of covering indoors.

It’s important to talk about the changes and how they affect your self-esteem. The first step to getting used to changes in your body image is to talk to your health care team. Find out what changes may occur before they happen. Again, your partner should be involved in these talks. Some women fear their partner will reject them if their looks change. Other woman, who do not have a current partner, worry they may not have future relationships. Joining a support group to meet other woman with the same cancer can help you know you are not alone. It can also help you learn how to regain a positive outlook. Talking to a social worker or psychologist can also be helpful.