Dealing With Anxiety and Self Esteem Issues
The way you view your body may have changed since your cancer diagnosis.
A cancer diagnosis can completely change the relationship you have with your body image. You may feel anxious about your condition and the outcome, along with how the side effects of your treatment affect the way you look. In some cases, you will have had an operation to remove an area of your body where the cancer was, which might have left a physical scar. Any changes to your body, or even the way you perceive your self-image can be overwhelming, which is why it’s important to get support for any concerns you have about your physical appearance.
Worrying About How Other People See You
Some people who have been through cancer are concerned that they don’t look or feel like themselves anymore, and that others will view and treat them differently as a result. It’s worth noting that usually you’re focusing on your body image far more than others will. But it’s important to address your concerns anyway so that they don’t get out of hand and impact your self-esteem.
If you’re in a relationship and feel anxious about your partner’s feelings towards your changing body, then the best thing to do is reach out and begin a really honest discussion about this. You’ll both be able to communicate your thoughts, and you may find that perhaps your partner is feeling anxious too. By opening the channels of communication, you’ll be able to work through your concerns together, which is far better than worrying alone.
Visible Changes
If you have a physical scar or a stoma, then you might feel squeamish about this. Perhaps you haven’t quite worked your way up to looking at it yet, or else can’t bring yourself to take care of it in the way you’ve been shown. If you have access to a specialist nurse, which could be through a cancer organisation if not through your local health authority, then be honest about how you’re feeling about your scar or stoma. Often, they will help you by viewing the area covered up, then gradually revealing the area to you, before covering once again. The final step will be to help you touch and clean or dress the area when you feel ready.
Looking Like You Again
If your cancer treatment has changed your appearance, either in terms of your weight fluctuating, or else hair loss and even losing part of your body such as with a mastectomy then there are steps you can take so you feel like ‘you’ again. Reconstructive surgery is an option if you have had a breast removed, but there’s no rush to decide; if you don’t feel ready now, you can come back to the idea later. If you’ve gone through chemotherapy or other treatments that result in hair loss, be assured that your hair will likely grow back in time. However, you can also choose from a range of real hair wigs which look completely natural and may help to restore your self-confidence in terms of your appearance.
If body image concerns are becoming overwhelming, it’s vital to get support. As well as building your own personal network made up of close friends and family members, reach out to local cancer support groups and charities who can put you in touch with others who have experienced similar feelings.